In-hand showing - help please!

[Kub]

I'm *hoping* to take Haz to his first in-hand show next weekend, but want to know what I would need! Firstly for Harry and then for me. What should he be wearing and what should I be wearing? Do I leave him natural as he's a traditional cob or plait him up?

Tell me everything you know

 

[Cop-Pop]

What class will you be showing him in? If its a native class then don't plait. I can't see from your sig (if that's him?) but if he's got a long(ish) flowing mane then I wouldn't plait it personally but I've seen some who do. If its a local show then it probably won't matter too much.

Show him in a smart, plain cavesson bridle if you don't have an inhand bridle/halter. You should wear a hacking jacket with smart, plain back trousers and smart shoes you can run in (unlike me who on my first in hand show slid on wet grass and went flying

)

Good luck

 

[lilym]

leave him traditional - if you plait he would need his feathers off to...I am assuming he is the horse in your sig?? make sure he is spotless - and I mean white bits white with no yellow to be seen!! a plain hunter bridle with a flat noseband and plain browband, preferably brown.
For you, smart trousers (no jods in inhand classes please!) boots that you can run in,shirt tie, gloves, and a tweed jacket if you have one - if not a waistcoat looks smart, And a hat, you can wear a hard hat if you like and feel safer although i opt for a Aussie style bush hat and you will need to carry a cane. I buy my inhand trousers in matalan £10 a pair, and the shirts in tesco's!!! apart from my tweed my inhand outfit was less tha £20!! good luck, enjoy and have fun!!

 

[Kub]

He's the one in my sig

Yes, making him brilliant white should be interesting...

Ah, matalan and tescos, great suggestions! Where would be a good place to get a tweed jacket?

 

[Rudey]

Here's a few easy tips to remember when it comes to showing...

Trousers - if your horse has light legs, you wear darker trousers. If the horse has dark legs, you wear light trousers. This helps the judge to define your horses action and not yours!

When you lead them, you will be on the near side, when you turn, turn the horse away from you on the right, NOT around you!!

Another good tip is when you do your trot, try run in time and match your horses front legs.

First impressions count!! Smile and be very polite to the judge. They will ask you various questions, possibly age and breeding, perhaps more, so be prepared!

My friend judges ridden hunter classes, she told me that one day she had an extremely tough time placing 1st olace out of two horses. The horses were equally as good, the riders were equally as good, the turnout and presentation were also equal.... the winning factor boiled down to when the judge said 'hello, how are you', one rider responded, 'good thank you, how are you'.... and that ended up being the deciding factor as showing wise they were into a first-place tie, but a final decision had to be made!!

 

[Cop-Pop]

If you don't have a tweed jacket you can wear a waist coat. I usually wear a black waistcoat for showing in the summer then a tweed jacket in the winter for added warmth

I got my waistcoat in a charity shop

YO just got hers from Edinburgh Woolen Mill for about £10.

Word of caution - if you're going to use chalk and it's your first time dont use too much. A lovely pony in my last class was moved down the line as every step he took a little puff of white appeared

 

[Kub]

Lauracross83 - thanks, that's really useful! He has white legs so would black trousers be ok? Great if they are as I have those but no cream ones lol.

Zalacca - did he look like he's was walking on a cloud?

Also, what colour tweed jacket would I want to go with him? He's bay tobiano, a mixture of black, brown and white. Was thinking white shirt but not sure of a tie colour? And can you use a crop instead of a cane?

 

[Rudey]

I got a second hand Green Mears tweed off ebay for a modest £50 - absolute bargain it is gorgeous!! I decided to go through it as cheap as possible, as I didn't want to end up in a situation of 'all the gear, no idea', and then be no good at it, and wasted all that money!

Now I am hooked, I want to up my game and deck myself out in a new outfit, I really like the brown look, brown tweed, brown hat, brown gloves, brown boots, brown trousers, and brown tack!

Looking at your horse you would get away with brown or green, but green is more forgiving and goes with pretty much any colour horse!

I was told to avoid black for showing, especially hat and gloves wise. For your trousers, if you get a green jacket, you may find some khaki coloured trousers somewhere like Asda's, if not, better off going for a safe bet with navy trousers.

Here's a picture of me and Rox before we went in the ring. It's an example of what NOT to wear!!! I was show jumping my other horse at the same time and the classes clashed! So I was half in my jumping gear, and half in my showing gear.... showing disaster lol!! Very naughty white jods, and stock, I haven't got my gloves on, and although my hair is down, justbefore I went in, I tied it up!! xx

 

[Kub]

Well I *think* I've got a lot of it. Watching a brown hacking jacket on ebay, so hoping to get that, and then I can go for brown jod boots, brown trousers, white shirt with maybe a grey or purply tie and a brown hat. My friend is going to lend me her leather cane so all good.

