Inhand showing for the first time

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Im taking my traditional tricoloured cob with huge amounts of mane/tail in hand showing for the first time on Sunday and im ridiculously nervous. I've never been showing before and I also have to compete against someone very experienced on my yard who seems to look down at us a little bit which makes me even more worried im going to mess up!!
I cant afford all the gear but I have a few good friends lend me their tweed jackets so hopefully wont look so completely out of place. Im entering coloureds, prettiest mare and best condition - can anyone give me any advice please? Im trying to take in as much information as possible so I can fumble my way through it but this is my first horse and my first opportunity to actually get out there and do it myself rather then be everyones 'groom'. Im very excited, just want to get myself well and truly prepared.

I will be walking to the showground and wont have transport to tie up to so will have to stand with her in hand for the day but figured on a grass showground that wont be a problem and between classes just take her bit out so she can munch? or am I hugely mistaken?? I don't have anyone else to go with!

Help please!!
 
Just leave her in her bridle, they can still eat with the bit in :) I wouldn't bother messing around, just cause you more stress. Keep that tail plaited up and in a tail bag (if you've got one) until you get to the showground.

Don't get worried about competing against someone else, who cares! Just go and enjoy yourself and the experience! Have you practised at home? If not, make sure you do, and also try practise standing her square and seeing if someone will walk around her at home so shes used the judge wandering around her. Also, my personal pet hate is, when walking away from the judge, doing your circle and then trotting back to the judge, make sure your straight before you start to trot, it really really annoys me when I see someone attempting to trot when their horse hasn't finished circling!!!!! Drives me insane, just looks messy.

Take a rug as well if your going to be stood outside all the time whilst waiting for your classes, you never can predict the Great British Weather.
 
Well done for having a go!
For inhand classes it most important that you get her moving forward with out dragging and responsive when you are asked to trot up.

Ideally you should have different coloured trousers to her legs- ie white legs- dark trousers. And you can wear short boots rather than long.

Take a headcollar then for inbetween classes and just keep out of the way of the rings if your going to graze in hand.
Just bear in mind how long you are standing around for, if you classes are far apart maybe look at schedule to see what two classes are closest.

Whereabouts are you? Its my RC show this weekend and we have those classes running :)
Good luck and have fun!
 
Its south east essex in benfleet/thundersly.
I only have white jods and cant afford to buy new ones (I get paid monday) so it might just have to do.

One of my main concerns is not being able to hear the judge while walking around.
And how far forwards do you walk from the judge and what sort of circle do I give it to turn back?
 
Hannah97 said:
Its south east essex in benfleet/thundersly.
I only have white jods and cant afford to buy new ones (I get paid monday) so it might just have to do.

One of my main concerns is not being able to hear the judge while walking around.
And how far forwards do you walk from the judge and what sort of circle do I give it to turn back?
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Do you not have a pair of casual trousers instead of wearing white jods which really do look out of place, any trousers, within reason, would be better.

You will not hear the judge while you are walking round as they will not be speaking to you, the steward will give any instructions and they will come towards you in order to attract your attention and so they do not have to shout, there is very little to be said in an in hand class.
In your individual show walk about 15-20 metres directly away from the judge just before you start to turn take a slight swing to the left and turn to the right in a tight 1/2 circle so you are aiming directly back towards the judge, as soon as you are straight get the horse trotting still aiming for the judge who will usually step back out of the way so you can keep going in a straight line past them.
 
Hannah97 said:
Its south east essex in benfleet/thundersly.
I only have white jods and cant afford to buy new ones (I get paid monday) so it might just have to do.

One of my main concerns is not being able to hear the judge while walking around.
And how far forwards do you walk from the judge and what sort of circle do I give it to turn back?
Click to expand...

Try watch the class before you to get an idea on whats going on :) please don't wear white jods youl stick out like a sore thumb, try wear some normal pants, even if it like black skinny jeans???

Also run directly to the judge as if you were going to run into them, they will move :)
 
Hannah97 said:
Ill run to a tack shop on saturday and get the credit card out - what colour should i be wearing with a tricolour with white legs? beige, canary or....
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You can wear pretty much any colour with white legs except white/beige imo. You can pick cheapo £12 coloured jeans or trousers up in Asda/Tesco/Matalan :)

You shouldn't really wear jods at all for inhand so no need to go to the tack shop and spend lots of money :)
 
Matalan do really nice smart chinos in navy for about £10. They are men's but that doesn't really matter. I've got 3 pairs of chinos from matalan in mustard, navy and burgundy and they look really smart.
 
