"I'm a stupid newbie" showing question!

Cedars

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Evening all!

Taking my baby girl to her first show on the 11th July. Dont want to blow her brains so only going to enter her for the novelty, two of either "prettiest mare" "best mane and tail" or "judge would most like to take home".

SO! I am pretty prepared for what I'm wearing - Green tweed jacket, white shirt, tie, black trousers, jod boots - and she's wearing a brown leather bridle, with a three point connection to a leather lead rein. I'm also wearing gloves!

BUT! Do I plait her mane and tail or not?!?!

Thanks!
 
Oh bloody hell I'm going to have to learn how to plait pretty bloody quickly!

I'm not sure about entering her for mane and tail, ebcause shes still got the baby light colour at the end and i think its probably more for older horses. Eeek better get practising!

Anyone else with any other opinions is welcome! xxx
 
Depends on her breed/type... if she's a native or traditional then definately not. Best Mane and Tail you will find will tend to be the natives and traditionals showing off their long flowing locks. ;)

Good luck and have fun!
 
Im not sure they're specifically aimed at kids, I think its more people who have never done it before and babies that have never done it before either! I'm happy to be corrected though haha!

Shes basically just gyspy cob...so it is most definitely long and flowing!!!! So you think leave down maybe? For all the classes?
 
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Her mane is about 2 inches longer than this now this is her at about 9 months (and still with winter coat - check out the hairy nose!!!)

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Also looking like a yak with her winter coat but you get an idea about her tail!

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This was taken yesterday so is a very recent one of her face!

And these two are of her yesterday, one being taken for a lets-learn-not-to-spook walk, and one in her field just after!

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What do you think?! Hannah xxx
 
We have no idea really, mum is gypsy cob, but they think dad was a bit finer, possibly tb.

Shes a rescue case, well, her mum was, she came in foal to the centre. Dad was definitely finer than mum, anyway!

Would be really interested to know the breeding if anyone has any ideas xxxx
 
If her mum is definately a gypsy cob, then you could try parentage dna testing :) Unless it's the dad you're looking for lol.
 
Not that fussed, would just be interested!! Do you think she'll be any good or will everyone laugh at her?!
 
Course you won't get laughed at :)

I'd be inclined to put her in the coloured youngstock myself rather than novelty! :)
 
Gahhh just posted a long reply and my broadband cut out!!!!!

Its a show in Morton in Bristol, there are two, one on the 11th July, one on the 22nd August. Thought for her first ever party I'd only take her in the novelty ones so that if she is a tit I dont upset anyone else and also that if i cant even get her in the showing ring then I wont be disappointed! Then I'll take her again to the one on the 22nd, and enter her properly in to the youngstock/coloured etc - cos she'll already have seen the sights and sounds so should be much better prepared!!

Novelty isnt just for young kids is it?!

Hannah xxx
 
Novelty usually is lol I'm afraid to say! And it's not done the same as a showing class really in it's format.

You honestly really won't be frowned on or upset anyone entering her in the coloured youngstock :) I reckon you'd both love it :D Even if she does get a bit frisky....it's a class full of youngsters out at the beginning of the season so you won't be the only one having a frisky filly, so will be on a more even footing and might even come home with a rosette, you never know! :D

Plus...the novelty classes tend to be at the end of that day *usually* so even if she gets a bit overwhelmed in the coloured classes, you could take her into the novelty ones if push came to shove for a chill outclass after perhaps? :)
 
Oh noooo I dont know now! I jsut dont want her to throw a complete tantrum and walk around on her back legs (which she does when she panics!!) and me completely embarrass herself or put anyone else off!

I also have no sodding idea what to actually do in the show ring, will it be obvious and do they tell you?! Or do i need to learn?! PANIC!

I might ring the show sec tomorrow and see what she says about the novelty xxx
 
Basically:
Walk round
Trot them up when they call trot
First line up where you get pulled in and stand on the centre line
Conformation judging where you come out individually and stand your horse up for the confo judge [they might ask you about the age but not allowed to touch them] and then you trot them up individually too.
Then all walk round once everyone is done, and they call you up for the final line up in order of placing :)
 
Ok so all on the right rein (as in, my right hand nearest to her mouth), walk round in a big circle with everyone else (pray to god im not the lead because she'll go absolutely ape!), then trot when they say. Then go in order they say to the centre line, then stand there whilst they walk round and pass comments!! then trot round the outside of the ring by myself?!?!?!?! is there a way i'm meant to walk out of line or is it just the quickest way without hitting anyone else LOL, then go back to place on centre line, then walk round again, then get called in in rosette order, then win first place (haha....) then go home?!
 