I've only got black bridles for him though, do you think that would be ok? And is a metal bit ok as well? Also, what bits of him should I trim? He has a bit of a beard and very furry ears and a little fuzz on his tummy, should I trim these off?

 

[Rudey]

The outfit sounds perfect!! I've been talking to loads of showing people, and they said that the usual practise is brown, however, some people with piebalds prefer to use black. In all honesty, if it's not county level, I wouldn't worry about it too much xx

 

[Kallibear]

Firstly, DON'T WORRY about turnout being 'perfect', esp if it's a local show. Once you've been to a couple you'll realise it really don't matter too much, as long as you've made an effort.

For Harry:
If he's traditional cob he's going to look ridiclous in the normal fine inhand bridles you get, so stick to a normal ridden bridle and lead with the reins. It also saves you buying an extra bridle! A flash noseband looks silly in show classes so go for a flat thick (1"+) hunter cavesson. Reins should be really be plain or plaited leather but it's not essenstial. Bit should be a plain snaffle with clean and shiney bit rings. A pelham with two reins would also do. Any form of gag bit is incorrect and looks bad.

If you've not got one alreadly it'd be worth investing in one, as a plain hunter bridle with a thick noseband will be 'correct' for any type of showing you do with him. Brown ideally but if your saddle's black, go for black - it's not frowned upon now-a-days. If you're looking to buy something really nice to last a life time, have a look at Jeffrries or Sabre. Or if, like me, you're broke have a look at Kincade's Weymouth Bridle . Decent quality, nicely made with a lovely wide flat noseband and browband AND two sets of reins (plain set and plaited set). Plus a headslip if you ever ride in a double or rugby pelham. All for #30-#40!! (pound sign not working

)

Rest of him should be clean and shiney. Mild poo stains and yellow feathers and tail can be disguise with chalk. Mane and tail well brushed out and body well brushed. Bathing isn't essenstial, esp at this time of year. Personally I'd just do legs and tail.

For you: starting at the top.

Either a velvet hat (one with a leather strap is always correct, inc ridden) or a trilby. I've gone for a velvet hat as it can also be ridden in. Try the JTE Junior Showjumper hat: looks exactly like the posh H2000 but a fraction of the price. A velvet hat with webbing is fine too though. Match the colour to your jacket collar - most are navy. The modern vented Sj helmets looks terrible and you'd be best going bareheaded. OR robinsons do a nice trilby for #23, or a charity shop one for a couple of quid! Bareheaded with your hair up neatly will surfice too and costs nothing

Tweed jacket is correct for any class you do, ridden, inhand or hunting. Invest in a good one if you're afford it. Green matches every horse colour, is 'correct' for all classes, rarely looks 'cheap (even if it is

) and suits just about everyone. I have the Shires Huntingdon jacket and it's amazing. Very good price (80 ish), lovely colour (green check - fairly dark with a lovely faint gold and navy check), nice material and fit. Can't go wrong. If you've already got a black or navy jacket that'll be fine too though.

Plain shirt from asda/tescos. Make sure it's big enough to move in - tight fitted shirts are annoying! Shove it in the washing machine with a new yellow duster and it dyes it a lovely pale cream. A tie to compliment you, your horse and your jacket. It's down to personal choice really. I have a beautiful gold tie with small blue peacock feathers all over it. It matches my jacket perfectly. Take your jacket down to The Tie Rack and try them all on

Trousers - dark if the legs are white. I'd got for navy rather than black as it's a little softer. And it would match green tweed and a navy hat well.

Comfy dark shoes, even trainers. Something you can run in!

Gloves as essential and should ideally match your horses tack (black or brown) or if not, navy to match your trousers/hat/collar.

Cane is more 'correct' and a leather covered one can be about for #5 usually. It should match your tack. A short smart crop would also do if it's black or brown to match. Trim the leather flap at the end down if it's large and cut off the loop from the handle.

Most importantly, enjoy yourself! Allow for time to rewash legs and poo stains in the morning before you go - they ALWAYS make a mess! Take someone with you to help - they don't have to be horsey - someone to go and collect numbers, find out when your class is etc is such a help. Arrive in plenty of time - it takes at least an hour of faffing to get ready! Make sure you banage up his legs and tail before traveling, otherwise they'll get filthy. Remember to take brushs, chalk and coat shine etc with you! Don't forget water, hay and something to tie him up with (i.e twine). Take a camera! Good luck.

