Do First Riddens Canter?

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skewbaldpony

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One of my sproglets is going to do a first ridden class at a local show, it's very very low key, so probably anything will go to be honest, but not being showing types (and how!) I would at least like to tell the little dear what is supposed to happen
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Now I know lead reins don't canter, and I know everything else does, but do first riddens canter a) in the initial ride round b) in their individual show.
We'm so higgerant, innus?
 
a) no, altough someone borrowed my welsh a a few years ago 2 do one and they totally incompitant judge made them canter together and the poor girl fell of a broke her wrist!
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b) your supossed to but if its only a low key event then its probably not so important, if its higher level then probably is important!
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Oh the joys of First Ridden..
The children file in, walk round on the right rein (don't ask me why they just do) trot round then the steward chooses a capable looking rider to change the rein.
Walk again and the judge will pull her first selection into line.
Child has to walk forward and halt, smile at judge.
Some judges say exactly what they want, others allow own show.
All that's needed is to show a few steps of walk, then into rising trot, do a big circle, change the rein, do the same on opposite rein, smooth transition into canter, it doen't have to be a figure of eight it can just be along the ringside, then a change of rein, into canter again, back to trot, walk then halt and nice salute for the judge and a huge smile.
My daughter did first ridden from aged five, and boy did we have some laughs.
The time at a huge County Show where on the initial walk round the steward smiled at her so she promptly walked into the middle and halted, thinking he had pulled her into first place. As he walked over to tell her no, he didn't want her, the pony took a long and satisfying pee with lots of farting noises..
I can't tell you how red her face was..
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The judge is looking for the best pony of show type that has immaculate manners, though sadly manners often comes after behaviour.
Whenever I judge that class I tell them all at the start I am placing manners above beauty, which evens out the kids chances a lot. (only at local level ).
I also walk down the line and have a quick well done to every rider, and offer some praise and a little advice where it might help them move up next time.
First Ridden is actually a nice class to judge, I hope it won't be too high powered in
your show.
 
Echo the others. They can canter in their show and should do so if they are competent. Often the judges are very nice in this class and we have had judges ask the children if they know what they are going to do in their show and if they say no they will talk them through it before they set them off and if they go wrong and look they need help they will step in and give them a hand. Some are daft though and will try to get them to canter round all together and yes queue a certain amount of bucking, squeaking and falling off!

They can be hilarious. At one show the judge knew what she wanted and explained carefully to each child what to do, so they all started off doing the same show. One particularly tiny little girl went up, the judge repeated to her carefully what he wanted her to do, asked her if she understood.

The tint tot then said loud and clear 'I did understand, thank you, but I am not going to do that , as Mummy has taught me my show and I will have to do that one as it's always best to do what she says'
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Classic! Child at our PC during D+ test...

Examiner: Do you know what sort of noseband your pony is wearing?
Child: (looks at examiner as if she is clearly mad) ... an ORDINARY one!
 
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