Calling all Showing Divas! The season is calling our name...

Crackerz

Crackerz

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2026 season is upon us!

What shows are you planning on attending this year?
What classes and horses?
What are your goals/hopes?

I'm fully stocked up on shine products and even bought a new tie for this season :D

Manically looking after manes and tails keeping them clean and silky, which is a hard task with this winters mud :(
 
We had a relatively quiet 2025 as my youngest daughter was doing her GCSEs.

2026 will see us out with (depending on how they are looking) a 2 year old sec. A and a 2 year old sec. B, both fillies.
We will do local to us County Shows and possibly GYS if they are looking the part before entries close.
The A has done well plaited up as a SHP so we may contest a few SHP youngstock classes too.

Ridden wise we have a new green ISH who we hope will ultimately contest Intermediate Workers but will probably stick to WH training stakes this year depending upon how quickly he comes on.

We may do a couple of early unaffiliated Shows with him if there's anything suitable but he will mainly be doing Area BSPS shows.
 
I’m going to boldly say that I would like this year to be our HOYS year! We did a couple of the later qualifiers last season and I was pleased but definitely have work to do. Assuming it keeps its qualifier our first crack will be at Staffs County which I’m keen to compete at as since moving it’s now our home show.

On our day we should be qualifying for the RI in the amateurs; I’d love an open ticket but might be pushing to be ready for that, I’ll asses the likelihood of that when he’s off his winter holiday and looks less like a hippo…
 
VictoriaSponge said:
I’m going to boldly say that I would like this year to be our HOYS year! We did a couple of the later qualifiers last season and I was pleased but definitely have work to do. Assuming it keeps its qualifier our first crack will be at Staffs County which I’m keen to compete at as since moving it’s now our home show.

On our day we should be qualifying for the RI in the amateurs; I’d love an open ticket but might be pushing to be ready for that, I’ll asses the likelihood of that when he’s off his winter holiday and looks less like a hippo…
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Excellent plans. Did Staffs County once as quite a trek but lovely show.
 
We ignored showing a bit last year so would like to get back out this year and I think he's improved a lot over that year too. A lot will depend on the ground as it's just not worth it for me if the ground is too hard. My boy loves big shows with big atmosphere so that's where I'll be heading. We've been a bit jinxed with our local county shows for the last couple of years so I'd like to try and make them too this year.

My mane is looking the worst it ever has and we're not even through the worst of the winter - not really sure what I've done wrong this year but have a bad feeling I'm going to be needing fake mane/ fake plaits for the first time ever 😭
 
Some great plans!!

I've got native ponies so mostly do NPS and some BSPS. And now veteran classes too with my open pony. First show is Wiltshire show on the last weekend in March so not long at all...

Aim this year is to get out as much as possible, reconnect with old friends and enjoy competing again after a quiet couple of years
 
Crackerz said:
Some great plans!!

I've got native ponies so mostly do NPS and some BSPS. And now veteran classes too with my open pony. First show is Wiltshire show on the last weekend in March so not long at all...

Aim this year is to get out as much as possible, reconnect with old friends and enjoy competing again after a quiet couple of years
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They normally do the veteran at 8.00 am of the weekend when the clocks change at Wiltshire Show so generally don't venture there. I think I went the first year they ran the show, not for the veterans but another class, and we got snowed on! We did the second round SSADL there a couple of years back at the autum show and it was pitch dark and foggy when we arrived, but they do have lovely arenas there.
 
humblepie said:
They normally do the veteran at 8.00 am of the weekend when the clocks change at Wiltshire Show so generally don't venture there. I think I went the first year they ran the show, not for the veterans but another class, and we got snowed on! We did the second round SSADL there a couple of years back at the autum show and it was pitch dark and foggy when we arrived, but they do have lovely arenas there.
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Luckily it's only 40mins from me so i can deal with the early start! And for some reason, New Forests are the first class in at every County show (well that's certainly what it feels like!) but the plus side, back on the lorry and on the way home by 10am 🤣
 
Crackerz said:
Luckily it's only 40mins from me so i can deal with the early start! And for some reason, New Forests are the first class in at every County show (well that's certainly what it feels like!) but the plus side, back on the lorry and on the way home by 10am 🤣
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Yes, it’s funny when you’re finished before the Showground’s actually opened to the public. We did a 7.30 class at the south of England a few years back but fortunately had a stable on the Showground so had a good look round the show before heading home.
 
