Futurity Fear

dianchi

dianchi

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 February 2007
Messages
6,125
Location
Herts
Visit site
Ok, we are off to college in three weeks (gulp) having seen all the lovely pics going up am now getting scared about taking my lil lady.
Everyone elses foals seem to look lovely and not at all scruffy, not looking for ego boost here but just some reasurrance that im not going to get laughed at when we get there. She isnt a flashy warmblood (TBxID)

Also having looked at some of the previous BEF, not everyone is in full whites? Is this not complusory? I prefer the black polo shirt look if i can do it! Or is it just best to have matching handlers?

Bridgette-
bridgette-1.jpg


This was a month ago, all her hair is coming out in patches now :(

Any advice please?
 
Your'll be fine ;) go and enjoy your self with your little lady. Most folk do wear the white polo tops and white jeans/trousers ( i did :) ) but lot's of others wear black or blue even pink polo tops. Their are some lovely flashy foals and yearlings, but not all get the mark the owners want !!! Look at Totil Platinum, sire Moorlands Totilas was a lovely looking foal but only got 8.57. Good luck
 
My understanding is that you can wear any colour, polo shirts seem popular as they are comfortable.I would suggest a hard hat and comfortable boots ! have fun I'm sure you won't be the only one with a semi-coat change, the judges should see through that to the horse. It does look a lovely foal. good luck.
 
rossiroo said:
My understanding is that you can wear any colour, polo shirts seem popular as they are comfortable.I would suggest a hard hat and comfortable boots ! have fun I'm sure you won't be the only one with a semi-coat change, the judges should see through that to the horse. It does look a lovely foal. good luck.
Click to expand...

I think whites (beige trousers ok) are required, however you may wear your stud colours (& that's probably why you've seen a range of the more 'horse friendly' colour spectrum!) Check out the rules / factsheets online to confirm.

I've just got back with my 'moth eaten' looking foal, yet on the pics she looks great! Plus there were lots of other similar mid coat beasties as well as mine!! A good scrub up before, a bath, spit & polish & your foalie will be fine. And please don't worry that you haven't got a 'flashy warmblood' afterall most of those have our TB breeding in there anyway ;)

Have a lovely time & enjoy the experience.
Good luck...
 
Hi

No need to worry, its all very easy going and not like a competition atmosphere. No one will worry about your outfit.

Go have fun and enjoy yourself.
 
Im also going to College and Im very nervous as its my first time breeding. Taking my too foals, filly by primitive star (Tanners star) and a colt by wolkenderry (velvets wish). The filly is a pleasure to handle but the colt is becoming a nightmare and rarely stays on four feet, he even has a hissy fit to groom so Im dreading bath time!

I think a trip to primark will be in order to buy some whites!

Good luck and will look out for you!
 
Hi,
I can really sympathise. It was my first time this year too. My foal isn't a really flashy type either. We chose to put him in the SJ section but he really will be a nice allrounder. A lot of the others looked flashier than mine but he only missed out on a 1st premium by 0.21 marks so i was really proud of him. He behaved brilliantly and i didn't even have to trot the mare round as he was happy to show himself off and was confident enought to trot and canter around on his own.
I wore whites as i dont have stud colours and found it to be a friendly laid back atmosphere. It really is nothing to worry about. Have a look at my boy if you like.
He is on www.kevinsparrow.co.uk We went to Richmond and he is a coloured called Hobby Time Joker. Go and enjoy yourself. Best of Luck xxxx
 
If it helps, I'm at the college too, on the first day, with my colt foal, who is my first ever foal and have no idea what I'm doing!! Been to New Look and got some beige trousers and white polo shirts from tesco and will wear my ariat boots and some magic gloves!! My foal, Mouse or Little Lion Man as his posh name, is looking very moth eaten and quite naughty!! Can look lovely, but if he is tired, looks remarkably donkey like. Also, only likes to walk, canter an rear on his mum, so know I'll be lucky to get a trot mark!! Look out for us, we'd love to see a friendly face- we're in a little blue lorry, looking nervous!!! And holding on for grim death!!! ;-) x
 
jennygw said:
If it helps, I'm at the college too, on the first day, with my colt foal, who is my first ever foal and have no idea what I'm doing!! Been to New Look and got some beige trousers and white polo shirts from tesco and will wear my ariat boots and some magic gloves!! My foal, Mouse or Little Lion Man as his posh name, is looking very moth eaten and quite naughty!! Can look lovely, but if he is tired, looks remarkably donkey like. Also, only likes to walk, canter an rear on his mum, so know I'll be lucky to get a trot mark!! Look out for us, we'd love to see a friendly face- we're in a little blue lorry, looking nervous!!! And holding on for grim death!!! ;-) x
Click to expand...

Im glad some others look donkey like my colt defo does! he also doesnt trot and just jumps on his mum and me! I will have a look in new look for trousers thanks for the idea! my name Holly so feel free to say hi and i will look out for you. I have a small blue box too, with a 14h grey mare (black colt - velvets wish)and 16h dapple grey mare (black filly - tanners star ) but going the night before as coming from nottingham so didnt fancy a 5 am start!

