condition and turn out help please

[cassie summers]

Hi i am taking my mare to her first show and i am going to do condition and turn out in hand and then a ridden "have a go at showing" class as she has only been backed just under a year my problem is she is a shire x she is 16' hands and mw/hw but really she is not a traditional cob (i was originally going to hog her ect and do maxi cob but she is far to pretty) her mane is qiute long at the moment about 10 inches and really suits her i did pull it last year but i dont really like it pulled so i cant really plait her as would be like tennis balls i was going to french plait it down her crest but thinking maybe to leave it natural as she has feathers as well not big fluffy ones more silky like a section d but i have never done condition and turn out before so will they look down on her if shes not plaited she has great top line at the moment and a big powerful neck and shoulder so not worried about condtion just the turn out any advice would be great

 

[be positive]

If you are going to leave her natural she needs to be absolutely immaculate, clean and shiny with every hair brushed through, you can use products to help her gleam. A wipe of oil round her face, under her tail and on her knees and hocks. Hoof oil inside and outside her feet and any white must be white.
A smart clean bridle with every buckle polished.

You also need to be turned out correctly, tweed jacket, cream jods or trousers, shirt and tie, leather gloves etc.

You are going for fun and experience so do your best and enjoy the day

 

[cassie summers]

thank you the good thing is she is black with white socks and always gleams which is great do you have to run them up like you do in other in hand classes just i am 51 dodgy hip and no lightweight cob myself

 

[be positive]

They usually just walk round then line up for a closer inspection, there should be no need to trot up in a turnout class.