Can someone explain showing to me?

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

I was talking with a lady at the yard last night whilst she waited for her daughter and we were nattering about silver florins show. She mentioned that she hadn't seen the Destroyer there and was surprised i hadn't taken him. I explained I've lost my nerve a little jumping on grass and she looked very surprised and said "oh i didn't even know he jumped, I thought you'd take him in the showing classes".
At which point I burst out laughing. She however was serious.

So what is this showing malarky?
What classes could I take a clyesdale cross into? What do you have to do? Do they have to be plaited/ hogged/ feathers off etc? Isn't there strict rules about bits or something?
I wouldn't mind having a go but know nothing about it at all! Can someone educate me?

 

[TGM]

Have you got any photos of him, so we can see what type he is? There are occasionally ridden classes for Part Bred Heavy Horses, but they are few and far between. Depending on his height and build he might fall into the cob category - in which case he would be shown hogged, feathers trimmed and tail pulled.

If your horse doesn't fall into any particular type, but is a nice, obedient sort, then the Riding Club Horse is often a good bet. Sometimes you are asked to pop a small jump as part of your show, but sometimes there is no jumping involved - depends on what the schedule says.

Alternatively, there are Best Rider classes which are judged on the way you ride, rather than on the horse's performance and conformation.

 

[trundle]

Family Horse? Riding Club horse? Working Hunter (I have seen just about every shape and size of horse in WH classes !!) He probably ought to be plaited, but unless you are showing him as a posh show cob, he doesn't need to be hogged or have his feathers off. You should definitely have a go !

 

[jen1]

PLEASE PLEASE!!! put some piccies up of him I am dying to see what he looks like as I have a Clydie cross!!! Mine is hogged and have done some cob classes with him, show hunter (although he is really too heavily set for that, seems to be lightweights that do that, but I don't like jumping) he can do Riding Club horse & working hunter but with someone who likes to jump!!

 

[pinkcatkin]

Sorry, have no idea about Clydesdale crosses, thought this was a cynical post!!!!!

In cynical frame of mind, showing is this:-

You work like stink to produce and turn out your much cherished horse

You wash your horse from top to toe and get very wet the day before. You spend hours cleaning tack and getting everything packed.

You get up at 4am and rub your fingers raw plaiting and re-scrubbing white bits

You wave goodbye to your OH while he is feeding dogs and trying to find something to wear that is clean (meanwhile your kit is clean and polished and stored in a posh cover)

You get to show, chalk any white bits that seem to have got grubby again, work your horse in j u s t enough but not t o o much to get optimium performance and sanity.

You go into your showing class and do the very best you have ever done.

Result:
Sometimes you do well, but sometimes horses owned or ridden by the circuit "names" get pulled in seemingly regardless of conformation or behaviour!!!

Ultimate result:
You wonder whether it is worth it.

Gosh I must be feeling very cynical today. Hovis and Sid's Mum take no notice of me, you will probably love it and do really well!! LOL

 

[Theresa_F]

Yep sounds like showing, but in my case you spend hours on hair. Somedays it is great, and others you wonder why you bother.

That said, on the whole I really enjoy it.

With your chap, depending on how you have him, and how tall and heavy he is, you could do:

Riding club horse
Riding horse
Working hunter
Ridden hunter
Cob - Maxi Cob

When Cairo who is full clydie was kept trimmed, pulled and plaited he did these classes apart from cob as at 16.3 far too big and no maxi cob then.

Once back to full hairy glory, we had to give them up but still did the veteren classes - no heavy horse classes where we are at local shows.

or if you want less pressure

Tack & turnout
Best conditon
Best gelding

Seeing as he is half clyde, he must be a good looking chap

 

[tabithakat64]

Cob/cob type classes, driving type in-hand classes, riding club horse and family horse. Please post some photos of Hovis

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

I really don't want to hog him as his face is too soft too pull it off i think. Plus i don't want to lose his feathers!!
He's 16HH and 556 kg.
I don't mind the scrubbing etc and only wanted a play at it for something to try but don't i need him in a pelham? I don't ride him in anything other than a gag on the hole down from a snaffle.
Aren't there daft rules about dress and saddle colour and what not?

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

I would if I could figure out how to do it?!!
If I emailed someone a picture could someone post it for me?

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

open a photobucket account (just google it) and take a photo from your computer and upload it, copy the 3rd code down (img code ) and paste it into your reply box here

or you can email me if you like .

 

[Kat]

If it is just a local unaffiliated show I wouldn't worry to much about him being 16hh in a cob class or about hogging him. At our local shows lots of cobs show with full feathers and are over height. You might be placed down the line as a result but it is just for fun.

You should really be in a double bridle or a snaffle, not sure they would like him in a gag. But you don't have to do anything fancy for the ridden part so grin and bear it in a snaffle if you aren't used to a double or pelham.