Feedback from show

[Lex1979]

Hey so I did it, took my 3 year old (I’ve had 3 months) to local show in youngstock class, Tired my best with attire and plaits etc as I’ve never done it before. We got 7th out if 7 however with 0 feedback. He did have a few hiccups due to the atmosphere which is absolutely fine but I’ve uploaded a some picture to see if anyone on here could give me feedback or is it a case the competition was high. (I appreciate it’s hard to tell from picture but couldn’t upload a video)

 

[nikicb]

He looks very sweet. It's hard to give feedback from the photos, and also not knowing what the rest of the competition was like, but to be honest, at that age, I think a good experience is the most important thing. He looks happy and relaxed, and that is great.

 

[ihatework]

Your young horse looks very sweet.

Difficult to comment without seeing what else was entered and how yours went.

Turnout wise I’d expect a 3yo to be presented bitted and bridled.

For yourself if I was being fussy just a little neater. Ideally trousers rather than jods, a shirt and tie. A better fitting jacket, ideally tweed. When doing your number use plaiting thread or some pins rather than the ribbon they give - stops your jacket bunching. And a hairnet!

 

[Lex1979]

Thanks he did really well I should add all the other horses were bitted, he’s having his Wolfe teeth out tomorrow so he not as yet. And I would say the other competitors looked like they had done it a few time before dressed to impress and I think ridden 3 year olds they did look well rounded (mines not broken yet)

 

[Lex1979]

Here’s a few of the others

 

[Lex1979]

Your young horse looks very sweet.

Difficult to comment without seeing what else was entered and how yours went.

Turnout wise I’d expect a 3yo to be presented bitted and bridled.

For yourself if I was being fussy just a little neater. Ideally trousers rather than jods, a shirt and tie. A better fitting jacket, ideally tweed. When doing your number use plaiting thread or some pins rather than the ribbon they give - stops your jacket bunching. And a hairnet!

Thanks I might have to invest in some new gear good idea with the number

 

[LEC]

The gilet looks pretty smart on photo 8320 if you don’t have a tweed or waistcoat as no point buying one. Cheap man’s shirt with a tie.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

It’s a win all the way if you enjoyed yourself and your pony behaved and learned more about the world…well done!

 

[Clodagh]

What a lovely youngster he is. I agree bitted and bizarrely not riding wear, odd as it seems! Cream trousers, man’s shirt and tie and you’ll be grand. Charity shops are your friends. .
You can ask the judge for feedback, or maybe even the ring steward.
Enjoy him, he looks fab.

 

[southerncomfort]

The gilet looks pretty smart on photo 8320 if you don’t have a tweed or waistcoat as no point buying one. Cheap man’s shirt with a tie.

I didn't want to spend a fortune on show gear either as it's not really our thing.

I wore my daughter's old school shirt, my husband's tie, and I bought a cheap tweed baristas waistcoat off Amazon which I think was about £39.99.

 

[humblepie]

I think he looks lovely and all really good comments above.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

For local level your own turnout it fine. It's not a huge biggy but a shirt and tie are preferable to stocks. Realistically a 3yo should either be bitted or be wearing an inhand slip with a browband.

I know showing is subjective but your horse does not look like a 3yo. It looks like a backwards 2yo. The judge would have just said - needs to be more mature. I take it it was a generic youngstock class you were in?

Most stewards at shows are generally people roped in for the day that might not have a clue about horses or showing at all so there is generally no point in asking a steward. Plus it's not their job for the day, they are just there to make sure you all behave and do as your told.

Showing is great education for young horses regardless of what their future career may be.

 

[Lex1979]

For local level your own turnout it fine. It's not a huge biggy but a shirt and tie are preferable to stocks. Realistically a 3yo should either be bitted or be wearing an inhand slip with a browband.

I know showing is subjective but your horse does not look like a 3yo. It looks like a backwards 2yo. The judge would have just said - needs to be more mature. I take it it was a generic youngstock class you were in?

Most stewards at shows are generally people roped in for the day that might not have a clue about horses or showing at all so there is generally no point in asking a steward. Plus it's not their job for the day, they are just there to make sure you all behave and do as your told.

Showing is great education for young horses regardless of what their future career may be.

Yes it was a really good day of education, what do you mean backward 2 year old, sorry also very new to the youngstock world. Yes a generic youngstock class

 

[Clodagh]

Yes it was a really good day of education, what do you mean backward 2 year old, sorry also very new to the youngstock world. Yes a generic youngstock class

To be successful in youngstock classes you need to feed your horse until it’s wobbling, lunge it in a Pessoa and basically ruin it for the future.
Have a look at successful in hand winners, they do not go on to a ridden career.
So I’d leave him as he is, don’t rush him, and plan for a wonderful future.

 

[Katieg123]

I agree that he does look a little young to be successful in that type of class! You often see in showing that the ones that do the best look the oldest/biggest/(sometimes fattest).
Just an example of a very successful 3yo this year:


Please note I am not saying that your three year old should look like this! They all take their own time! Just enjoy your day out and ensure its a lovely experience! At the end of the day the horses do not know what the colour ribbons mean

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Agree with above, without knowing what else was in the class it’s hard to know what the judges reasoning was for placings.

