Help - Advice needed on welsh in-hand showing

[jackscrag]

Right im a total novice to showing

aint got a clue, ive a 3 1/2 yr old sec d thats got exc breeding and we are going to a local show soon, Q:- what do i wear ? he's being shown in youngstock class in-hand, what does he wear a bridle/headcollar, colour etc ? I must sound like a muppet ! But everyone has to start somewhere

he is gr8 to walk and trot in hand, an absoloute gent ++ its people on yard who have told me to show him locally as they say he's got what it takes but at mo i think i dont

help and advice very welcome, ive been to a few local shows just watching but am soo nervous, i just want to get my 1st time as nr rite as poss... i know it wont go 100% but id like to build up experience etc, and hope you guys can help me a little, thanks for reading !
jacx

 

[Scunny]

Hi, we've done a little bit of showing with our section c in-hand so I'll pass on what people advised us with

A tweed jacket or nice waistcoat and shirt & tie for the handler, with trousers that contrast with your horses legs, eg ours is a bay with only one (and a half lol) white sock so my daughter wore cream trousers. A lot of women seen to wear men's chinos. Dark coloured comfy boots or trainers (most people I've seen wear dark trainers). Some wear hats but others either have their hair in a smart bun or ponytail.

We got the impression that brown tack is preferred to black, and while geldings can wear the white halters we were advised to use a bridle, at a local show a snaffle will probably be fine but we got a nice havanna in-hand bridle with brass fittings and a rubber but with brass rings (ours was only three too last year) quite cheaply at our local tack shop. The leather wasn't the best quality but after a few sessions with leather balm looked and felt nice.

Mane and tail should be left natural looking but most people do thin manes so that they look neater and a little plait for a bridle path is fine (looks nice too!)

I found two really great forums for Native Pony showing, people on there will be able to give much more advice than me as I'm just learning myself

SaddleSoap
Hamlets House

Have fun!

 

[cobden99]

Hi, would agree wth Scunny about the handlers clothing - has your cob worn a bridle before ? If not you probably need to get him used o it before the show. You can show youngsters in the white halters but at 3 and a half he is presumably quite big and strong so it may be safer to use an in-hand bridle. Havana is correct, people dont generally show in black tack.
The mane should be tidied up and thinned out so it lies nice and flat if it is very thick, and the small plait behind the ear is done to show off the gullet. Try and get him used to being around strange horses if you can before you take him out in pubic, and if you thnk there is any chance at all that he may kick out, put a red ribbon on his tail to prevent people running up the back of you or standing too close in the line-up.
Good luck, hope he behaves and you have a great time.

 

[jackscrag]

thanks for the replys, yes he's ok with a bridle but i have only got a black one

and no pennys at mo to buy one, plus today ive been to him and he's been battered in field loadsa kick marks on him, he is a dope on a rope to be honest never kicked me or any other horse he has no vices, so guess i'll have to save up a bit an try nxt yr ner mind.
thanks anyways least i know what to buy in future

thanks jackiebx

 

[cobden99]

Sorry to hear that hope he is OK - if its a local show you would probably be OK with a black bridle - taking him out to see a few things and get some experience is probably more important at this stage than doing everything strictly to the letter turn out-wise anyway, so if he recovers in time I would say go for it