Help - show...should I or shouldn't I?

[almrc]

Hello all

I would like to pick your brains please. Monkey is now 4 yrs 2 months. I have recently backed her and she is riding on nicely. I have loaded her in the trailer a couple of times and driven her around the fild. I intend to do more of this (hopefully!) There is a local show in about 3 weeks time (about 15/20 minutes away) and I am thinking about taking her, for fun to do an in hand show. It is a local show as I say so really good practice. First question will she travel ok, or is it imperetive to do a lot more practice (when she loaded there was not any issues she was obviously just a bit worried looking on her face!) and secondly, what do I wear, what does she need to wear (she is in a neue schule starter bit), what does her mane need to be like (she is TB X with hanovarian and new forest), and what classes can I go in, I would ike to do inhand showing not the riding classes? She is approx 14.2ish hh.

Here are some pictures and thank you in advance!

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(This is not where horses graze, they were fitting in a cheeky mouthful after a hack)

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[shadylady69]

Hey,

Im sure monkey will travel fine and im sure you have done more practice for traveling then many, you should wear a show jacket and beige jodphurs along with long boots if adult or ankle boots if junior, you can show monkey in a bridle and i would advise plaiting her main and tail and maybe they may run some novelty classes like prettiest tail or pony the judge would most like to take home.
Hope this helps

 

[Honey08]

I'd just take her for a trip out first time round, and not enter - especially as it will be her first journey too. Spend a few hours there, letting her get used to all the sights and sounds. If she is calm perhaps do the odd novelty class, or best condition etc, but don't rush her...

 

[almrc]

Thank you for your help so far, I did think that take her and then see what she is like to be honest. But I would like to have everything there with me just in case she is really good (might surprise me!) I have owned her for over 3 years and put my heart and soul into her so she will never be rushed, but I know what you are saying completley

 

[TelH]

I would definitely take her. If she is calm I would maybe do a class or 2 at most, if she is a bit fired up about the whole thing I wouldn't enter, just spend the time letting her have a look round etc. If you do enter her it is correct to wear trousers for in hand not jodhpurs. Trousers should be of contrasting colour to the horses legs, ie dark legs light trousers and vice versa. You should also wear a tweed jacket, shirt (not white), tie, gloves, hat

 

[monikirk]

We have taken young horses along for the ride on their first outing when travelling with a spare space.
One show was a local dressage comp and they just had a walk round and grazed by the lorry and the last 2 we took out did a coloured class and a youngstock.
Must say nothing wrong with a novelty class at all if you don't take yourself too seriously! Don't spend a fortune getting kitted out just look smart.

 

[GingerCat]

Plait her mane, either plait her tail or tidy it up (it's a bit late to pull it now, shouldn't be done all in one go or she be sore).
-Trousers more correct than jodpurs, light ones as she has dark legs.
-Shirt and tie and either waistcoat or tweed jacket if you have one.
-Hard hat or trilby
-gloves
-trainers offer good grip when running out (some welsh cob runners wear football boots!)

As has already been said, don't get too hung up on turnout as you're going for experience, try to make it as pleasurable as possible for you both..enjoy your day

I agree, there's nothing wrong with novelty classes for experience, although you may find that they are big classes with kids who don't always have full control of their charges!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Please ignore the advise above. Wrong, wrong!! When showing in hand wear trousers and short boots. Never show in hand in long boots unless you want to look like a total idiot. I would suggest a shirt and tie, cord trousers and a hat if you feel more comfortable with one on. Yes plait her MANE and pull her tail, unless you are very adapt at plaiting a tail. If you have to go for novelty classes I would give up and leave the horse at home. Completely ignore the ridiculous advice above. Oh and a nice hacking jacket.

bit harsh....

To the OP - please don't show in-hand without a properly secured crash hat on. At local level, I'd never mark anyone down for putting safety 1st.

You'll find its professionals who show in soft hats etc, the 1st time taking a newbie out is NOT the time to think of fashion etc, but of safety.
Gloves & hat on at all times from when you are unloading untill you go home again.
Id suggest to borrow a tweed jacket to go over the shirt & tie if you can.

Have fun - good luck

 

[almrc]

Dont worry I wont go spending, I do already have a tweed jacket, a green tweed type one if I remember right (not been out of packet for a while!) and I will wear my hat, just in case. Thank you for all the helpful replies. So plaiting her tail, I will need to look into what that needs to look like exactly, does anyone have any examples?

What classes can I go in, I know there are the fun ones but I know she is not M&M, would it be sports horse or such? I know I may only be able to do fun classes as when I looked on a schedule, the in hand classes were mainly for 3 and below or coloureds. Its all for fun so long as we are both hppy I dont mind. Ooo ny showing tips, like I know people use vaseling etc? Though not sure I will bother with that (more for interest) as as long as we get there and back in one piece it will be an achievement. She has had boots on once, but may need to practive with them on more, or go without them. I travel my cob without them but I suppose thats a bit different.

When I am eventually riding her on prperly and of course when shes ready, what showing classes can I take her in, ridden ones?

Good advice, thank you keep it coming I love how they use football boots and such!