Gypsy Cob Turnout for Intro Dressage?

sychnant

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After doing a little funride on Sunday, and Casp being a complete star, I've gone slightly mad and entered us for Intro A on Sunday :p

His mane is too long and thick to even do a tidy running plait. Do I need to shorten it so I can plait, or will squeaky clean and loose be ok?

Also, should I wear navy with a cream stock, or stick to my show turnout of tweed and tie?

Pic here because he's so gorgeous (My mum having her first ride in about 30 years!) :)

Casp%20and%20Mum_zpsv3wgesuq.jpg
 
His mane will be fine as it is; there's no formal requirement for plaiting in any event, but that mane looks too awesome to hide in a plait!

In terms of what you wear, either is acceptable but you'll find more people tend to wear show jackets rather than tweed. I always think a show jacket and stock looks better than tweed for straight dressage (rather than ODEs and the like).
 
He's gorgeous. You can leave his mane loose. But my fell has a similar length mane and very thick and coarse and it is possible to running plait - we do for dressage, so it is possible, just takes practice (or you can split the mane and do one either side of the neck)! I also find that it helps in the heat (when we have some).

I dressage in tweed and a stock - it's allowed up to Medium I believe.
 
Thanks Walrus :)

I am quite good at running plaits, but Casp's mane has got so long and thick that there is too much mane going into the plait, which the goes sort of zig-zaggy. Unfortunately it's not so thick closer to the wither, so doing a plait each side means that one finishes part way up his neck, which irritates me as it looks untidy :D

I wear my tweed for showing and would happily wear it for dressage - except the last few tests I did on previous horses were awful, I'm trying to get back into the swing of competing, and I think I might feel more "professional" (ha ha) in navy :)
 
I would try and do a running plait if only to get his mane out of the way of your reins!

I tend to wear my tweed jacket and tie up to elementary level and then my blue jacket and stock. However you could wear whichever you feel most comfortable in.
 
eggs, I'm used to dealing with the mane tangling round reins :) Plain reins and plenty of Skin so Soft does the job!

I have a feeling it may be whichever jacket makes me look less fat :/ I'm leaning towards navy - Casp and I are unlikely to ever do more than Prelim, so it would never get worn :D But a trying on session is on the cards once I've fed and turned out :)
 
What about a lattice plait - is that the right word for them?

But I would have thought loose is fine.

Your cob is is stunning BTW!

I have done unaff intro and prelim on a Welsh D and have always gone unplaited and in tweed. Have never had any comments that it is wrong.
 
In fear of getting shot down here, I'm not one for hairy coloured cobs BUT yours has converted me. He's so gorgeous. I think loose and tweed is the way forward. Do let us know how you get on.
 
In fear of getting shot down here, I'm not one for hairy coloured cobs BUT yours has converted me. He's so gorgeous. I think loose and tweed is the way forward. Do let us know how you get on.

Same here! I don't like coloureds OR hairies in general, but I fell in love with that cute face!

I did wonder about TGCA mrsh2010, but I really don't think dressage will be our thing. I'm only doing it this year as a bit of education for Casp, it's a nice way to get him out and about. He's sharp off the leg but doesn't like to maintain a pace, he would rather stop if he can :D So unless we get to grips with that, even Prelim seems a bit beyond us!

Mane is definitely staying down :)
 
What a gorgeous mane! I agree, loose, but you could also do a lattice if you want to lighten up the neck. Have fun playing around with it! If the tweed fits, then I'd be inclined to go for the tweed: just seems stylistically more appropriate to the horse.
 
loose mane and tweed is actually more correct for lower level dressage it's just the fashion nowadays for everyone to wear navy.
 
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