How to get into showing?

[elliebrewer98]

Hi!

I'd quite like to try some showing with my two horses. I compete BSJA with both of them but I'm out of juniors this year. I'm going to jump seniors on my pony but would quite like to have a go at some showing if suitable.

I have a 147.3cm grey ISH 15y/o mare and a 16hh bay Dutch Warmblood 5 y/o mare.

Would upload some conform pics but don't have any on this computer so have some from competing lately if any help: http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cgi-bin/public.cgi?form_status=order_image&event_id=207241&img=mr0o9316s{035-BALLYELLEN BELLA ELANOR BREWER.jpg&anc=p29_0001_es&ss=1&imgcat=035-BALLYELLEN BELLA ELANOR BREWER . I can't find any pictures of Pascha (the warmblood) but if anyone has the time or inclination http://www.eventsphotos.co.uk/ - Photo sales and then Carousel Riding Club Lexham Saturday 2nd August 2014i > Lexham Carousel 02 08 14 web > Class 5 > _DSC9453.jpg (best picture: 3 down, 2nd in).

Any suggestions of what classes they'd be suitable for? Working hunter, flat, etc? Thank you!!

 

[Gloi]

I'm afraid I can't see the pictures but if your horse & pony will jump natural fences working hunter classes at a local show would be a good place to start.

 

[Orangehorse]

Find a local show, riding club show, etc. and just enter in what ever you fancy. Then after the class ask the judge if you are in the right class!

Unless you are in a breed show, when there will be a "breed standard" that everyone is aiming for, showing in the UK tends to be of types - so cob, small hunter, lightweight hunter, middleweight, heavyweight, riding horse, hack, working hunter, so the judge will have in their heads a picture of their ideal winner, and they have to place the horses in front of them against that ideal. This will not only what the horse looks like, but also how it is presented, what sort of individual show it does, and what it looks like with no saddle on and how it leads up.

So you might have a lovely horse, but it might not fit one of those categories so comes down the line. On the other hand, you might have a perfect looking cob, say, but it doesn't do a good show.

The only way to get into showing is to do it. Start at a small local show where the horses aren't usually ridden by the judge, unless they particularly want to, but at that level they will ask if it is OK. Showing is all about the overal picture, so nice plaits, very clean and tidy turnout.

 

[humblepie]

I haven't looked at the photos but as above, try different classes and get feed back. I had a horse who did riding horse (affiliated) then when retired down from that did riding horse, hunter, competition horse, light horse, sport horse, riding club horse, veteran, best condition, best turned out, style and performance etc. A riding horse and a hunter are very different builds but locally a horse that is the "top end" of a riding horse type can morph into a more lightweight style of hunter.

Main thing is make sure your horse is well schooled and well turned out.

Good luck and enjoy it. Us showing people can often look a bit unapproachable but we are not - it is just the aura of my horse is best that you have to give off at all times! It can be great fun and I have made some good friends through it.

 

[kc100]

I'd echo what everyone else has said - just enter a few local shows and do as many classes as you are eligible for, then see what feedback you get (often showing judges will tell you 'oh you should do xxxx with him, he'd be great'. And at a local show its not so important anyway, you can just have fun and try it out. Showing is pretty seasonal however so there wont be much over the winter, should pick up again April time I think unless there are a few fun Xmas shows local to you?

Your ISH mare should be eligible for veteran classes now so there is an easy start. Both class as horses I think (as your mare is over 147cm) so there are plenty of 'horse' classes. Your link for your mare doesnt work (keep getting page not found) so cant really comment on light hunter etc but typically if the horse is a small horse which she is and of a relatively fine build then light hack/lightweight hunter should be fine. You can do working hunter as well if you like to jump. There is normally a generic 'riding horse' class which they'd both be suitable for. And you can do in hand too if you choose, again they echo the categories for the ridden classes normally.

Same for the 5 y/o - I'd say she is a LW or MW hunter (can enter one and ask the judge on the day if they think you are in the right class!).

With showing the main thing to watch out for is blemishes/scars, the showing world dont like this kind of thing so if either of your mares are not perfectly blemish free you could struggle there. Some shows do offer sports horse classes I think where they dont look at scars/blemishes, they look at the suitability for a sporting purpose (DR/Eventing/SJ) so your 5 y/o could be good for that one as well.

Main thing is to start looking out for local shows and when they'll be running next year then you can start to plan a bit of a 'season'. Once you've got a few locals under your belt you might have qualified for something a bit bigger and can get some advice on what is the right category for your horses so you can aim them at the bigger county shows. You'll probably need advice on the correct dress for yourself (I believe it changes slightly depending on what class you are in) so again get a local show under your belt and talk to a judge who will be able to help.

Hope this helps!