Hmm, not sure how successful today was!

benson21

benson21

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We had our 4th show today, it was a much bigger show, and also over an hour journey to get there. We left about 8.30. got there just before 10, which was fine, but then our class wasnt in til 12.50! Our local show just down the road takes about 10 mins per class, and we hadnt realized quite how big this show was!
Donovan was a star once he was in the box, but we do need to work on the loading! He looked almost as stunned as I was when we got there, there was horses everywhere!
So we had a lot of hanging about and unfortunately he got bored. So when he and OH went in he had lost his sparkle, but was very well behaved. He came 3rd, the 2 others seemed much more experienced than him, standing beautifully and not fidgeting like Don does, but it was good for experience.



And I have photos!!!!!
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Every event you take them too is a huge learning experience for them at that age - the loading, the travelling, settling with hoards of other trailers, boxes, people and horses around, the strange indoor school where he's expected to focus on you and perform.....
all mentally stimulating and extremely tiring for them as they take in all these different sights and sounds.
He looks a gorgeous chap and both beautifully turned out. Very well done.
 
Well thank you very much. I am a very proud mummy!

Just a quick question, what do we think of his weight? Everything there today looked much more......rotund shall we say! Do you think he is ok, or should he be slightly more covered?
 
Well done!!!

Weight wise I think he looks good, as near to perfect as you can get. Showing leans toward a rotund shape...with apple bottoms and huge crests and barrel bellies!!
 
Dearest Benson, he looks great................ but he is not produced for a big show. He is wooly and untrimmed. He doesnt need to be fatter at all, he needs to be more toned with more top line. Producing ponies for the ring is an exact science and it is not easy!! I am sure you will have seen for yourself the difference of the well produced ponies and the ponies down the line. If you want to do this showing job it has to forward planned. He needed to be rugged up fed and worked on the lunge. He seems to have a bit of a belly on him and looks slightly in the raw. I hope you dont mind me saying this Benson, I know you want to do this right. Showing is not all about fatness and the bucket, it is about producing a pony to catch the judges eye, otherwise you are wasting time, money and fuel.
 
Thanks Pastie, I dont mind you saying this at all. I think where we have just been going to our little local show he has been fine, but it really showed our inexperience yesterday when we looked at the others there. Felt a bit like the poor relation if you know what I mean!!
 
Ok, I am sitting at my desk pondering on some of the advice and comments very kindly given on here, and I have some questions. as you can tell I am not busy at work!!
Pastie, when you say he is looking raw, what does that mean? Its a term I have never heard, but probably something really obvious!
Obviously now, his winter coat is coming out, so too late this season, but next winter do I need to rug him even more? He has had his big rug on all over winter and has been quite toasty in it, so any more will make him very sweaty.
And what about feeding? I give him 2 handfuls of chaff, a few pony nuts ansd some garlic once a day and pretty much Adlib hay.
I lunge or free school him probably 4 -5 times a week.
ALL advice gratefully received. x
 
I'm not a showing expert, but if you want to do big shows with him he needs to either be rugged through the winter, or fully clipped just after he gets his full coat through, followed obv. By rugging and Brushing EVERY day you should get the coat condition u need.

For a local show, he looks fine, but not for proper ones.

At the very least it was experience for both of you, which means it was a complete success :)

Good luck in the future, and for future reference if u use baby oil on his legs and points itll help him stand out no end :D he looks a lovely sort anyhow :)

Ooh- an something like baileys outshine will condition him a treat :)
 
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