In Hand Showing - Idiots guide please?And What classes (if any!)

3Beasties

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I was just looking through the horsey events that are on in my area over the next month and have spotted a showing show at one of the local EC's. I thought it might be nice to take my Section A as she is rider-less at the moment and I'm sure she'd enjoy an outing.

I'm not a showing person at all (although have helped a friend at a few over the years) and my pony has never been shown either so I need an idiots guide please!

What do I wear? Do I leave her o'natural for M&M or plait her up for the likes of best turned out and veteran (all in-hand)? Are they the right sort of classes for her?
What's expected in an In-hand class?

This is the beast in question. Will we be laughed out of the ring?
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These are obviously from when she was still in work so she's not looking quite so fit and trimmed, she is currently in a very o'natural state.

If nothing else it will give me the kick to start lunging her and getting her fitter! We wouldn't be going to win but don't want to make a fool out of myself either!
 
Not at all!

You could do veterans, and m&ms and best turned out. Depends what else is on the schedule.

You will be expected to walk round as a group and then stop and each trot to the back of the group. You will the be pulled in to the centre and you must present your horse to the judge so they can check conformation etc . You then walk away from the judge and trot back to her so she can see straightness etc .

Turn out wise, keep her natural. A nice in hand bridle with snaffle and lead rein for her. For yourself, either shirt tie and waistcoat or tweed. Plain trousers and suitable running shoes . Gloves , show cane and hat. A wax type hat is probably more suitable than riding hat.
 
Thank you.

Can she not be shown in a rope halter?

Will have to practice trotting her up! Have you any pictures or the correct attire?
 
She has white legs so you should wear dark trousers, people seem to normally wear chino's or similar if you have them. Then a shirt, tie and a tweed jacket or a waistcoat.

This looks fairly correct to me:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=i...owing%2FIn-hand-showing-On-the-day%2F;600;400

Just a "warning" that the judge will normally run their hands over the horse/down all their leg etc, so might want to get her used to people running their hands over her too :)
 
If she is Section A you can show her in a white rope halter.

She shouldn't be plaited or obviously trimmed but you can tidy up under her chin.

Plain trousers, shirt and tie, hacking jacket, gloves and show cane and short boots or smart trainer type shoes you can run in.

A lot of welsh showing people wear a shirt and waistcoat.

Check the schedule rules regarding hats, some insist on riding hats but if not you can wear a trilby type to match your jacket or waistcoat.

If she is a pure bred M&M she can go in veteran and best turned out unplaited.
 
Just a "warning" that the judge will normally run their hands over the horse/down all their leg etc, so might want to get her used to people running their hands over her too :)

That rarely happens these days. Most of the societies frown upon it because of the possibility of passing on disease, so it would only be unaffiliated judges who are not up-to-date.

Be careful with the hat, someone was killed at an agricultural show near us a few years ago because her in-hand youngster reared in the ring and came down on her head.
 
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