Our first lead rein class

[Dolcé]

We did our first lead rein class at the weekend. They came 3rd out of 4, nnot a brilliant result until you consider the pony had been started less than 2 weeks before and had a rider on 5 times before the class. We had asked our little jockey to hold the front of the saddle in trot because her hands kept coming up and I was very concious of pony's mouth. She struggled to hold the saddle and the reins and so kept losing her reins and couldn't keep pony out from leader. I fully expected 4th place so we were thrilled when they were pulled in 3rd.

This was a practise class before GYS, we have been held up with one thing and another getting him started so it has all had to be done far faster than I would have liked but the pony is an absolute star. Tonight they were practising with jockey actually riding him, he was on the bit throughout (this pony has never seen side reins and has been started in an eggbutt snaffle) and stayed out from leader. I am so excited about next week, whilst we don't expect them to win we don't expect to be embarrassed!

The only downer to the first show was been beaten, in both tack and turnout and lead rein, by a leader wearing jeans and wellies, I just thought it a bit of an insult to all the others who went to the effort of turning out correctly. Our saddle on the day was quite old (spotless though) but everyone else in the class was immaculate and I felt sorry for them being beaten by someone who couldn't be bothered.

 

[Littlelegs]

Well done, sounds like it all went well & you are ready for next time.
Assuming it was a local show I don't see the problem in the leader wearing jeans in the lr class. When my daughter did them up until last year I never wore anything but casual clothes. Buying a load of in hand show gear isn't in my budget. We've won lr equitation & lr showing locally without my dress being correct. Local level judges tend to pick the best on the day, not who's spent the most. At higher level you should make an effort, but I couldn't give two hoots if anyone daughter & pony have beaten is insulted by my lack of proper attire. Despite not having much spare cash for show gear or expensive tack, the standard of pony & child quite clearly prove we have bothered.
Obviously though you think the best that day shouldn't win if they haven't the money for show gear themselves. And we wonder why people think the horse worlds snobby.

 

[Dolcé]

Well done, sounds like it all went well & you are ready for next time.
Assuming it was a local show I don't see the problem in the leader wearing jeans in the lr class. When my daughter did them up until last year I never wore anything but casual clothes. Buying a load of in hand show gear isn't in my budget. We've won lr equitation & lr showing locally without my dress being correct. Local level judges tend to pick the best on the day, not who's spent the most. At higher level you should make an effort, but I couldn't give two hoots if anyone daughter & pony have beaten is insulted by my lack of proper attire. Despite not having much spare cash for show gear or expensive tack, the standard of pony & child quite clearly prove we have bothered.
Obviously though you think the best that day shouldn't win if they haven't the money for show gear themselves. And we wonder why people think the horse worlds snobby.

LOL, not at all, we haven't spent a lot on our outfit (and although all correct and new I am very aware it won't have cost a fraction of some of the outfits at the next show), in the tack and turnout it was a mixed junior class, so children properly turned out on their ponies and a couple of lead rein. I wouldn't have expected us to get placed in that at all because of the older saddle we used (we used the class to settle the pony before the lead rein one) but the other children were all correct and I just felt it was unfair. It should not be about money, I feel very strongly about that, but casual trousers and sturdy shoes are one thing in my mind, jeans and wellies are another completely. Even in the lead rein, the others were turned out properly (not necessarily expensively), it just shocked me really that people will turn out like that and get placed - makes me wonder why bother doing it correctly at all.

 

[Littlelegs]

Nothing wrong with wearing jeans at local shows imo. I don't have or wear 'casual pants'. Turning up in bs gear or event silks from pre child years would look foolish. We hack there so not wrecking work pants. So its jeans, leggings or dark jods. I fail to see why my child & her pony don't deserve the placings they've had because I don't have the funds for even cheap smart turnout for myself. Slightly unfair to penalize a child & pony because of their parents turnout at that level. It would really shock me if a judge knocked us down the line because of it. Last time I checked lr classes were judged on child & pony, not the leaders attire. Don't bother at local level either if that's how you feel, its not meant to be a county show. I imagine there must be others we have come above who feel the same as yourself about it. Shame she doesn't do lr anymore, I could have got a t-shirt done saying 'and the pony only cost me a tenner' & really get some backs up.

