In-Hand showing questions (long, sorry!!)

[Ginge Crosby]

Basically..... I want to do some in-hand showing this summer at our local shows, as riding is temporarily off limits due to the slight inconvenience of being 6 months pregnant (I managed a 10 mile fun ride at the start of April but OH has decreed 'enough is enough').

My boy has been lightly ridden by a friend for the last month, but is mainly bored in the paddocks at my in-laws. He's used to alot of work (schooling/hacking/jumping), and he's only 7, and he doesnt seem the type who's happy to holiday in the field all summer. He's maintained alot of muscle, and always looks handsome with his summer coat (but obviously i'm biased!).

The main reason i want to do some showing with him is for his mental well being, NOT to win rosettes, but don't want to make complete idiots of ourselves either. (Its probably to keep myself a little entertained too, i'm just as bored as he is)

ANYWAY I now have no rider for him, so will have to be some in hand classes. Thing is, i haven't shown in hand for about 10 yrs, and have pretty much forgotten etiquette/ring craft.

Classes i'm considering putting him in are:
* Condition and turnout
* Gelding
* In-hand riding horse/show hunter
* Hunter

(although i don't think he really meets hunter/show hunter criteria? 16hh ginger TBxsomething, see pic)

So.... can someone remind me of
* what an individual show should be like
* dress - shirt & tie vs jacket & stock?
* black snaffle bridle ok (WITHOUT the blingy spangly browband pictured above)?
* Tail plait - a must (not a fan of) or nice neat pulled tail (prefferred)?

Anything else i've forgotten??

Tea and biscuits for those who got this far!

(ps just to add, for those who may be concerned about my pregnant state, i haven't decided if i'll be showing him or if my OH's father will be running for me - not sure a 6month-old Bump would appreciate me taking up jogging!)

 

[much-jittering]

Individual Show - In hand you don't do one as such. All go round (handler on the outside remember, so judge can see horse). Then all halt round the edge and trot one at a time round the back, then pull in (either in the order judge is thinking, or as is) and go out to one at a time stand up for the judge and trot up.

Dress - Shirt & Tie I say, but big disclaimer, I only show natives in tweed so don't know about the world of things with longer legs and show jackets! Same for the plaiting question, no idea.

Snaffle bridle fine. It's only for fun. Technically brown is more correct but it really doesn't matter. Definitely loose the bling though

 

[SmallHunter]

Turnout for the horse: Snaffle bridle fine with the reins taken over the head, no bling, pulled tail not plaited and if you can some simple quarter marks and sharks teeth like this

(not the best as I was doing them quickly)



Turnout for handler: Tweed jacket, pale blue or cream shirt, tie with tie pin, cream trousers, brown gloves and cane, either a navy riding hat, flat cap etc, and smart shoes/boots you can run in.