These were my two at three, Beryl (the blue and white) did much, much better than Skylla as she was physically more mature looking at the same age. Beryl had more topline and substance to her (plus is rather prone to being a bit fat , still a work in progress, she has never had anything but grass and forage!).

They just matured differently at different ages but the judges definitely wanted youngsters with more substance to them for the higher placings.





Now Beryl could show fairly competitively, if I could bring myself to get so much white clean, whereas Skylla was never show quality. It was however, as brilliant tool for getting both out and about!

 

[SEL]

Showing is subjective. I used to help a friend and she could tell on the day how her welshie would do depending on who was judging.

But it's great experience for them

 

[honetpot]

Don't worry, as long as he was well behaved and has learnt something its a job well done.
Showing is a funny thing, and depending who the judge is you get some funny results, I have been last out of four( I knew I would be last as my three year old was the slimest in the class) and first out of fifteen on the same day with a youngster.
Your turnout may effect the judge, it shouldn't, but simple smart turnout of you suggests competance.

judges definitely wanted youngsters with more substance

Is this code for fatter? I was taught on a showing stud yard that if you want to cover something up, cover it in fat, but a good judge should look at the frame, and action, and I would never want a youngster to fatten up like a bullock, because there is a chance it will affect their joint health.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Don't worry, as long as he was well behaved and has learnt something its a job well done.
Showing is a funny thing, and depending who the judge is you get some funny results, I have been last out of four( I knew I would be last as my three year old was the slimest in the class) and first out of fifteen on the same day with a youngster.
Your turnout may effect the judge, it shouldn't, but simple smart turnout of you suggests competance.

Is this code for fatter? I was taught on a showing stud yard that if you want to cover something up, cover it in fat, but a good judge should look at the frame, and action, and I would never want a youngster to fatten up like a bullock, because there is a chance it will affect their joint health.

Not really, people often just feed up in place of correct work and muscle tone, it is the lazy way out and as you say a good judge should see past it at any age of horse. For me substance is more musculature and top line which is incredibly hard to make or fake in youngsters, people will for whatever reason decide that it means feed all the food and make them fat, but it's not what true showing is about.

Between my two, Beryl is naturally stronger with more muscle over her than Skylla at the same age, the second picture she is also carrying too much weight as it was mid-summer and she is a good do-er. As a side note, she actually placed lower in the show where the second picture was taken, so hopefully shows fat doesn't equal top placings!

Skylla looked way more backwards as a young horse compared to many, she is a later foal as a July foal which might contribute to it, or it could just have been her breeding (they are very different). She didn't really grow into herself until she was 6 or 7 and didn't really look 'done' until she was nearer ten.

I've brought both on the same way with minimal food, maximum turnout and exercise where appropriate, but I wanted to show the innate difference between them despite being in the same sort of regime.

 

[Gloi]

That looks like you might have been at a local agricultural show with the stands etc. There are likely to be people there who are out showing every week and their horses will have been fed from birth to look mature.
If you can find a local riding club show it may be better to begin with for you to practice.
Apologies if this isn't the case. It will be good experience for your horse and you have plenty of years to fetch her out places as an adult.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

My 2 year old is basically on an all grass diet, and isn't the most mature looking specimen, but ever since I've started doing in hand work twice a week, with a focus on his posture, I have noticed his top line improve. Could be coincidence with how he's growing, but it doesn't hurt. I do some basic bodywork on him too.

If you want to continue showing and eventually riding with a bit, then I'd get that sorted soon (sounds like you are just waiting on wolf teeth extraction). At this age you can also begin some longlining, poles, and other in hand exercises. Even in hand walks across various terrain. I'd definitely consider strengthing him in a healthy way through proper nutrition and exercise. He doesn't need to be heavy, but before he starts undersaddle I'd want him a bit more developed. Which could naturally happen with time, but I'm also a fan of some prep work to get their body ready for riding. It's nothing overly strenuous, and posture is important.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

My 2 year old is basically on an all grass diet, and isn't the most mature looking specimen, but ever since I've started doing in hand work twice a week, with a focus on his posture, I have noticed his top line improve. Could be coincidence with how he's growing, but it doesn't hurt. I do some basic bodywork on him too.

If you want to continue showing and eventually riding with a bit, then I'd get that sorted soon (sounds like you are just waiting on wolf teeth extraction). At this age you can also begin some longlining, poles, and other in hand exercises. Even in hand walks across various terrain. I'd definitely consider strengthing him in a healthy way through proper nutrition and exercise. He doesn't need to be heavy, but before he starts undersaddle I'd want him a bit more developed. Which could naturally happen with time, but I'm also a fan of some prep work to get their body ready for riding. It's nothing overly strenuous, and posture is important.

I would be interested to know what in hand work you are doing with yours?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Agree with the above in regards to the horse being bitted and he does look quite immature for a 3 year old but some just do.

If your looking into doing some more get some trousers instead of jods and a shirt and tie would look smarter, a waistcoat can look nice in summer and will be cooler and cheaper than buying a tweed jacket.

