Native Pony People.....New Forest Manes/Leg Hair?

[DreamerII]

Ok this is mainly for people that have/have had New Forest ponies in the past, although can be answered by anyone that knows the answer (or anyone that just wants to share their opinions)!

I'm undecided as to what I want to do with my boys mane and leg hair!

At present it is fairly long (will post pics at the end) and I would ideally really like to keep it as it is. However I am also planning (transport depending) to do some in-hand showing with him in the future.

I know for general riding at the moment it doesn't matter how I keep him and that it's up to me.

But for in-hand showing.....do I need to trim/tidy him up at all?

All the old pictures I have had of me showing him (from 2003) he has trimmed legs and a tidy mane, but that's because I was just showing him then and he wasn't actually mine (so YO did everything and that's how she liked him).

This is him at the moment (I know his mane will need tidying a bit, I'm just trying to grow out rubbed patches) Also please excuse wonky forelock....we're growing that out too

 

[PennyJ]

Yes, he will need tidying up if you are going to be showing him against other foresters.

Here is a link to the photos taken at the NF Breed Show in 2006. Lots of photos there for you to decide how you should play it. In hand day was Monday. It's down as Centenary Breed Show.

Good Luck
http://www.pegasusimages.com/html/events.html

 

[Natch]

I'm not a new forest person, but I do show welshies. Try a bit of hair gel to gel down those unruly bits of mane, and I'd discretely clip the bits of feather that run too high up his leg, behind his knees.

... but do check with NF people first though!

 

[DreamerII]

Thanks PennyJ.

I should have mentioned we will only be showing at local level....and we will be dpoing general M&M classes (so not just against other NFs).

I so don't wanna have to do anything with his mane (as soon as the rubbed bits grow out he'll look better I reckon).

Tidy his legs up a little too I s'pose

He'll go a lovely golden pally in summer tho

 

[JM07]

My two in-hand last year at Breed ShowAugust 2007

excuse the face..it was a long day!!! LOL..

 

[Perissa]

On arrival

and a few weeks later

 

[zelli]

I dont know how longe youve had him, but all NF's in my experience loose the majority of their leg hair come summer, they just have the odd tuft (somehwat like that photos that JM07 have posted. Ive never shown, but I always thought that tidy hair was accepted in M&M...

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]
I dont know how longe youve had him, but all NF's in my experience loose the majority of their leg hair come summer, they just have the odd tuft (somehwat like that photos that JM07 have posted. Ive never shown, but I always thought that tidy hair was accepted in M&M...

[/ QUOTE ]

it is accepted, zelli...and the breed society aren't bothered about which side the mane is on either!!!

 

[katie_and_toto]

Ditto what Naturally said, use a little bit of hair gel or spray on the unruly bits of mane. Try each out at home first and use which ever works best for you

 

[Ezme]

Woah, Perissa, thats some transformation!

 

[DreamerII]

Thanks everyone!

I've only had him since November so hopefully come the warmer weather his legs will tidy themselves a bit anyway!

I'll have a play with the mane come the warmer weather and when I have the patience!!