In Hand Show - Chifney?

[helm]

Ok so I'm planning on taking Ernie out again this weekend to show in hand. I keep doing this cos I get v nervous riding at show (although he's an angel under saddle) and i'm obviously a sadist. When being led occassionally he rears. When at show he kicks off. Last time I showed him in a Chifney after a couple of bad experiences at past shows. he always does well in his in hand and i can't help but think we got marked down for using a Chifney. Do i ring up and check if i can use a Chifney again on Sunday or does anyone have any brilliant tips for getting him to behave when led in a show ring.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Of course you got marked down for using a Chiffney.

 

[arwenplusone]

Yep - you will get marked down for it, sorry.

Can you do some ground work with him? I would be doing my best to get him there in a snaffle tbh.

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

if he is such a nightmare at in hand showing, why do it ? maybe it is not his thing ?

I dont show or anything but, if I saw a horse being shown in a chiffney I would think it VERY odd.

 

[helm]

yeah well we still came third in the Chifney. Why keep doing it? Why not - he usually wins that's why? And doing ground work with him doesn't stop his behaviour. Most days he's good. Others he's bonkers. Before when I've posted I've always had helpful suggestions.

 

[Stinkywellies]

You will def get marked down for using chifney. You would be better off to use a bridle on him. Good luck

 

[pottamus]

I use a chifney for trotting up for the vet prior to pleasure rides but I ask permission first. It is a better be safe than sorry for me as he can get strong in hand and being a Welsh D there is no way I would keep up with him. It is not ideal and I get frowned on by others but there you go!
In the situation of showing I would tend to not bother if I had to use a chifney...to my mind showing is about looks, confirmation and manners and that is where you will get marked down. At the very least you will need to ask permission beforehand to save a wasted trip.

 

[Quadro]

i have to say if i was judging and saw a horse with a chifney i would definately mark it down, why?, because i would assume rightly or wrongly that the horse has issues with manners ie was very strongly, bad to lead, reared etc etc
i would practice in a snaffle at home or try and pelham/double bride if the horse is very strong once you have the problem under control then you out and more red rossettes could be coming your way
good luck!

 

[helm]

Thanks for the tip Quadro. At home he's fine. At show ground sometimes he's fine others he's bonkers (incidentally the last time he was naughty we came first)

 

[Quadro]

if its at the show ground why dont you take him and just lead him around at the show and get him used to the atmosphere without competeing in any classes???
will take the excitement out of the whole thing for him!

 

[AmyMay]

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incidentally the last time he was naughty we came first

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I'd love to know which show and under what judge this happened. As you should have been down the line or asked to leave the ring.

 

[Theresa_F]

I would expect to be put down if I used a chifney - why - because it indicates that the horse is ill mannered. You may be ok at local level.

My WB used to on occasion rear with excitement, I used her normal snaffle and threaded a dog choke chain through the rings and attached the rings to the lead rein, forming a triangle. If she started to muck about, the chain kept her under control as it would tighten if she started to go up. It is discrete and acceptable for the ring.

I did quite a bit of work in hand with her with the chain so she knew that if the chain was on, it was best to behave herself, and tended to keep her feet on the ground.

 

[SunSmile]

[ QUOTE ]
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incidentally the last time he was naughty we came first

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I'd love to know which show and under what judge this happened. As you should have been down the line or asked to leave the ring.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto this.

What type of horse is he and what classes do you show him in? Either use a double bridle or pelhem or as someone else suggested a snaffle with a chain under his chin, for extra control.

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]
Before when I've posted I've always had helpful suggestions.

[/ QUOTE ]

So because we are not saying what you want to hear then we are not helpful? This forum IS helpful, but if you are looking for 100% agreement all of the time then you are in the wrong place!

 

[0ldmare]

Ditto the above. Try to keep him moving if he feels like he is going to rear - they have to stop to rear! Even if you keep circling when in the line up that would be better than a chifney I think

 

[Lauraoscardillon]

I have a horse who we have to load and lead out of the field with a chifney. Now i know him better iv found i need it less and less because he realizes he cant get away with it if he tried to pull away or be silly.

However, i dont show in hand..so i couldn't be too helpful. However..would a pressure halter be suitable? I don't know if it would be strong enough/if its acceptable in the show ring, but it might work.

Similarly, i think the dog chain through the rings sounds good. also, perhaps taking him to shows and leading him around not competing as someone mentioned earlier might mean the excitement is taken out of it.

Also, which is obviously not deliberate, maybe you get a little nervous just by being in the show ring and this translates onto your horse? maybe just more and more experience might help. it sounds like you've done well already =]

hope this is sort of helpful... x

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

How old is he?
If he is not a youngster, id try a pelham/double.