 

[Moomin1]

Littlelegs I disagree. Whilst I don't think that you should spend a fortune on being properly turned out for lead rein classes at local level (I think it's very ott seeing people turn up in full dress suits and flouncy hats!!), I do think turning up in JEANS and casual clothes is sloppy and shouldn't be allowed. A smart pair of cream or dark trousers with a shirt or smart top can't be too difficult to sort out. In fact, none of the little local shows I have ever been to in the past 18 years have allowed that sort of turn out (jeans). Things must have changed for the worst in the past few years.

Just to add, there are so many cheapy shops (which I do have to shop in myself!!) that do smartish trousers and tops. They may not last long if you wear them all the time but they would do if you just kept them for shows.

 

[Dolcé]

Nothing wrong with wearing jeans at local shows imo. I don't have or wear 'casual pants'. Turning up in bs gear or event silks from pre child years would look foolish. We hack there so not wrecking work pants. So its jeans, leggings or dark jods. I fail to see why my child & her pony don't deserve the placings they've had because I don't have the funds for even cheap smart turnout for myself. Slightly unfair to penalize a child & pony because of their parents turnout at that level. It would really shock me if a judge knocked us down the line because of it. Last time I checked lr classes were judged on child & pony, not the leaders attire. Don't bother at local level either if that's how you feel, its not meant to be a county show. I imagine there must be others we have come above who feel the same as yourself about it. Shame she doesn't do lr anymore, I could have got a t-shirt done saying 'and the pony only cost me a tenner' & really get some backs up.

I think I must really misunderstand the point of local showing!

 

[Dolcé]

Littlelegs I disagree. Whilst I don't think that you should spend a fortune on being properly turned out for lead rein classes at local level (I think it's very ott seeing people turn up in full dress suits and flouncy hats!!), I do think turning up in JEANS and casual clothes is sloppy and shouldn't be allowed. A smart pair of cream or dark trousers with a shirt or smart top can't be too difficult to sort out. In fact, none of the little local shows I have ever been to in the past 18 years have allowed that sort of turn out (jeans). Things must have changed for the worst in the past few years.

Just to add, there are so many cheapy shops (which I do have to shop in myself!!) that do smartish trousers and tops. They may not last long if you wear them all the time but they would do if you just kept them for shows.

At least I know I am not going mad now! I had to buy our jackets new, they are just matching tweed riding jackets and were reduced considerably, the leaders skirt and hat came from a charity shop and she already had her boots. The riders tie and matching insert for the stock came from a mans tie bought at the charity shop and altered/made by me. Our saddle is a lovely little show saddle that came from ebay but it is marked on the seat, so I fully expected us to come way down the line in T&T (which is the class that really annoyed me with the wellies and jeans) but the other children in that class, the ones that were not lead rein, were immaculately turned out and didn't get placed, so what does that teach them?

 

[eriskaydales]

When i used to take my daughter lead rein showing, about 20yrs ago was told in tack and turnout that as long as the handler held a leather show cane would be awarded points, no matter what i wore! Turned up once to a show for tack and turnout, forgot the cane and got 0 points.

Didn't use the cane for the lead rein class. As a say quite a few years ago now, rules may have changed, and only showed locally, not affilliated.


.

 

[jaffa2311]

I would also feel the same as Dolce.

The whole point of showing is about turnout and the overall picture you are giving to the judge. It is about precision and perfection to the Nth degree.
If you are a parent in the ring then you count in the overall picture and therefore should be considered when judging the exhibit, as a whole, in front of you.