Total showing newbie, I have a 5 month old foal and we are planning on taking her out as a yearling next summer. I know she has no chance of getting very far as she'll be little (born very end of July) compared to other yearlings but if we can get her some show exposure I hope it'll make her a better competition horse once broken in at 4
 
We have already had our first show of 2026 and my proper first "showing" show ever. I actually went away and bought my very first tweed jacket, double bridle, showing saddlepad etc!
My wonderful girl went fantastically in her little show and I was thrilled.

We have some Showing goals this season as something different to our normal eventing/showjumping.
So hoping to qualify for Northern Ireland Festival working hunter and planning to enter the Amateur Sportsman class at the RDS!

I still say I have "All the kit, still shit!" :D

IMG_5802.jpgIMG_5799.jpg
 
VictoriaSponge said:
I’m going to boldly say that I would like this year to be our HOYS year! We did a couple of the later qualifiers last season and I was pleased but definitely have work to do. Assuming it keeps its qualifier our first crack will be at Staffs County which I’m keen to compete at as since moving it’s now our home show.

On our day we should be qualifying for the RI in the amateurs; I’d love an open ticket but might be pushing to be ready for that, I’ll asses the likelihood of that when he’s off his winter holiday and looks less like a hippo…
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Which classes are you doing?

I'm NE based and our RI qualifiers are poorly supported across the board other than Workers and some M&Ms so it's not so hard to qualify round here these days.
It's sad to see showing in decline, I'm old enough to remember enormous classes at County Shows and it rarely happens nowadays - other than LR and FR. M&M classes which are still hugely popular.
 
minesadouble said:
Which classes are you doing?

I'm NE based and our RI qualifiers are poorly supported across the board other than Workers and some M&Ms so it's not so hard to qualify round here these days.
It's sad to see showing in decline, I'm old enough to remember enormous classes at County Shows and it rarely happens nowadays - other than LR and FR. M&M classes which are still hugely popular.
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We’re in the middleweights; I’d say the hunters are the best supported of the horse classes but I agree it’s just not what it used to be. The RI qualifiers have just been released and there are 3 shows within a reasonable distance to us so will se how we get on, but they are all in the space of about a month which is a little annoying.

It’s good to see the amateur and riding club type like at stars and London doing so well, but it’s a shame it doesn’t translate to the affiliated stuff. Sadly I do think the costs are prohibitive at county level if you’re just looking to dip your toe in which is very sad as some of my fondest horsey memories have been had in the summer sunshine of county shows.
 
CastlelackSportHorses said:
We have already had our first show of 2026 and my proper first "showing" show ever. I actually went away and bought my very first tweed jacket, double bridle, showing saddlepad etc!
My wonderful girl went fantastically in her little show and I was thrilled.

We have some Showing goals this season as something different to our normal eventing/showjumping.
So hoping to qualify for Northern Ireland Festival working hunter and planning to enter the Amateur Sportsman class at the RDS!

I still say I have "All the kit, still shit!" :D

View attachment 171537View attachment 171538
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Well done! Maybe consider looking for a shirt with a stiffer collar? Tesco/Sainsbury/M&S all have cheap school shirts which fit adults and are reasonably priced used to be about £5. You need a shirt designed to accommodate a tie.
 
I've just bought a big wall planner so tonight i'm going to be plotting my season to know which months i can eat normal and which months are beans on toast 🤣
 
I want to get out and about more this season, but i'm waiting to see what everyone looks like come spring to decide. My lot all live out 24/7.

I've 2 Welsh D's and a C who are now all adults so will be similar for all 3.

NPS
BSPS
local county shows - all later in the year around here.

I've got a few dates already and the our local area NPS has chosen a lovely local to me venue this year which is a bonus.

