advice from people who show ponies please.

[lizzypeg]

iv just brought a 3 year old new forest reg gelding as a project.
hes got a lovely nature and came off the forest as a colt through the september sales last year.
im used to heavy natives, ie dales ponies but thought as hes a lighter type id get him in and plait him up to see what he'd look like.
now im thinking he looks better plaited than natural so wonder if he'd be better shown as a show hunter pony/show pony instead.....
what to people think.hes been with me a week and is a darling.
pics from when i viewed him in july

and pics from yesterday after a bath and plait up.

and after plaits had come out.

comments welcolme....excuse the bad plaiting it was a last minute decision so didnt have much time.

 

[moodymare123]

It depends really on how he rides , i think he looks good either way , but i tend to plat my ponies up before going to a show to make them more smarter

 

[baymareb]

He's very cute. I'd say it depends on how he goes but whatever you do with him, have fun.

 

[galaxy]

He looks cute plaited up, but as a NF I doubt he has the movement for a SHP/SP?

 

[lizzypeg]

thanks for replies so far.i like him plaited but know he'll need more top line esp on neck.havent seen him move properly yet but seems to have nice big movement from what iv seen so far.im not sure how wh/sh ponies are ment to move?

 

[galaxy]

SHP big and flicky toes.

SP look like they don't bend their knees they're so flicky toed (they're very fine too)

NF don't usually move like that. I think he looks nice unplaited. And if he does move well for a forester he'll do well against his own!

 

[SO1]

a show pony tends to look like a mini tb and they tend to have very tiny pretty heads so he is too substantial for a show pony.

show hunter ponies are more workman like possibly a cross between a native and a show pony.

i don't know how old you are and if you want to show under saddle or not but if you want to affiliate and ride him and you are an adult you will be too old for all of the show pony and show hunter pony classes that he would be in the height range for.

there is a lot of variation in foresters and the lighter built ones have done well shown as M&M so i would not give up on the native classes just because he is not chunky - he may well chunk out a lot as he gets older my forester did.

 

[wilsha]

looks gorgeous plaited but as he is a native his mane is meant to be natural allthough he is very nice plaited im sure they wouldnt mind at local level especially if your not doing m&m

 

[horsecrazy25]

He's Lovely Very smart boy after hes been washed and plaited. Your Dapple Grey has a very very long mane, really cute hehe. Good Luck with your shows x

 

[abbieandfiona]

Maybe have a go at a m&m class and see how he gets on and then you know next time whats best for him.

 

[lizzypeg]

thanks for all your advice.my grey has an exceptionally long mane but hes retired so doesnt get to show it off.

 

[immoralorchid]

i have to say when it comes to native ponies i think why try and change them they r just fab how they are. i trimmed and pulled my dales when i first got her (due to rescue job covered in lice sores on legs ect) and i took her to some shows when she got better all plaited up

she looked good but it didnt really feel right shes a dales so u had years of growing it back

much better yay go the fuzzys tee hee

 

[xloopylozzax]

when hes plaited, he looks like a plaited native, hes just too heavy to be a sp or shp.

hes nice though, so i would definitely have a go at the m&m classes

 

[Skittles]

To be frank (sorry) he is quite long in the back but I think he could do well as a plaited SHP rather than as a M&M pony