You can buy a pair of smart trousers from Asda or even a charity shop. I would never dream of showing my horse inhand in jeans and wellies. Your argument would be that they are there to look at the horse and not the handler though. I have borrowed trousers off a friend before and handed them back afterwards, free of charge.

 

[Dolcé]

When i used to take my daughter lead rein showing, about 20yrs ago was told in tack and turnout that as long as the handler held a leather show cane would be awarded points, no matter what i wore! Turned up once to a show for tack and turnout, forgot the cane and got 0 points.

Didn't use the cane for the lead rein class. As a say quite a few years ago now, rules may have changed, and only showed locally, not affilliated.


.

Lol, we had the leather show cane! (should add, it belongs to OH and he has had it about 30 years, rather than bought new)

 

[Dolcé]

I would also feel the same as Dolce.

The whole point of showing is about turnout and the overall picture you are giving to the judge. It is about precision and perfection to the Nth degree.
If you are a parent in the ring then you count in the overall picture and therefore should be considered when judging the exhibit, as a whole, in front of you.

You can buy a pair of smart trousers from Asda or even a charity shop. I would never dream of showing my horse inhand in jeans and wellies. Your argument would be that they are there to look at the horse and not the handler though. I have borrowed trousers off a friend before and handed them back afterwards, free of charge.

Thanks, it isn't even really sour grapes on my own behalf though, I would not have expected to win (or be highly placed in) a lead rein class with a pony only broken 2 weeks before, I actually felt really sorry for the ones that got placed below us and felt we should have been below her because that pony went better (IMO). Because of being held up starting him I wouldn't even go to GYS with pony if it hadn't cost so much and been paid for months ago, as it is it will just be more experience for him. My OP was more about being thrilled that he hadn't come at the end of the line and was such a star, he had a day that would be mind blowing for many ponies and did brilliantly. As well as his first ridden show he left our yard for the first time in 3 years (since going there), saw traffic for the first time as he walked to the show (alone) and then walked home again alone.

 

[Littlelegs]

I'm really don't care if people disagree, fair enough to make an effort at anything above local level. And fair enough if there's nothing to choose between two except parents attire. At the type of local shows I go to more than half the leaders are in jeans or similar. Half the older kids in classes have the wrong colour jods, jacket etc. We are talking local unaffil shows, supposed to be open to all. For me & many others with kids at that level spending money on our own turnout means less money for entry fees for our kids. Anyone who I now realise may have been annoyed by us being placed above them could have always put in more training & been placed above on quality & turnout. We've also won lr equitation with a spotlessly clean, but old pony pad, or a safari cub with the handle cut off. Then again, I'm the type who's lent my 14.2 to competent kids whose parents can't afford the correct gear so that their combined ability can get them the rosette their hard work deserves. Rather than bitching about the fact they haven't made an effort because their kit isn't up to scratch.
At the end of the day at a local show, if pony, child & your turnout are the best that day, you'll beat an equally good pony & child whose leader isn't correctly turned out. However if another child & pony are clearly better that day, its just sour grapes imo to moan about the parents attire.
This thread reminds me why except for wh in my teens because it had a set of jumps & taking my young daughter to local stuff so she can see her hardwork rewarded I've never been into showing.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Well done at the show! Sounds like you have a cracking pony!

My first "Granny Suit" cost a gran total of £10 out of a charity shop. Hat, jacket, turtle neck top, long navy blue woolen skirt and little old ladies shoes. See! Not expensive at all On top of that was a pair of blue cotton gloves at £1.99 an a couple of pairs of tight for £3.

My second "Granny Suit" cost £60 from Ebay and I love it! I hate doing "Granny Suit" classes but it's lovely an warm for out fabulous Scottish weather lol!

I too detest jeans and welly wearing at shows though I don't show local. There is also a new trend for wearing jods and Dubarrys in LR and In-hand classes and I hate it! Soz!