Also if he does tend to rear maybe try to do a bit of ring craft and if you can feel one coming (some people can, Im naff at it) try your best to be at the back ofthe judge.

The pelham/double generally od help.

Maybe lunge him before hand as well to get some energy out of him?

 

[rara007]

Having watched the inhand classes at the suffolk show all the naughtiest ones won

The sweet ones that trotted superbly were placed below those bouncing off the walls. Obviously you don't want to be dangerous, but showing in a chifney is very odd.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

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try your best to be at the back of the judge.

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LOL I got away with my mare rearing the 1st time I showed her inhand, because the judge was looking the other way.............the other competitors were rightly annoyed she got away with it and came 1st.

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

Piebald sparkle.

Yup it annoys the others but in showing, if your there to make others feel better, your in the wrong kind of competition!!!! hehe!

(and i have had a similar experience, and its was like WOOPs...... O WELL!

)

 

[Hippona]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
incidentally the last time he was naughty we came first

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd love to know which show and under what judge this happened. As you should have been down the line or asked to leave the ring.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto this.

What type of horse is he and what classes do you show him in? Either use a double bridle or pelhem or as someone else suggested a snaffle with a chain under his chin, for extra control.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto ditto this...

My horse was excitable at one show, and was moved from first to second place because of his manners. He was in a snaffle and jigging about a bit, not rearing or going mental or anything....

Showing is about confo/presentation/way of moving and manners.

You wouldnt use draw reins in a ridden class or stressage test would you, on the pretext that he may go 'bonkers'.......you need to work with him so his behaviour does him credit otherwise yes, you 'should' be placed down the line from the horses who do behave themselves.

 

[nobbster]

i have to use a chiffney on my horse not for showing but at the yard he is a nightmare with the mares and leaving them, but a show he is diffrent very independant and shows of alot,

sorry back to the point if you feel safe with the chiffney who cares what others think, wether its il mannered ,rude or watever, i personally would not stop showing just for that reason i love doing it again my man gets far with showing. and if you love it then like you said why not keep showing.

good luck and keep it up if he is doing well wahoo xx

 

[Hippona]

[ QUOTE ]
i have to use a chiffney on my horse not for showing but at the yard he is a nightmare with the mares and leaving them, but a show he is diffrent very independant and shows of alot,

sorry back to the point if you feel safe with the chiffney who cares what others think, wether its il mannered ,rude or watever, i personally would not stop showing just for that reason i love doing it again my man gets far with showing. and if you love it then like you said why not keep showing.

good luck and keep it up if he is doing well wahoo xx

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, but thats crap....if your horse is dangerous to the point of it rearing at shows, then you shouldnt be there. If your out of control horse landed on a competitors head then woe betide you...how would you be able to defend yourself, when surely, having to show your horse in a chifney is kind of advertising the fact that it is badly mannered, poorly disciplined and dangerous in public......

 

[hellspells]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
i have to use a chiffney on my horse not for showing but at the yard he is a nightmare with the mares and leaving them, but a show he is diffrent very independant and shows of alot,

sorry back to the point if you feel safe with the chiffney who cares what others think, wether its il mannered ,rude or watever, i personally would not stop showing just for that reason i love doing it again my man gets far with showing. and if you love it then like you said why not keep showing.

good luck and keep it up if he is doing well wahoo xx

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, but thats crap....if your horse is dangerous to the point of it rearing at shows, then you shouldnt be there. If your out of control horse landed on a competitors head then woe betide you...how would you be able to defend yourself, when surely, having to show your horse in a chifney is kind of advertising the fact that it is badly mannered, poorly disciplined and dangerous in public......

[/ QUOTE ]


Agree completely with Poppymoo. Utter crap.

But op ditto what the others say, try a snaffle with the chain through as suggested early, its a fantastic trick and alot cheaper to buy a chain dog lead than a new set of bits, although if this doesn't work pelham or double would be a good way to go.

Good luck!!

 

[nobbster]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
i have to use a chiffney on my horse not for showing but at the yard he is a nightmare with the mares and leaving them, but a show he is diffrent very independant and shows of alot,

sorry back to the point if you feel safe with the chiffney who cares what others think, wether its il mannered ,rude or watever, i personally would not stop showing just for that reason i love doing it again my man gets far with showing. and if you love it then like you said why not keep showing.

good luck and keep it up if he is doing well wahoo xx

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, but thats crap....if your horse is dangerous to the point of it rearing at shows, then you shouldnt be there. If your out of control horse landed on a competitors head then woe betide you...how would you be able to defend yourself, when surely, having to show your horse in a chifney is kind of advertising the fact that it is badly mannered, poorly disciplined and dangerous in public......

