Hairy or Hairless?

[SamiiBellex]

Okay, so I have a piebald cob who, as far as I know, would do well in showing colour wise (I literally have no clue about showing but I have been told - not sure if it was actualy true or just flattery though) but I was wondering, hairy or hairless? Now I love my mare to bits but she is loopy and has arthritis so combined with living out 24/7 means she can regularly be lame so high level competing isn't really an option therefore I can grow her mane out (which I was doing) but last winter quite a large chuck was rubbed of due to rugs so I have cut her mane and layered it with a fancy comb so its all one length

but my question is: at the beginning of showing season, take it all off (feathers, mane & all) or leave her hairy? Which do people think she would score better in? Here's what she looks with no feathers and she did have a mane at this point but its on the other side so she kind of looks hogged:

and here's what she looks like hairy:

My issue is her feathers, like I often see cobs with thick almost curly feathers and when hers grow out, they aren't exactly the thickest, but they are sort of thick:

So what do people think? Do people even think she will show well?

 

[be positive]

She doesn't really have enough bone or substance generally to show as a hogged cob, nor enough feather to show as a traditional, I would go with the middle ground and take off the feathers then pull her mane and tail so you can plait her for shows and show her as a hunter type.

I am not sure that a "loopy" horse will excel in the show ring as manners are taken into consideration, they do also need to be sound but if she is well schooled and sound on the day at local level you could have fun with her, she looks sweet enough and is standing quietly in the photos.

 

[FfionWinnie]

I would also be realistic about who told you she was show quality. If they are a well respected judge, that's one thing. A lot (actually most including myself) of horsey folk wouldn't know show quality if it kicked them in the ass. Saying that as someone who has viewed two horses sold as HOYS prospects recently and honestly even I could see they weren't even local show prospects. Have no idea about your mare, just saying that an experienced person looking at her and assessing her movement would be a good start.

 

[Honey08]

I would just trim her up. Pull her mane and or tail, trim her feathers with scissors and com, or clippers if you must! She's not a cob IMO, but more of a hunter type that would look better plaited and doing working hunter/RC horse than cob classes.

 

[Char0901]

I don't know a lot about showing but I'd trim her up so she's neat and tidy. Plait mane and tail and show as a hunter type as others have suggested. She looks like a sweetie, and as a coloured I like her markings. She may not be a world beater but as be positive said, if she's sound on the day at local level I see no reason you couldn't have a lot of fun