New pony! Showing (All the gear, no idea)

JulesRules

JulesRules

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Hopefully getting my new pony this weekend 😁😁

I'd like to take him out showing this summer (starting in hand)

I've not really done showing before as I've never had anything suitable to show.

What tips can you give me to help me unravel the mysteries of the showring? Any do's and don'ts? Any peculiar ettiqute?

He is a Highland so it will be M&M

TA!
 
If you get serious into showing my advice would be to keep a notepad detailing the judge, comments and placement. That way if you have a judge that always places you low, you know in future to avoid classes with them as the judge. I had one particular judge that didn't seem to like my mare.

Do not take offence as showing is just personal preference. It can be very disappointing sometimes when you hear negative feedback about a Horse you love. You just have to take it on the chin.

Turnout to the best of your ability, take the grooming kit/sprays/chalk etc to the arena with you and top up just before you go in, quite often the lotions and potions wear off in warming up. I love furniture polish to give my boots a last minute shine, also I have sprayed on the Horse to give her a gleam (I did a patch test first!)

Warm up well, even if doing in hand - its easy to spot those who have warmed up vs those who haven't.

Wear a hat - It is not mandatory for in hand, but I would strongly advise doing so (especially with a new Horse you don't yet know)

Be prepared to wait all day - if your class is an early one and you get placed 1st or 2nd then you will qualify for the championship, this will be the last class of the day. So taking extra hay/water and food for you is a good idea.

Wear the right gear - Hairnet, Smart trousers, Shirt and tie, Tweed jacket or waistcoat. A cane is always helpful too.

Practice standing your Horse square - Sounds easy but it can be difficult to get the Horse to stand square, when you do your individual show stand to the front of the Horse so that the judge can see the Horses confirmation easily. Move back to the shoulder when it is time to walk and trot.

With a lighter colored Horse I used to bath the day before and then on the day, I would chalk any white patches to make the Horse extra white and extra striking. Being that yours is a native you will not have to plait which will save you lots of time. But a nicely pulled mane and tail will go a long way. If your Horse has a darker muzzle then put a small amount of baby oil on the nose to really bring it out.

You can show in a normal bridle or in hand bridle, make sure this is gleaming! This will need to be a plain cavesson nose band and plain browband. Ideally hunter bridles are nice, depending how big your Horses head is. You don't want a huge noseband to hide the face.

Make sure you smile loads, You never know when your photo is being taken!

Practice trotting up at home, sounds silly but its amazing how many Horses can't do this, either they can't stay straight or they are being dragged along by the owner. You need the Horse nice and forward (but not pulling you along). If the Horse is not forward enough the judge cannot see the Horses movements as well.

Have fun and upload pics :)
 
LaurenBay has it partly right.

Being a Highland do NOT pull the poor ponies mane or tail! They should be left natural, feathers and all! You can only trim the beard.

Highland mares and geldings can wear white rope halters instead of bridles if you prefer.

Most highland people show in a blouse and long tartan skirt with a tweed waistcoat if it's a but nippy. A trilby or the likes looks better with this than a riding hat. By all means You can wear a tweed jacket, shirt tie etc.

Most shows have championships after sections and each section usually has 6-8 classes in so whilst there is a lot of waiting about not all championships are end of the day things. Just the Supremes.

As for standing the pony up - some judges like 4 square, some like square in front and slightly off set behind, some like it old school and like to see all 4 legs at the same time.

Eta - this is a brief (HAHA!) Description of an inhand class.

In hand showing is an artform! Find your horses walk. Nice and forward with a good stride but not over stretching them. Don't let them dawdle or slop along, keep them active. If you get too close to the horse in front go deep into the corner or hang back for a stride or two so you always have a good walk going when the judge is watching.

Same for trot. Make sure your horse trots out smartly next to you. No dragging or needing chased. Again find your horses trot. Nice and active and forwards but not flat out.

Standing - now this is the tricky one. If your judge is of the older generation then stand them so all the legs can be seen from the side. The far side under the horse. As the judge moves to the other side ask the horse to step forwards a step so again the far side to the judge is underneath.

Younger judges tend to like them 4 square. But you can never go wrong with fronts square and backs slightly off.

When I stand up for the judge I walk up and the last 2 strides I turn and face the horse and step backwards so I can stop them where I want them and am able to see their legs. It also means I am not obstructing the judges side on view of the horse.

Make sure your horse stands without fidgeting whilst someone walks all the way round them. When the judge is looking at the front legs step to the side to allow them a good view - unless your horse has shocking splints or pigeon toes or the like then don't move! Lol!

Always smile and be polite, answer any questions along with a good morning/afternoon.

When you walk away pick a point straight ahead and aim for it. Do not deviate. When you turn to trot back come out to your left slightly so you turn a small circle rather than turn right back on yourself and always turn to the right so the horse is on your inside. Do NOT trot straight off the bend. Walk a couple of strides to make sure your horse is straight then off you go- straight at the judge they will move and keep trotting past and round.

The reason for never trotting off a turn is you can unbalance your horse and make it look slightly lame or off. Same for your initial trot round the ring. Walk 2-3 strides before trotting to make sure your horse is setup properly.

Most importantly have fun!
 
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Just to add when I said pull mane and tail, I didn't mean pull short as natives are natural. But I have also seen when people take natural too literal and Horses just look scruffy and not neat. Horses should still (IMO) be pulled to a certain extent but not short.
 
one thing no one has mentioned is to be alert at all times when standing in line, make sure your horse is standing correctly all of the time and not with head down and ears flopping back as quite often the judge will glance back at the line and the worst thing is your horse standing sloppily and you chatting to the person next to you....if you can try and watch some classes before yours so you can see what to do. good luck and enjoy...
 
Thanks all.

Lots of things here I would never have thought of!

I've been having a look on You tube and found a couple of useful videos. I have also looked at the breed society guidelines.

My YO has done showing in the past and is going to help me ��
 
LaurenBay said:
Just to add when I said pull mane and tail, I didn't mean pull short as natives are natural. But I have also seen when people take natural too literal and Horses just look scruffy and not neat. Horses should still (IMO) be pulled to a certain extent but not short.
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Pulling a mane on a highland pony is absolute sacrilege! Highlands should have long natural manes and one with a mane of all one length will be penalised!
Welshies, connies and NFs you can pull the mane of (if left reasonably long) but you dont on highlands, fells or dales
 
Being a Highland do NOT pull the poor ponies mane or tail! They should be left natural, feathers and all! You can only trim the beard.

Don't trim the beard, many Highland judges won't like it. Ours grows a stonking beard, so have only ever thinned it out a bit while still looking natural.
 
I just came to see if their were pictures... disappointed. Their better be a picture post this weekend!!
- I echo most of the advice.
Defibtley a great tip about naming the judges and their comments- the first and only in hand we did I was marked down for my boy being too skinny!!! First place went to something resembling a lump of lard!
Showing ended their as I like my boy abit lean!
 
Are you in the highland pony group on facebook, OP? Loads of people post photos of in hand outfits on there, and sometimes stuff for sale too.

But honestly, showing is loads of hassle to be told your pony is too slim / too grey / too much not to the judge's taste. Highlands make lovely all rounders and are often seen doing dressage, jumping, TREC and all sorts of fun stuff these days ;) :)
 
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