Your baby girl is gorgeous :D Normally when showing in hand the judge will ask you to walk away in a straight line and trot back in a straight line so nothing to hard lol.

You'll be fine, good luck and you should do the coloured classes :)

Whenever im nervous or panicy and don't want to do something my mum always tells me "Think positive and positive things happen" :D and actually a lot of the time it comes true :D
 
Aww thanks horsecrazy, i think shes just lush but its easy to see them with rose tinted glasses!

Im definitely going to take ALOT of rescue remedy, deep breaths and happy thoughts!

And I think you're persuading me to do the coloured/youngster class!!!
 
Haha pretty much :)

You can choose your place as you go in...don't go right behind a really flashy one, or one that looks like it's about to play about. I'd choose the quietest looking two and try and pop inbetween them as you go into the class if possible. And just follow them round and copy for ease of mind.

You bring them forward normally for the confo judge, so walk her straight out and stand her up where you'll have seen all the others stood for confo judging :) Then walk her down about 8-9 strides in a straight line away from the judge, then turn gradually [not sharply] to the right and then trot her coming off the turn in a straight line past the judge and continue round the outside, round the back of the line up and back into your space :) [obviously leaving plenty of space from the other to not get kicked etc]
 
When i first started showing i took lot's of rescue remedy too lol :D

You should go for it, it'd the taking part the counts and winning is a bonus :D

I did some showing last weekend and there were some youngsters which look as if they had been fed oats springing around all over the place lol but nobody cared its just educating your baby girl and getting her out and about which is the main thing atm :D
 
We do a prettiest mare/handsomest gelding class at our shows and get quite a few adults doing it, especially if they've got youngsters.

She is lovely, definitely leave her mane and tail unplaited though as it suits her type like that.

In an in-hand class, usually the whole class will walk round together while the judge has a look at you all. Then his/her steward will get you all to halt, usually with the lead horse in a corner of the ring, and then get you individually to trot round the ring to the rear. Then you'll walk round as a class again, then get called into the middle, sometimes in order depending on the judge. Then you'll get called out one by one for the judge to have a closer look, feel legs etc, then you'll be asked to walk away, turn and then trot straight back to the judge. Don't worry if you think you are going to run him/her over, stay in a nice straight line and the judge will move out the way! They like to see the horse moving straight and its amazing how many people can't go in a straight line abut wiggle about all over the place! When everyone has done this you'll all get sent out again to walk as a class, the judge and steward will have a final decide and the you'll get called in for a lovely rosette.

If you don't want to be first wait til a couple of others have gone in the ring and then follow on behind them, but don't crowd them or let anyone crowd you as the judge has to be able to see your lovely baby. Don't be scared to circle her round to get in a better position. See if you an follow someone who looks like they've done it all before abd copy what they do! Listen to the steward, usually they are very good and will tell you exactly what the judge wants you to do.

Most importantly, relax and enjoy it!!
 
You should definatly try the youngstock class! I once got place down in a 2/3 year old class because the pony was too well behaved and they wanted a bit more spirit and life in the youngsters. The judge will not be expecting them to be perfectly mannered and unflappable!
 
Aww guyssss thanks =] I think im going to take her to the 1,2,3year old class and possibly the coloured class.

Thank you SO much for the blow-by-blows on what happens - it probably sounds stupid to anyone whos done it before but if you're a newbie its so scary!

Also thank you so much for the comments about Puzzle xxxx
 
She is lovely! You should deffinately take her in the youngstock class and the coloured class she should do well in them! Main thing is to have fun and not worry too much if she is naughty, people wont mind, a lot of horses play up at shows especially there first time.Just go along and have fun
 
Just spoken to the show sec, who says that the "proper" classes have LOADS of people in and are really quite formal and important, but the novelty classes are for adults and kids but are really designed for those new to showing, so shes recommending taking her to the novelty class to begin with.

I think its also best cos the novelty is at half 2, AFTER all the other classes, so it'll be pretty quiet, and it also means we'll have a calm unstressed morning of bathing and grooming without getting up at stupid o clock!

I'm actually really excited now! =]

xxx
 
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