Below is a picture of me and my mare with white legs last year. I have brown jod boots on, navy chinos and my show jacket. Brown gloves and brown show cane. You can pick up Chinos cheap these days and the look really smart.

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I am doing my first inhand show with my horse on Sunday too! Don't have much advice as I'm like you, can't afford to buy all the gear so just hoping to try and get all the stuff together. I'm stuck on a show jacket at the moment!!

Just thought i'd say good luck - i'm sure you'll do great and don't forget to have fun! Who cares are about the experienced person, it doesn't matter if you are placed or not just so long as you are happy with how the day went :) :)
 
Amye said:
I am doing my first inhand show with my horse on Sunday too! Don't have much advice as I'm like you, can't afford to buy all the gear so just hoping to try and get all the stuff together. I'm stuck on a show jacket at the moment!!

Just thought i'd say good luck - i'm sure you'll do great and don't forget to have fun! Who cares are about the experienced person, it doesn't matter if you are placed or not just so long as you are happy with how the day went :) :)
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Its all very daunting but equally exciting! Make sure you remember to post how you got on, and best of luck for Sunday, I think its going to be a very busy weekend for a few of us by the sounds of things!
 
Sorry to hijack your thread, but I am hoping to take a black cob out in-hand showing at some point- what colour should I wear with him -all black apart from 4 white socks and white blaze? I only have a navy velvet hat - do I wear a jacket or waistcoat, and what colour trousers - the thought of light coloured ones scare me as not flattering and get dirty so quickly?! Good luck Hannah and just enjoy- it should be fun after all!
 
twodonkies said:
Sorry to hijack your thread, but I am hoping to take a black cob out in-hand showing at some point- what colour should I wear with him -all black apart from 4 white socks and white blaze? I only have a navy velvet hat - do I wear a jacket or waistcoat, and what colour trousers - the thought of light coloured ones scare me as not flattering and get dirty so quickly?! Good luck Hannah and just enjoy- it should be fun after all!
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I don't like wearing beige trousers either so i have a grey pair - they go with a tweed and suit any leg colours! Mine are from Matalan. I'd wear tweed, but if you havent got one, then a nice waistcoat.
I've not done inhand for a few years now & miss it!
 
Hannah97 said:
Its all very daunting but equally exciting! Make sure you remember to post how you got on, and best of luck for Sunday, I think its going to be a very busy weekend for a few of us by the sounds of things!
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Yes i'm nervous and excited! Last time I tried to take him to a show he wouldn't get in the box :( :( We've been practicing and i'll just be happy if we get there and back to be honest.

Let us know how you get on too!
 
Thanks Crackerz that's a good idea, and I do have some grey trousers! I did not realise that ur legs should be opposite of horses legs colour but i suppose it does make sense!
 
I absolutely love showing in hand!

First make sure your mare looks absolutely gorg!! As everyone else has said don't wear white jods, dark trousers against light legs and vice versa. I normally try and match my tie/browband to the colour trousers im wearing. Tweed jacket, navy velvet hat, brown gloves and brown show cane.

When your doing your show, bring your mare out so she is facing directly to where you are going to walk to. Don't let her stand askew or diagonal and try and be as square as possible. Actively walk 15-20 metres away from the judge in a straight line, then turn a circle making sure you turn your mare away from you and trot directly back straight at the judge. You want a really good active trot as you are trying to show your mare off as much as possible so trot as soon as you straighten up and no dragging and look forwards :). Keep trotting all the way up to the fence line in front of you then I normally trot round the back of the line-up and walk just before I get back to my space.

Get a space in the line-up after a few other's so you can watch what they do. Enjoy it and good luck! :D x
 
Thought Id update everyone on our showing ventures!
We didnt place but it was a huge class for inhand coloureds. We didn't like the horse next to us that kept playing up so we were let down a little bit because of that but other then being quite tense she was almost perfect! Im very surprised and happy she behaved herself. and we got a nice picture and a rosette anyway
 
Hannah97 said:
Thought Id update everyone on our showing ventures!
We didnt place but it was a huge class for inhand coloureds. We didn't like the horse next to us that kept playing up so we were let down a little bit because of that but other then being quite tense she was almost perfect! Im very surprised and happy she behaved herself. and we got a nice picture and a rosette anyway
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As long as you enjoyed it that's the main thing :)
 
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