My friend is doing the veteran classes for the sunshine tour this year so i might see if I can get a couple of classes there and make a weekend of it.

I'd like to get one of them qualified for the NPS summer champs in the home produced classes. I'd like a couple of stay away shows.

I need a green tweed to match/contrast with the ginger ninja and a tie to match that. Oh and I need a nice showing velvet hat as I've not done any ridden showing for years.
 
dorsetladette said:
I want to get out and about more this season, but i'm waiting to see what everyone looks like come spring to decide. My lot all live out 24/7.

I've 2 Welsh D's and a C who are now all adults so will be similar for all 3.

NPS
BSPS
local county shows - all later in the year around here.

I've got a few dates already and the our local area NPS has chosen a lovely local to me venue this year which is a bonus.

My friend is doing the veteran classes for the sunshine tour this year so i might see if I can get a couple of classes there and make a weekend of it.

I'd like to get one of them qualified for the NPS summer champs in the home produced classes. I'd like a couple of stay away shows.

I need a green tweed to match/contrast with the ginger ninja and a tie to match that. Oh and I need a nice showing velvet hat as I've not done any ridden showing for years.
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oooo i do a lot of shows Dorset way - have to keep this thread active and see if we can have a meet up!

I've already qualified the colt for NPS Spring Fest so will be working hard to qual for summer :)
 
I am in East Sussex and the list of shows are out, so we will mix it up with a couple of fun shows and we would love to qualify for Hickstead, but we are all about the fun and enjoyment. If anyone is local it would be lovely to make some more horsey friends to catch up with when we are out and about also :)
 
Question: can you just enter big shows, such as 3 Counties? Not to win but just because it would be a nice day out? It’s just down the road from us.

If you’d had a glass of wine before you thought of this plan what would you enter? Options are:
22 year old pure bred New Forest, not a kids pony, rider is old and tall. Pony is famously lazy 99% of the time.
25 year old lead rein pony, jockey is young and short (age 8 so maybe too old?) pony has a PetLog passport with no breeding (possibly Dartmoor). Pony is a diamond but not a show pony. Jockey does not jump.

Any thoughts or am I being a bit silly? 🤣
 
Yes you can just enter Three Counties or other county shows but you are likely to need membership to the society for which the classes are run, although some classes you can enter but not qualify if not a member but generally you need to be a member. The veteran classes at Three Counties last year were Senior Showing and Dressage Limited but this year the ridden is a qualifer under the Veteran Horse Society for HOYS, which is a new series. I don't know if there will be in hand veteran as that may be an option for a day out, as that won't be a HOYS qualifier so cheaper and if VHS you generally don't have to be a member. I think it will be a case of wait and see what the schedule is when it is out. Hope that helps.
 
I'd love to take my rising 6 year old out showing but A) I have no idea what I'm doing and B) back in October she managed to give herself a lovely big splint getting cast when I was away for the weekend and had someone else looking after her 😭
 
HopOnTrot said:
Question: can you just enter big shows, such as 3 Counties? Not to win but just because it would be a nice day out? It’s just down the road from us.

If you’d had a glass of wine before you thought of this plan what would you enter? Options are:
22 year old pure bred New Forest, not a kids pony, rider is old and tall. Pony is famously lazy 99% of the time.
25 year old lead rein pony, jockey is young and short (age 8 so maybe too old?) pony has a PetLog passport with no breeding (possibly Dartmoor). Pony is a diamond but not a show pony. Jockey does not jump.

Any thoughts or am I being a bit silly? 🤣
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You can enter most county shows if you want to go for a (nice) day out. For some classes you will have to be registered with one of the societies and your pony will also need to be registered. Maybe have a look at the showing register, they have lots of info on their website and seem to try and be more inclusive. They also run training events etc it would definitely be worth considering finding out more. If your NF pony is fully registered this might be the better option. The lead rein classes at county shows are frequently very large and unless a registered small breed the pony would need to be trimmed and plaited. The other option is to look at veteran classes and maybe do an in hand class just to get started. Good luck.
 
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