Judging a Best Turned Out...

marmalade76 said:
If I was to judge a BTO, I would be looking for the cleanest, neatest, with correctly fitted tack that's correct of the type of animal. I would also ask children if they had done the work themselves and take their answer into account when placing them! ;)
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You should ask this as 'How long did you spend grooming your pony this morning?' Bet some kids will say 'oh my mum did it'!
 
My son did his first proper show off the lead rein yesterday and did the turn out class, then condition, followed by the first ridden (the idea was that they would both be a bit bored and tired by then!)

He is an M&M (the pony, that is) so was not plaited etc. He won the class - he did a lot of the work himself (including taking the stirrup treads out of the stirrups so I broke two nails getting them back on again) and duraglitted every brass buckle that he could find on the saddle and bridle. He also bathed him (although I did the rinsing to make sure all the soap came out!)

He was turned out exactly as he would be in a normal M&M class - no extras.

littlewick5.jpg
 
BTO should be imo the cleanest, most presentable child and pony.
that means all hair in hairnets, tack gleaming (and check under the buckles to see who has taken it apart and who hasn't! All leathers with good stitching etc.
Mane and Tail plaited/ (tbh I really think they should be plaited..but the natives I suppose will have full mane and tail). Clean clothes on rider, with black/brown/blue/tweed jacket and suitable hat and cream/similar joddies. Under 16's with jodhpur clips on, over 16's with long boots/gaiters.
Hoof oil on, white legs clean. No stable stains. You should be able to run your hand through ponies tail (a deciding factor maybe??)
Underneath of stirrups clean, same with boots.
Hocks clean, stuff like that. I think that gives enough for anyone to be worried about, do you actually know how each animal should be turned out for each class?? Best turn out to me is who is cleanest and tidies and has made the effort to be very presentable.
 
As for if its obvious they're lying-I'm afraid that's just rubbish, you can't tell from looking how good said kid is at turnout so you just have to take them at their word!
 
I disagree Susie.

A good few years ago I was at a local show watching the showing classes which were being judged by someone I knew. Later on that day a man who's child had been in some showing classes was sl*gging off the judge, saying that his wife had been up since the early hours to get the pony ready, yet they had only managed a low placing in the BTO. I asked which child was his and it turned out to be the smallest child in the class and it was quite obvious that all the plaiting etc had been done by the man's wife. All the other kids in the class were on PC type ponies turned out like PC ponies, whereas this man's child was turned out like it was at HOYS. I could see why the judge had placed them as he had, why should the child who got up early to prepare their ordinary pony his/herself be out done by the child with a show pony who's mother had obviously done all the hard work for them?
 
my mum still grooms for me in normal showing classes (turnout is just as high though, never done a BTO)

she enjoys it (seriously gets the hump if i start oiling or brushing!) and nothing gives her more pleasure than seeing us both go out looking our best. and im nearly 19 so nerhh :p

it doesnt matter who does the work, best turned out is best turned out- cleanliness, fit or purpose and smartness is key not whether the kid has done a half arsed attempt with uneven plaits, 3 hooves oiled, tack half cleaned. but at least they tried.
no.
its like sports day where the little fat kid wins because they are the most out of breath, how does that help the potential future olympic athlete who ran really well??
 
I never said the other kids weren't clean or correct.

"its like sports day where the little fat kid wins because they are the most out of breath, how does that help the potential future olympic athlete who ran really well??"

Can't see the comparison with showing, it's not an Olympic sport for starters! It is subjective and the judge's decision is final.
 
im on about the PC, well its the taking part that counts ethic. yes its fun and part and parcel of the whole day, but you go prepared with half a chance to do well.

in BTO its who is best turned out, not who by. pure and simple.
 
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