family horse showing classes...dress and turnout

[Cathey]

hi, i have a 15.1hh 12yr roan mare that i quite fancy doing family horse class with as a variation to our typical showjumping.

Just wondered what this type of class involves, what id have to wear and what the judges are looking for? will it be a whole group show, individual, judge ride, trot up and conformation check type format or simpler do you think? im guessing that theyre goin to be looking for a type thats safe enough for all the family but still capable....will we have to do a jump? is a blue jacket ok? she has quite alot of mane so id rather not plait. Its only a small local riding club show but generally has a good attendance....and its been postponed to august so hopefully should be dry then!

she would do working hunter but being 15.1 i thought she may look very small in comparison to everyone else? and i dont particularly want to have to buy a tweed jacket lol.

 

[welshstar]

i used to do family pony all the time

lovely little class.
Usually, unless stated otherwise of the schedule, all that you will be asked to do is a walk, trot and canter on either rein in the group and then an individual show showing the same. A nice little short and sweet show would be good that just shows the horse off as being obediant and safe- no need to do the extension/gallop. They don't usually go for the trot up etc as they go purely on their manners and obediance.
Unless they state it beforehand, there would be no jump. There isn't really any preference of jacket colour so tweed or blue will be fine.
I always used to do a little 'party trick' at the end of the show like a ronud the world which always seemed to get the judges attention

Hope you enjoy the class and ofcourse tell us all how you do afterwards.