Elf On A Shelf
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The video is of the lap of honour - the pony showed itself, the handler was flailing along next to it - but hey! It won! The lap of honour doesnt matter when you have just won the highest accolade you can win!
M&M classes, tell me your experiences!
- Thread starter Arizahn
- Start date
Carrots&Mints
Well-Known Member
Sorry for the poor quality photo, it is taken of the photo i bought at the show. This is my Welsh D just before we went in to the inhand M&M at an unafilliated show earlier this year. I have only just started off showing him at local level and find it is very competitive, I find the judges decide which order they will place them the minute you enter the ring. In some shows my boy has done really well and others the judges don't look twice at him. He is an extravagant mover so does catch their eye but in some cases isn't carrying enough weight for the judge. The last show I did with him an obese Fell pony won and then the horses with more weight followed, leaving me and my boy out of placings. It's all a bit of fun though, until you get to County level and everything has to be perfect
how old is he and whats his breeding
We will never have any chance compared to stallions in the D classes and it does tend to be that the judges do like the more chunkier types, from what Ive witnessed. Although saying that, mine didnt have alot of condition being only 2 and not having the greatest of starts, but weve been to 6 shows and have been placed every time, even against the big stallions
He must have somthing lol!!Carrots&Mints
Well-Known Member
These girls took this pony out for the first time in 15 years this year, what does it matter what the handler is doing? Its about the horse not the handler?
catroo
Well-Known Member
Like I said - the pony was nice and while not my choice it was a worthy winner. I just don't think the way it was shown should be used as an example of how to do it.
OP - I previously had a dun connie that went overheight. We competed in the over height classes at the breed show but he really excelled in the performance pony sections and was great at working hunter. We also competed at local level and some days he won and other days not. Beauty of showing!
Love
Well-Known Member
I have only ever been showing with my connemara once - but it was the the British Elite at Arena UK no less! HUGE show, i felt like a very small fish in a mahoosive pond. The Novice M&M ridden had nearly 30 entries. I had a great time, pony behaved like a saint. Went on the wrong leg in our individual show and didn't get placed but never expected to in a million years, he was 5 and it was the first time showing for both of us! But there were ALOT of tears from the other competitors after the placings so obivously not everyone was as happy as me. Don't take it too seriously and you'll have fun The judge was lovely too and after we had all been placed she came to talk to me and give me some tips. For such a big show i thought that was lovely of her.
The judge was lovely too and after we had all been placed she came to talk to me and give me some tips. For such a big show i thought that was lovely of her.Elf On A Shelf
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Very true but a handler that knows what they are doing can show a bad pony well enough to do well. Equally the most exquisite, superb pony could be shown badly and ignored by the judge. It's not 100% about the horse!
WelshD
Well-Known Member
I agree with this - if it was about the horse not the handler people wouldnt be putting out adverts for others to show their ponies in hand for them
A skilled handler makes it look like it isnt about the handler!
Elf On A Shelf
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This is how the real Welsh show their stallions! You need only watch the first 2 mins to see the pure and utter carnage of Cob showing at the highest level 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ikVnDW9hqw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ikVnDW9hqw
PonyFeet10
Well-Known Member
how old is he and whats his breeding
We will never have any chance compared to stallions in the D classes and it does tend to be that the judges do like the more chunkier types, from what Ive witnessed. Although saying that, mine didnt have alot of condition being only 2 and not having the greatest of starts, but weve been to 6 shows and have been placed every time, even against the big stallions
He is a 5yr old by Broughton Diplomat, out of London Victoria. He has Nebo, Derwen, Llanarth, Parc and Dewi all in his lines.
I have had lovely comments from the judges but again that is only local level showing.. One class he placed above a stallion and another was placed below which I was a bit confused at - he had a mane pulled short, it was no more than 3 inches long. Also his tail had been cut rather short as well so though that would have been marked against him but the judge liked him and that was that!
My boy has put weight on now and filled out much more so is now looking like this (minus the long toes):
If I he keeps his condition well through winter we should do well, if not better next year
Do you have any photos of your Welsh D?
Elf On A Shelf
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Welsh Cobs you pull the manes and feather the tails! Its not all Au Natural! I don't like the short manes and so have mine 6-9in long depending on the depth of the neck and the tail feathers just below the hock as I hate short tails too. It's the Welshy fashion just now!
PonyFeet10
Well-Known Member
I understand that manes are pulled and tails trimmed but this stallion in particular had both so short that it didn't compliment him in any way. The judge was rather quiet too, when I asked her what we could improve on she said 'I don't remember your horse in particular' so I asked her what she judged on and all she said was 'movement'.
Other judges I have spoken to though have been lovely, have judged what I believe to be fair and really encouraged me to carry on showing and to take him further when he's filled out more.
Arizahn
Well-Known Member
Good to know, we will only do local level I think - well, unless he really loves it, then I may look into trying to go further
Pictures to follow, sorry he is roughed off currently...Arizahn
Well-Known Member
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
This is how the real Welsh show their stallions! You need only watch the first 2 mins to see the pure and utter carnage of Cob showing at the highest level
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ikVnDW9hqw
I'm a total Welsh Cob fan, however I have to admit that I found pretty much all of those in that video very unattractive! Most of them looked, well a bit deformed especially the ones which seemed to be trotting up at the beginning of the line up, their front ends were massive yet they had tiny butts! Just looks very out of proportion.
Arizahn
Well-Known Member
Is it me, or does the top photo of my chap make him look like a mule?
Elf On A Shelf
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That's the fashion these days - MASSIVE necks, dipped backs and next to no back end :-/ But they move. You couldn't put a saddle on 3/4 of those stallions or put them to a cart. They are in-hand show cobs and they really aren't nice anymore!
Elf On A Shelf
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Op - with your lad I would walk him out over winter to get some muscle on him, pull trim and plait him for SHP classes. Roan connies are very rare and he would be confused with a NF - which, if the judge doesn't ask, you don't say, and smile nod and agree at anything the judge deems him as you will do fine lol!
Arizahn
Well-Known Member
Lol, the judge can call him anything they like...well, ideally not a camel, though he does pull a great camel face at the word "work"! Yes, his colour is rare. I felt a bit guilty having him gelded tbh, but his sire is still out there, and really stallion ownership is never going to be practical for me as I do not wish to breed.
There are loads of quiet roads and lanes near us, all hills
windand rain
Well-Known Member
I love it it is the best education for a horse and is good fun as long as you dont take it too seriously. Lots of lovely people who make super friends and acquaintances and makes you keep the pony in top condition
three year old connie third at the county show
three year old connie third at the county show
Arizahn
Well-Known Member
I love it it is the best education for a horse and is good fun as long as you dont take it too seriously. Lots of lovely people who make super friends and acquaintances and makes you keep the pony in top condition
three year old connie third at the county show
I must find time to video my chap moving! I have three or four videos of him, but my husband seems to be eating crisps in all of them, and the rustling noise is dreadful!
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justabob
Well-Known Member
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Totally agree with the above statement!!
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The welsh cob stallion runners would give Usain Bolt a run for his money!! excuse the pun!
Kallibear
Well-Known Member
I was thinking just the same thing. Horrible to watch. Stressed anxious horses who have no other useful job to do, and so so fat. It's starting to look like the american Halter Horse or the deformed mutilated Tenasee walkers.