In-hand Showing?

Shantara

Shantara

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I've been wanting to in-hand show my favourite horse, Ned, for a while now.
Can anyone give me any tips and pointers for improving his appearance or tips that may help me so I'm ready for next year?
I realised he's a pig to lead, unless it's at a show. (Don't ask, I had to baby-sit the blooming thing like he was a dog!)

Obviously I'd clean him up a bit and he wouldn't have nasty sweat marks and muddy socks!

EDIT: He's a standardbred, by the way! Around 10-12 years old.


Ponies028.jpg
 
Thanks :D I'll have to look up what classes my local show does (Held at the stables where he's kept)

Does he look in good enough condition to show? I have done a few as a kid, but not for about 8 years.
 
Nice to see another Standardbred owner on here :) At our local shows we have classes like Horse in-hand & Foreign Breeds In-hand also Condition & Turnout in-hand, no reason you couldnt do any of those, i cant really think of much else you could try him in really. Best thing to do is collect any show schedules you see & have a look at what classes are in them, they all seem to vary from show to show. Good luck with him :)
 
Your boy is lovely:)

I'm assuming that you're thinking of in hand at at local level to begin with.
I've only done this once, so I am no expert, but we entered 3 classes - Mares/geldings over 4yrs, best turned out/condition and veteran. We came first in all 3 classes:D
I do fee my mare seaweed which is supposed to promote a healthy shiny coat, and she is super shiny all year round.
I think the key is in preparation beforehand and a friend who can do amazing plaits helps:)

We has great fun doing it and everybody at the show was really supportive and helpful.
 
Thanks for the help guys :D I could only show him at the stables he's kept at as he doesn't travel (Bad experience, I'm working on getting him over his fear though!)

I must also note he's not mine, but 50% of the time he's left out of shows because only 1 other person rides him. I do want to continue jumping him, but would like to get him doing other things, since jumping winds him up a bit and I'm too much of a wimp to go higher than 2ft 6 (in shows anyways, I'll jump higher during lessons etc)

It's Bedford and District and for a local show, it's pretty good! Lots of fun and lots of classes. Here's what I've found. (I usually jump him, so I'm not well read on the in-hand classes XD)

Best turned out
Best conditioned horse
Best grass kept
Veterans (How old would he have to be?)
Horse or Pony judge would most like to take home (Considering the judge IS his owner and knows how nutty he is...I don't know how well he'd do in this one XD)
Most handsome colt or gelding
 
One last question, can/should you in-hand in a Dually? I'm thinking of buying him an in-hand bridle, but I've just got him a Dually too and I heard they can be good for in-hand. Also, could I use that red bridle, just attach a in-hand lead rein?

Ah, I thought it was probably around that age ^^ Thanks! Maybe in a few years then :P
 
Brilliant, there are lots of classes that you can enter.

We had a trail run before the event, bath, plaiting and much polishing. We even practised the routine in the field with one of us pretending to be the judge, we must have looked like a right pair of knobs:D but it helped on the day.

Owner turnout seems to be important too. Checkout various showing websites, local riding club website photos or Hoys to get the idea. I bought most of my stuff on Ebay:)
 
I showed my mare in a normal cavesson bridle - no one commented on it and we won quite a few classes so couldnt have been too bad a mistake! :)
 
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