 

[Kub]

Wow, thanks so much for the in depth advice

I have a bridle with flash for him at the moment, but take the flash off and it looks really nice so thinking about using that.

I have a dark brown hat that my friend has given me, kind of western style, or a black velvet riding hat. I'll see what the outfit looks like with both. If I'm wearing brown but his tack is black, I'm guessing brown gloves would be the choice?

Really hope I can sort the transport now, I really want to go!

 

[SmallHunter]

Horse needs a flat hunter noseband and browband with pelham and double reins as I'm assuming he is old enough to be ridden.
You need navy velvet hat or some sort of trilby type hat.
Tweed jacket with cream or pale blue shirt and a tie.
Navy trousers would probably be best as he has white legs.
Brown gloves and cane.
Boots that you can run in.

One tip avoid black at all costs apart from boots as traditionally women only wore black when in mourning so should not wear it in the show ring.

 

[Rudey]

[ QUOTE ]


One tip avoid black at all costs apart from boots as traditionally women only wore black when in mourning so should not wear it in the show ring.

[/ QUOTE ]

ah!! So that is the reason why not to wear black! I did wonder why that was, I just knew that it should be avoided if possible! Learning never ends

xx

 

[Kub]

He's only just 2 so not being ridden yet. Ah, thanks for explaining the black thing, was wondering why people say it's a big no no.

I'll look on ebay for a hunter nose band, then I can just pair that with his normal bridle

Never thought about navy trousers, I'll see what I can find!

 

[Rudey]

[ QUOTE ]
He's only just 2 so not being ridden yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

...just a thought... have you bitted him yet?? If you're going to take him to a show you will need him as use to being bitted as possible before you attempt a show environment! As Rox was only 1 this year I used a white halter, so if you need further work and time in using the bridle, you can pick a white halter for around £7 ish xx

 

[SmallHunter]

Oh if he's only 2 then a snaffle is fine.
Yeah it was basically if you were wearing black you were in mourning and if you were in mourning you shouldn't be riding so that is the reason behind it.
Also forgot to mention hairnet if you are wearing a riding hat just keeps everything that bit neater and they are dead cheap.

 

[Kallibear]

[ QUOTE ]
One tip avoid black at all costs apart from boots as traditionally women only wore black when in mourning so should not wear it in the show ring.

[/ QUOTE ]

Tack or rider gear? Agreed black jacket/trousers looks like someones died! But for tack, I'd heard it was because black was initially the colour of cheap tack as it's easy to 'paint'. Brown was good quality tack. I've used black tack plenty of times and nothing's ever been said. Kalli intentially has black tack as it suits her colour much better - brown tack makes her look funny.

Def try and get a flat hunter noseband. You'd need to cut the flash loop off the cavesson if you were going to use that - it does looks really silly if it's still on. Seperate flat hunter nosebands are fairly expensive (#20 +) as they are usually english leather if sold seperately. I think I'd just go for a Kincade Weymouth - it'll prob be cheaper in the long run, plus you get two sets of reins (always useful!) Then you could have 'correct' brown. I've bought my 2yr old (above horse) one in cob size and it's still got plenty of growing room left. Once he's fully grown he'll get a posh proper english leather bridle made-to-measure.

Get yourself sorted with a jacket first then decide what you're wearing with it. A brown hat and gloves may well look good. The black hat might look ok too and no-one's going to comment at a local show.

I also have a 2yr old coloured cob and was previously doing mainly SJ (not with him obviously!), so didn't have any of the right gear. I've slowly bought all the 'correct' gear as I've gone along, mostly decent, more expensive stuff that I'll be able to use later once he's ridden. So decent jacket and hat, nice gloves. That kind of thing.

P.S school trousers (if you can fit into them!) are perfect for showing in - cheap, easy clean and smart. I've got a pair of boys 15-16yr navy trousers from asda for #4 and they're perfect. Brown trousers were much harder to find!

 

[Kub]

He's bitted

Absolute natural to it, happily takes it and lets it go again hehe. When I walk him on the roads, I use a bridle and bit just for that little extra control, though I've never needed to use it *touch wood*

Ah yes, claire's accessories, here I come

 

[SmallHunter]

The rider or handler should never wear black if they are a woman. Men can wear black in some classes.
I wouldn't wear a black hat even at local level as it makes you stand out for the wrong reasons and the local shows have got more and more competitive and I rarely see anyone turned out incorrectly.
I would always go with a navy velvet riding hat as it correct with virtually everything as are brown gloves and cane although a brown trilby type hat would be ok.