[/ QUOTE ]

i do agree if he is that dangerous fair-enough, but as she said in the begining he occasionally rears, which i have seen most horses do this when they get exicited.

but not if he is that dangerous but if he is controllable in a chiffney then i see a problem with it.
thats all i was saying, i did read back through it and i didnt mean who cares if he is ill manered ect.... but if he had a chiffney in and this is what people thought, if that makes sense.
x

 

[Kenzo]

If you don't mind being marked down for it and it stops your horse from rearing (so he is safe enough to take into a showing class without putting anyone in any danger or looning about) as the chiffney is doing its job then carry on using it, the horse must learn and if means going to shows and wearing one the so bloody well be it, even if it just means walking around and not being able to compete or being placed last the horse must learn! of its just plain old excitability in that type of environment, how on earth do you get him used it without actually going? how do get foals used to parting with there mothers in mare and foal class? by getting out there and doing it, yes its hard work but he will soon calm down eventually, where hopefully you wont need to used it, even if you explain to the judge etc or enter HC then at least your getting your horse out there and soaking up the atmosphere.

But it also depends what you mean by kicking off, do you mean going up a few random times?....or actually dangerous to the point where his back end is as unpredictable as his front end?...in which case I would not take him to shows, as this is far more dangerous as you can't keep control of both ends...specially when there are kids running around etc.

In the meantime lots of ground work at home, if he's not doing at home then I know its hard if he's only doing it at shows etc but he's learnt that he can do it now so you need to practice that ground work and control actually at the shows, just walking around and keeping out of everyone's way, your not doing any harm and your training him which is what he needs right now.

Don't give up, keep at it but keep save, good luck.

 

[MurphysMinder]

As others have said if your horse can behave dangerously I don't think you should show him until you have control. If its just minor playing up, perhaps either a double bridle or the snaffle with a chain idea.
Got a thing about badly behaved horses just now as we were at a show at the weekend and there was a Welsh D stallion that the handler was having real problems with, so much so that we decided against taking our pony mare into the championship with it, as she had a 6 year old riding her. Glad we made the decision as stallion got loose a bit later and was charging round the showground until someone caught it. Hopefully they won't bring it again until it has learnt some manners

 

[cronkmooar]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
i have to use a chiffney on my horse not for showing but at the yard he is a nightmare with the mares and leaving them, but a show he is diffrent very independant and shows of alot,

sorry back to the point if you feel safe with the chiffney who cares what others think, wether its il mannered ,rude or watever, i personally would not stop showing just for that reason i love doing it again my man gets far with showing. and if you love it then like you said why not keep showing.


***** Quite honestly you should care about others - their safety and the damage that may be done to their animal due to the behaviour of yours *******

Sorry, but thats crap....if your horse is dangerous to the point of it rearing at shows, then you shouldnt be there. If your out of control horse landed on a competitors head then woe betide you...how would you be able to defend yourself, when surely, having to show your horse in a chifney is kind of advertising the fact that it is badly mannered, poorly disciplined and dangerous in public......

[/ QUOTE ]quote]

Absolutely agree 100% stay out of the ring and frankly off the showfield until you have a better behaved animal.

Its all very well "just going for a walk round" but remember there are children on ponies at every show and you could be a danger to them.

Stallions are not even shown in chiffneys.

I show a lot and if I was in the same class as you and despite the bit your animal was rearing and misbehaving I would be speaking to the steward and if necessary leaving the ring. However any judge worth his/her salt would ask you to leave the ring.

This type of bit is NOT allowed at affiliated showing so if you are doing local level you are probably on a show field with other inexperienced riders/animals.

Sorry for the rant but quite honestly I can't believe the stupidity of this.

 

[Tnavas]

Chifney - not in the show ring!

Options - straight bar vulcanite bit or try to find a straight mouth with the slight ridges on - the Stallion horseshoe bits have a smooth side and a ridged side.

Leading in a jointed bit can really upset them as the action changes with the downward pressure on the rings.

 

[lilym]

[ QUOTE ]
yeah well we still came third in the Chifney. Why keep doing it? Why not - he usually wins that's why? And doing ground work with him doesn't stop his behaviour. Most days he's good. Others he's bonkers. Before when I've posted I've always had helpful suggestions.

[/ QUOTE ]

sorry, but if I were judging I would not allow you to compete in a chifney........It is now up to you to teach him manners, in either a snaffle or double bridle.