County Showing Advice

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Sophiecollins11

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I have so far only done local showing with my traditional cob, however next year we are aiming to enter the New Forest show and hopefully some of the HOYS qualifiers as all judges have spoken to me about his potential :)
Buttt I have no idea what is involved in county showing, I always go to the NF show but I don't know how the classes work for trads and colored classes, does the judge ride, what do the grooms wear when they come in, is their an age limit on the grooms entering, is in hand always involved as well as ridden?
Thanks in advance for any help I know its a long way away but would rather have a while to get myself and supporters ready!
 
Coloured ridden is usually split in to four categories though at champ shows this can be split down in to further height categories

Non native pony (NNP) this is for trimmed and plaited ponies
Native/cob/traditional pony (NCT) this is for native types (not to be confused with registered native ponies) show cobs (hogged and trimmed) and traditionals

Then there is NNP Horse and NCT horse.

I don't know what the height cut off is, i understand its 148cm for CHAPS classes, not sure about BSPA

The judge will not ride in the pony classes, they do ride in the horse classes at the CHAPS championships, not sure if this goes for horse classes everywhere

ARCHES is a nice friendly society for amateurs and a good starting point though to be honest the coloured class community are a really sound and friendly lot and the CHAPS champs is a lot of fun

Grooms at the average affiliated show should wear something half smart, jeans are a bit of a no no but you do see them some places, a smart pair of cords, long country type boots, a long sleeved top and a gilet are pretty standard at many shows in the winter and similar with shoes and no gilet in the summer. if they are half smart they will be ok - a hat is an absolute MUST. At shows like RIHS jeans are completely banned on grooms entering the ring and a smart 'inhand showing' type turnout is safest. I am not sure about age limits but I dont think a child would be appropriate, I suppose 14 years old would be a good guideline and its safest if they wear a riding hat

Yes you'll always have to strip the pony and stand and trot it up for the judge (usually a separate judge for conformation) there is skill involved in this and a valuable edge can be gained by knowing how to stand the pony up and show it off to its best advantage - this is a phase that is very overlooked by many
 
Thank you very much! I will be 16 by the show next year and I would love my friend who will also be 16 to be my groom as she's always helped me out and knows more about horse turnout than my parents :)
I watched the class a few days ago and all the horses were together Shetland's , trads, show cobs
I saw them doing in hand too which is definitely my boys weakness so gonna be our area to practice!
Thanks again lots of help :)
 
My just 16YO sister grooms for us all :) No one has ever said anything about it- after all she could be riding in the class herself :p
 
In all qualifier classes you will be required to ride as a group, perform an individual show and then trot your horse up inhand to show their conformation. If your horse doesn't stand well teach it. If he doesn't walk smartly next to you teach him. I he doesn't trot at the merest suggestion at a nice trot - you got it! Teach him! There is nothing worse than have a horse give a lovely ride and then slob along or need chased for the conformation trot up. It is the forgotton bit of showing that can cost you more marks than you realise!
 
Thank you both :)
Will definitely start to work in some in hand practise every now and then! He's rather lazy in hand and has no presence so we have never done very well! Any tips?
As soon as you get on though its like the grounds on fire 😂
 
Sophiecollins11 said:
Thank you both :)
Will definitely start to work in some in hand practise every now and then! He's rather lazy in hand and has no presence so we have never done very well! Any tips?
As soon as you get on though its like the grounds on fire ��
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Rattle a packet of tic-tacs and when he stands and takes notice reward him with one. Get someone to use a lunge whip behind him when you practice trot up at home to get him going. It is a real art to get them to stand up and trot out well. If you can watch at County level and the pros doing it you will see just what they do to get their horse/ponies attention.
 
Yeah I will have to try my best to get him alert more as he just kind of dawdles round... I tend to avoid Inhand showing now but perhaps I will do a class here and their now to prepare �� I have resorted to holding mints in my hand before to get him to lift his head up ��
 
Have a schooling whip in your left hand, have his right side next to a fence line and walk and trot him along them. Give a gentle flick with the schooling whip to get him moving forwards. The fence will stop him moving away from the whip and going squint. A few lessons as such to get him moving forwards should give him a better idea. But keep the practice up. Don't think because you have cracked it once or twice it will always happen as he will soon revert to his old slobbish ways.

When standing in front of the judge, if you don't have something rattley - but not too noisy! Then pick some grass or arena surface and sprinkle it down in front of your horse to get it to look interested.
 
Ok will give it w try �� thanks everyone �� I have my friend coming down with me to see him Tuesday so will do a little Inhand practise before I ride and try do it once a week for a while :)
 
You could try some of the more professional amateur shows first as a warm up before leaping in with the affiliated lot. What about Equifest in a couple of weeks? There are loads of classes and you do not need to qualify for most of them, just enter before hand but you will have to get a move on as I am pretty sure the entries close any day soon. There is also Royal London, Think Pink, Amateur showing and The Showing Register.
 
I have done a massive range of local shows some with big qualifiers and some more like small county shows but new forest will be my first big county :)
 
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