Inhand showing tips please!!

[Kola Bear]

Hi, i am a 14 year old girl showing a 32" Miniture Piebald shetland for the first time. I have never been to a show exept from clear round jumping. I am showing in novice class and coloured class. I would like to enter m&m in the future. I have got black short boots, cream jodhs ( he has dark llegs) jodh clips, grey tweed ( is this correct or do i need green) tie ect. Any tips would be sooo helpful thanks

 

[SJcrazee]

I wouldn't wear jods!! IMHO they look AWFUL in inhand classes - (unless in the inhand section of a ridden class) wear a nice pair of cream bootcut smart trousers if he has dark legs - I picked mine up in matalan for a tenner and I do loads of showing in these! Grey tweed will be fine, and wear a shirt and tie, you can wear a hard hat if you wish, but most people showing shetties tend to wear a cap or Aussie style hats, good luck!

 

[jhoward]

a miniture isnt a m and m

a m and m is a breed such as welsh/newforest/connamara.

 

[Lurky McLurker]

you can wear a hard hat if you wish, but most people showing shetties tend to wear a cap or Aussie style hats, good luck!

As you're a "young handler", do check the rules regarding hats - some shows have a rule that all handlers under 16 must wear a riding hat even for in-hand classes.

Do some leading practice beforehand to make sure your pony walks, trots and halts when you ask him to - it's quite embarrassing trying to drag a reluctant pony for the trot-up when it doesn't want to move! And make sure you both look professional at all times - at my first show I was told off by the judge for slouching and allowing my pony to stand wonky in the line-up whilst waiting for the others to do their individual shows - even when you think they're not looking, it's still possible to make a bad impression!

 

[blitznbobs]

Dress as above...

As for what to do, well you'll have to walk and trot round with the others then when you have to do your own show

PUt your horse in front of the judge so that the judge can see 3 legs. It's a common mistake to make your horse stand square. Try and get the horse to stand so that the fore leg on the side of the judge is slightly infront of the one on the other side from the judge. Also take some crinkly paper or pick some grass and try and make your pony look intelligent and get him to arch his neck... etc

Say 'good morning/ afternoon' rather than 'hiya, hello' etc.

When the judge asks you to move off (and they may just say 'thank you') then you lead your pony at walk away from the judge in a straight line. Then Pushing your horse away from you (So that you walk round your pony not your pony walks round you ) walk a small circle to turn back to the judge. THen once you are straight again, trot your pony AT the judge (THink I'm trying to mow you down) The judge WILL move (I promise) and carry on trotting the pony round the arena.

Be proud of your pony in the ring... If YOU don't know he's the best then the judge won't either!!

Good luck...

HTH

BnBx

PS this all takes practice and doesn't just 'happen' so run thru it a few times at home!!

 

[Kola Bear]

a miniture isnt a m and m

a m and m is a breed such as welsh/newforest/connamara.

Hes a miniture registrered shetland. This show says anyone under 16 needs to wear a hard hat so gonna have bad hat hair lol!!!! Thanks for the tips x

 

[jhoward]

registered or not, a miniture shetland is NOT a native breed, therefore not classed as m and m.

 

[Todmiester]

JHoward Shetland Pony Stud Society accept minuture shetlands as pure bred M&Ms and have their own classes along with the standard size. Certainly in Scotland Mini Shetlands compete in mixed small breed classes and some do it with great success.

 

[jhoward]

I could be corrected then, i did go and double check, and for most shows then they are not, shetlands are included but the minutres have seperate classes.