Also when you are leading and running the horse keep at the shoulder rather than at there head.

Well done good first attempt

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I would be interested to know what in hand work you are doing with yours?

We do in hand walks that go over gently sloping terrain. Short reverse sets (3 sets of 10 steps backwards, slow, no head in the air or bracing), walking and backing over poles, walking over a raised pole, in-hand yielding (basically a leg yield in hand, at the walk), turn on the haunches, turn on the forehand, and changes of pace in hand (basically shortening and lengthening the walk).

I do "tummy raises" or "tucks" (done from two points on the hind quarters where the horse tucks their bum a bit and raises their abdomen). I've also installed commands to raise or lower the head and neck. There is also some flexion you can get out of the spine/SI/hips where the horse sort of bends into a C shape with their back half if you know the pressure points. I cannot think of a proper name for it. There's also neck or "carrot" stretches.

There are different points on the horses body that you can touch or run your finger (or a pen) over and it'll cause certain muscles to activate out of a response to that pressure/stimulation.

I just pay close attention to how he uses his body. Naturally, he is quite balanced with decent use of his hind end. There are just many small things I can do to try to facilitate good posture and usage of his body.

These are short sessions and really don't appear all that taxing when done twice a week. Mine likes to engage and do things for the most part. He's rather intelligent and likes to experience new things it seems.

Edit: I feel like his personality facilitates a lot of this. Granted, he can be a bit of a clown, it's once or twice a week. I only interact with him mid week and on the weekend. Some days I only groom him. Others we do in hand work. It's not much, but he retains things quite well. I'm sure that I'm over handling him according to some, but meh, he's not over faced nor does he have bad habits.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

By immature I don't mean that it's not fat enough. I mean the horse lacks muscle tone and roundness. Active youngsters that play in the field a lot get good top lines without having to do any specific work. Others need some walk work. I'm lucky in that my colts spend a lot of time up on their back legs, down on their knees, twisting and turning their necks etc so I don't have to work them to get the right topline shape.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

By immature I don't mean that it's not fat enough. I mean the horse lacks muscle tone and roundness. Active youngsters that play in the field a lot get good top lines without having to do any specific work. Others need some walk work. I'm lucky in that my colts spend a lot of time up on their back legs, down on their knees, twisting and turning their necks etc so I don't have to work them to get the right topline shape.

This also helps. Which is why I feel like the work I do with my youngster isn't any more taxing than the shenanigans that go on in a field Granted, what I do takes more/a different type of concentration.

At the moment mine lives with older horses, so he's not quite as active (fairly docile cobs), but 2 other youngsters are coming in soon and things will probably get more lively!

 

[Lex1979]

My 2 year old is basically on an all grass diet, and isn't the most mature looking specimen, but ever since I've started doing in hand work twice a week, with a focus on his posture, I have noticed his top line improve. Could be coincidence with how he's growing, but it doesn't hurt. I do some basic bodywork on him too.

If you want to continue showing and eventually riding with a bit, then I'd get that sorted soon (sounds like you are just waiting on wolf teeth extraction). At this age you can also begin some longlining, poles, and other in hand exercises. Even in hand walks across various terrain. I'd definitely consider strengthing him in a healthy way through proper nutrition and exercise. He doesn't need to be heavy, but before he starts undersaddle I'd want him a bit more developed. Which could naturally happen with time, but I'm also a fan of some prep work to get their body ready for riding. It's nothing overly strenuous, and posture is important.

Yes thanks I’m not breaking him until he has developed as I agree he’s still a bit immature atm. I bought him two months ago and doing ground work every day and his body has changed since I’ve fed him and just from ground work as he was previously turned out 24/7 on poor grass. Thanks for comment really good advice

 

[Lex1979]

Th

Agree with the above in regards to the horse being bitted and he does look quite immature for a 3 year old but some just do.

If your looking into doing some more get some trousers instead of jods and a shirt and tie would look smarter, a waistcoat can look nice in summer and will be cooler and cheaper than buying a tweed jacket.

Also when you are leading and running the horse keep at the shoulder rather than at there head.

Well done good first attempt

Thanks I was so nervous no gear and no idea

 

[Lex1979]

By immature I don't mean that it's not fat enough. I mean the horse lacks muscle tone and roundness. Active youngsters that play in the field a lot get good top lines without having to do any specific work. Others need some walk work. I'm lucky in that my colts spend a lot of time up on their back legs, down on their knees, twisting and turning their necks etc so I don't have to work them to get the right topline shape.

Yes I agree - I’ve bought him couple months ago from 24/7 turn out in absolute rubbish grass and no forage or hard feed so with ground work and feed hopefully he will improve thanks enjoying the comments

 

[Lex1979]

Thank everybody I’ve really enjoyed the comments. I’ve only had him couple months he came from terrible 24/7 turn out no forage, no hard feed and just about halter broken.

Teeth out today so I will be bitting him after the next vet check. I won’t be break him until next year as I don’t think he mature enough.

Also another local show the end of the month and I’ve just been shopping on Vinted for some second hand gear