in hand showing? advice please!

[Lauraoscardillon]

I compete my boys in ridden classes such as xc sj and dressage/ eventing but iv never considered in hand showing until now.

they are both cross breeds, one being a 14.2 welsh cob x and the other being a 15.2 Connemara x tb? can i show them in hand or do they have to be specific breeds and reach specific requirements?

complete novice here as you can tell!!

thanks x

 

[horseywelsh]

you certainlty can show them in hand (at local level there are many classes that you can enter without been a purebred). There will be classes such as conditioned, best turned out. handsome horse, partbred classes which you could do, also they have coloured, veteran, hunter, plus many more (don't no if you fit those criteria or not).

Maybe when you go to a show to do a ridden class, enter one inhand class and see what you think. I only tend to do in-hand classes with youngsters or as an extra class if travelling to a bigger county show as i prefer the ridden side.

 

[Lauraoscardillon]

thanks for the help! yeah i love the ridden side but i think oscar (the welsh cob x) is quite eye catching so wanted to enter him in some classes. which leads me to the second problem of do you show them in bridles or head collars? im not sure id have complete control in a head collar, he is known to run off!

 

[Kallibear]

Is he registered partbred welsh? that gives you even more classes you can compete in.

Partbreds should be shown as their 'type' rather than trying to pretend they are pure breds.

So if Oscar is a hunter 'type' pony (might not be - he may be a show pony type!) then he should be shown as that, so hunter bridle (flat plain cavesson and browband).

But to be honest it doedn't really matter at local shows, as long as your smart and clean. However a flash noseband in an inhand class just lokks studip, regardless of which class you're doing

 

[Lauraoscardillon]

hes more of a hunter type il try and add a photo to this thread! he isnt ridden in a flash so thats fine!

i just think it would be quite exciting haha again showing how utterly clueless i am, do you have to trot them up and stuff or is it just standing?

 

[horseywelsh]

if he's a hunter type then show him in a bridle with flat noseband/browband, you can either have him in a pelham and lead with double reins, or you can have snaffle and add a coupling.

Normal procedure for inhand class. All will enter ring and walk round (clockwise is correct way), when judge has seen them all walk steward will stop you in one corner and you will individually trot to back. Judge will then pull you in in order they think. Then you will need to stand horse out in front of judge (you stand in front of horses head with you facing horse). Make sure horse is stood up square. Judge will have a look at conformation etc then ask you to walk away and trot back. Make sure you walk away in a straight line, do a keyhole turn clockwise and trot straight back towards judge. You will all then walk round again and judge will decide final placings. Sorry if that's all a bit basic and obvious. It's not complicated. Best of luck

 

[Kallibear]

Inhand showing's dead easy and can also be pretty boring!

He needs to be sparkly clean and ideally turned out correctly to 'type' (i.e hunter bridle and plaited)

You need to be smartly dressed. At local shows it really doesn't matter if it's not entirely 'correct' but you need to look like you've made an effort. So smart jacket (tweed ideally) with shirt and tie. Plain trousers (pale if he's dark legged, dark if he's pale-legged) and smart shoes you can run in. Gloves essential and you should really have a hat on too (velvet show hat or trilby type).

As for the showing part:

You'll go in at the start and walk round on the right rein until everyone's in and ready.

You'll walk round for a while whilst the judge watches you then you'll all be halted and you'll trot round to the back one by one.

Judge will then pull you in in placing order for a better look. You'll just stand waiting until it'd your turn.

You'll get pulled out and asked to stand him up square for the judge to inspect. He needs to stand still! Judge will have a good look and possible ask you some questions.

You'll then be asked to walk him away in a straight line then trot back towards them (in front of the horse line-up). You continue the trot round the back of the line-up and back into your space. Then you stand around again

Once everyone's had their turn you'll all walk round the ring again whilst the judge makes their final desicion and pulls you all back into line in the final placings (which may differ from the orginal line up).

Then it's lap of hounor (in trot) before all filing out for a well earned cup of tea back at the box.

You should always be on the outside so the judge can see the horse, not you. For some reason I always seem to end up on the wrong side when doing the individual show if I'm not paying attention

It's really not difficult and there will be steward to direct you if you're not sure.

This is my welshxarab (in partbred arab class, which is always tiny):

Watching the pretty arab mare strut her stuff:

Standing to be examined:

Being dragged round in trot (he thinks showing is boring)

Posing afterwards:

He's ALMOST correctly turned out for his type (hunter type) - so plain bridle and plaited. However my plain havana bridle was on my other horse so he had to make do with a black with bling browband. Also, I've got brown on as I'd just had my other horse inhand and he has the brown bridle, so gloves should match. Now when I take them both I have navy trousers (matches my jackets collar) and brown bridles all round, so brown gloves and cane)

 

[Lauraoscardillon]

@ horseywelsh and Kallibear thanks for the advice!! il let you know how i get on if i decide to enter! il have to see if i can get oscar to stand still if i were to take him hes so so nosy and figity! i might take my other one whos the most relaxed horse you could ever meet haha

and your gelding looks lovely!! very very smart.. dillon is grey so i dont know if id get him looking that nice!! haah xx

 

[horseywelsh]

little tip which alot of people do, is either pop horse a polo, bit of grass, pony nuts which they can munch on while they need to stand in front of judge.