Difference between open show classes and their expectations?!

[mollymurphy]

Also in Competition Riders, but it's too quiet in there and this is an emergency 90210...well, not really, but I’m impatient!

So...........

OK, I'm taking Mo (the bay in my sig ) and Dolly (the ginger!) to a local show on Sunday (weather-permitting). It's our first show of the season for one reason or another and I’ve been shopping for all new gear. So I was just wondering if anyone could clarify a few things for me!

I was thinking of entering Mo in:

Senior Equitation
14.2hh & Over Ridden Showing
Riding Club Horse
Ridden Show Hunter Horse
Novice Working Hunter Horse

What are the judges looking for in these classes (i'm ok with the equitation, but not the others - don't know what the difference is!)
And as for turnout, would there be any difference for each class?
I have 2 tweed jackets - 1 is a cut-away with a waistcoat, the other is a normal one - which one(s) should i wear? Long black leather boots, canary jods, yellow shirt, gold tie with black spots, navy hat with flesh straps, gloves and a brown show cane. Mo will be in brown leather tack, snaffle mouthed. Are snaffles ok for all these classes? What about numnah's - yes or no? Should the bridle be flat? Are boots allowed/required in any of the classes?


And Dolly will go in either:

13.2hh & Under Best Condition

or

13.2hh & Under Best Condition

but i don't know what the difference between these 2 classes would be?! How would they be judged?

Any help with these would be GREATLY appreciated as i dont want to embarrass myself!!! Sorry for all the questions!

Many thank you's in advance!

Lou. x

 

[virtual]

Your turnout for Mo sounds spot on - go for the non-cutaway tweed. You can use a snaffle in all fo those classes, though some may be in a double, particularly in the open showing and ridden hunter classes. A flat bridle would be best, but don't worry too much if you only have a rolled one - as long as it's plain.

In the ridden showing and ridden hunter classes there is no jumping, just a walk, trot and cater together then an individual show (or the judge may ride) and sometimes a trot up inhand. In the riding club horse it will be the same, but you may have to jump a jump in your individual show.

In the working hunter you'll go in individually and jump a round of jumps, then if you go clear (or you have faults but there are few clear rounds) you'll be asked back in for a normal showing class as above.

The two classes for Dolly are the same? did you mean to write two different classes?

 

[mollymurphy]

Oh yeah, how did that happen?!

It's that one and 13.2hh & Under Open Inhand Showing!

Mo had windgalls on her back legs, so would it not be worth taking her in any that are likely to have to be untacked and trotted up? She's not lame or anything, but would they be frowned upon?

As for the rest, that's great, thank you!!

 

[Theresa_F]

I would not use the cutaway tweed.

Other than that everything sounds fine - assume gloves are brown/tan/canary - black is not correct. Make sure your hair is neat and in a bun if long enough or at least pulled back and in a net.

Minimal makeup and no face jewellary or earrings.

Ideally no numnah or if you do need one, discrete as possible, as should your girth be.

Bridle will depend on your horse - though for hunter classes a flat hunter type noseband and browband is more appropriate. However, for local shows, don't worry too much.

Snaffles - ideally for the hunter classes a double, or an really good alternatively is a double bridle with a show rugby pelham which is my preference.

You can use boots in the jumping phase of the working hunter class only.

Finally have fun and enjoy yourself, good luck.

 

[mollymurphy]

Girth!!! Of course! I've been meaning to get a new one for AGES, but keep forgetting to look at what size she needs! Her current one is elasticated both sides and you can see the elasticness (!), which doesn't look right!! I'll make sure we have a new one before the show. Thank you for reminding me!!

I've never understood the double-bridle thing. I know they carry their heads better and look posher, but i'm just not happy about putting so much metal (and such harsh bits) in a horse who goes perfectly nicely in a snaffle. I'll have a look on the day and see what everyone else is doing.

Yep, earrings will be out, hair will be bunned, dont need a numnah, and boots will be off!

Thank you!

Lou. x

 

[virtual]

Don't worry about the windgalls, many a county standard horse has them

In the condition class they'll be looking for a horse that looks happy and well, is the correct weight with a shiney coat, no lumps and bumps etc. In an open showing class they'll be looking for correct conformation, straightness of action, etc.

If your horse goes well in a snaffle it's fine to keep them in that, two reins look smarter and often horses go better in them, but they're not essential at all. A double gives a much more refined action, and many horses go very well in them - if you don't need to use the curb, you can use a leather curb chain and leave the rein loose so there's no contact on it. It's not a severe bit in the right hands/Alternatively you could look into using a pelham with the same mouthpiece as your snaffle.

 

[mollymurphy]

That's brilliant, thank you! Just can't decide which one to enter her into now!!!

[ QUOTE ]
If your horse goes well in a snaffle it's fine to keep them in that, two reins look smarter and often horses go better in them, but they're not essential at all. A double gives a much more refined action, and many horses go very well in them - if you don't need to use the curb, you can use a leather curb chain and leave the rein loose so there's no contact on it. It's not a severe bit in the right hands/Alternatively you could look into using a pelham with the same mouthpiece as your snaffle.

[/ QUOTE ]

True! I just hate messing round with bits - had a bad experience with Murph - had some minor issues, so started putting harsher bits in - the harsher they were, the more he bolted! One day, put him back in a really thick eggbutt snaffle and he never did it again! So now i worry! I might borrow one though and see what she's like - can imagine she'd look a lot posher!!

Thank you again!

Lou. x

 

[Theresa_F]

See if you can borrow just a plain old pelham - and only ride on the top rein - leave the bottom with no contact but not "baggy". Have a leather guard under the curb chain and have it so it doesn't really act - fairly loose.

If this goes ok, then you will be fine in a show ruby pelham - basically it just has a extra ring that you attach the sliphead and top rein onto onto so you look as if you are using a double, but are only using a pelham bit. You can also get joined ruby pelhams if the straight bar is the problem.

If you can get on with it, a double bridle really is the finishing touch if you are in a show hunter class. My old TB had a small mouth and did not get on with the two bits, but was very happy with the rugby pelham.

Obviously for novice classes, then a snaffle should be worn.

Working hunter, you can use any bit - but again at higher levels they will be wearing a double bridle but often with a show pelham.