Hope to see you there!
 
Hi,

I was Totil Platinum's dam's handler. William, as he is known at home is Platinum Stud's first foal and the futurity at Crofton was our first too.

We researched as much as we could and decided on white top, jeans and beagler hats. Many people wore coloured shirts (which I presume are their stud colours) but we did get some nice comments from the judges on our turn out!

William unfortuantely was also going through the scraggily stage and we ummed and ahhed about taking him but at the end of the day we are proud of him, he had already been sold (his lovely new owner was there taking photos) and we just really went for the experience and to see what it was all about. We had a great time and Wills was impeccably behaved (in some ways I think too well behaved, he wasn't as flashy at the futurity as he can be at home but thats just the way it is sometimes).

We found it was a really nice, welcoming atmosphere. The judges and stewards were happy to explain to us when we asked what we needed to do and it was a good day alround.
 
Velv, will def look out for you- we're in the eventing section and about an hour away so not stabling but will be very happy to see other people looking nervous too!
I totally agree with Charem, I love my foal to bits and as much as I'd love him to get a good score, in reality - it doesnt matter too much!! He's for me to keep as my horse for the future and I think he's amazing which is the important thing!!
Will def be good experience for all of us and really pleased that all reports are how nice and relaxed the occasion is. Oh and looking forward to getting some helpful feedback & a nice photo or two!!
A little nervous as the stallion owner is going to be there to see our fumbling about the arena but as you say, we are all proud of our foals so thats what matters!! X x
 
Eeek there will be loads of us there then, i will be in the eventing section as well Diamore, and yep she is one for keeps.

Would be good to have a lil H&H forum gathering :-) Im in the lil grey 3.5tn lorry :-) When we get the times will have to post :-)

Although she has popped the 4ft electric fence this evening :S
 
I took one of mine for the first time last year (Arena UK) and was terrified!

As a very small hobby breeder my mare is 'breeding unknown' but her colt gained 8.21 & a 1st premium!

Even without the score it was a great day and a really good experience. Everyone if friendly and helpful and it is not a competition!!

I took him back this year (Richmond) and he scored 7.82 as a gangly, bum high yearling so once again I am chuffed! Only bit I didn't really understand was his vet score (8.75 as a foal to 7.00 as a yearling with a comment from the vet that he looked cow hocked but it was probably due to his growth spurt!).

Good Luck and enjoy :D:D
 
Im doing the Futurity for the first time this year with my and my mare's first foal. My mare is a (breeding unknown) Traditional Irish Cob so not exactly a show jumper which is what my filly is entered as. She is very scruffy and patchy, but my biggest worry is that she isnt that well handled I'm not sure if I'll be able to catch her again. Does anybody have any ideas?
Thanks :)
 
I would try and handle her as much as you can before you go. She really needs to be leading well etc before you go. A few practice runs helped mine a lot. A wild foal will not show itself well.

Is she clingy to her dam? If so you can use that to help catch her and don't take her headcollar off when she is running free! - I did notice some people do but I wouldn't risk it.

Also if she likes bucket feed take some with you to encourage her to be caught (not something to do everyday but I think it's ok to use it for this :D)

Lastly - It really doesn't matter what the dam is, they just look at the foal:D:D

Good Luck & Enjoy!
 
We've been handling her, she will lead and listens to me when being led. I didnt feel we were getting anywhere very fast though hence why I posted. The problem is catching her, she's not that clingy to her dam and doesnt feel bucket food is worth being caught. We have to do all our training in the field, no access to a stable. Just not sure how easy it will be to catch her in 20m X 60m arena? Her dam on the other hand has always come to me, in the ten years I've owned her I've only had to go to her about 6 times.
 
Hi, I went to Catherston earlier this week. Everyone was helpful and kind. It was our first time and we too were worried. Our mare and foal also live out 24/7 and are not flash. They just came in early in the morning to be plaited and brushed.

Had not done any research other than watching the video and we had a good score (8.79) although many looked more polished and pampered than ours. Our mare and foal both had plaited manes and were clean but thats all !

The only thing I could suggest is to make the most of canter we did not realise until afterwards that the canter score section was out of 20 whereas everything else was out of 10.

I hope that is helpful.

ps did wash mares tail and back the day before. !
 
Last edited:
Thank you Fluerswanton, we've been practising the canter but definately practise some more tomorrow. She is starting to realise just bcause we want to catch her nothing bad is going to happen.
I'm glad you done well, :) it is difficult against the professional breeders.
 
So, the time is nearly here people!! Been trimming up my two today, so cat looks less like a moth eaten hippo & whipped off Mouse's beard & feathers so he looks like a champion not a mini cob. Getting quite excited now! We're on at 11.26, after a Billy Congo colt and before a Mighty Magic!! Eek!! Nothing like being between 2 flash ones......Mouse excelled in lorry training today, took a while but suddenly got it & went on & off like a good boy 3 times. Hope everyone else is excited too & fingers crossed the rain holds off!!! See you Thursday!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top