PC Show: To Plait or Not? Help Please!

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Charlie-Brown

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Hi everyone,

I'm taking my daughter and her Welsh A to a Pony Club show in a couple of weeks. It's our first show (not the pony's) and so I'm looking for a few basic pointers. We'll be entering into the 'Pony Club Pony' class, lead rein section. Pony has mane pulled (a longer style though!) but has natural little feathers etc. My question is, as she's a native, do I leave natural and not plait or as it's not a specific M&M class, plait her up?

Also, I'm wearing a green tweed jacket, shirt & tie, navy chinos (pony has white socks) and brown lace up boots. The only hats I have are my jockey skull, an olive green trilby or my dad's tweed flat cap! Which would you go for please?! Haha!

A big thank you in advance, I'm so nervous & excited! :)
 
In theory you can turn out as a native and if challenged simply say so. But the PC can be a bit funny about plaiting etc. I would suggest asking the secretary if unplaited natives are OK. I did one PC show a couple of years ago where the DC challenged every unplaited pony and asked to see the passport as proof that it was a registered native. Better in some ways than just being marked down for being unpliated without being given the chance to say why!
 
Some Pony Clubs can be rather strict about plaiting and turnout, so although you are entitled to turn your pony out as a native and be unplaited, it might still be wise to err on the side of caution and plait, unless the pony has a really unplaitable mane or there is some other really good reason not to plait. You can never guarantee who will be judging at such shows, and you might be showing under someone who doesn't recognise that she is actually a pure bred native.
 
Plait! If the mane is pulled then the pony is not suitable to be in a M & M class. Is there anything on the schedule that mentions whether to plait or not. Otherwise contact the secretary
 
Thank you everyone for your replies :)

Tnavas said:
Plait! If the mane is pulled then the pony is not suitable to be in a M & M class. Is there anything on the schedule that mentions whether to plait or not. Otherwise contact the secretary
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Tnavas, would you trim her feathers too then please? I don't plan on showing her in M&M, just as a lead rein and hopefully first ridden at local level. Thank you
 
Tnavas said:
Plait! If the mane is pulled then the pony is not suitable to be in a M & M class. Is there anything on the schedule that mentions whether to plait or not. Otherwise contact the secretary
Click to expand...

Most Welshies have their manes pulled to an extent these days! Not many natives are shown as is anymore. There's always something to pull, trim or tidy!
 
Charlie-Brown said:
Thank you everyone for your replies :)



Tnavas, would you trim her feathers too then please? I don't plan on showing her in M&M, just as a lead rein and hopefully first ridden at local level. Thank you
Click to expand...

You can show some natives with a pulled mane, natural does not always mean untrimmed and most welsh ponies will be tidied up to an extent, if you plan on doing local level and the pony being plaited then turn out as a hunter pony, assuming it is more chunky than a show pony and trim it's heels, pull the tail keep it that way for this season, if you decide to do M&M's next year it will all grow back over the winter.
 
Definitely plait for PC unless it is an M&M class or you are just show jumping that is if you want a chance at getting a red one! Flat cap will be fine - just dress smart. Hold the cane and leadrein (attached to noseband) in left hand leaving right hand free. If your little one is unsteady with their hands, attach a shoelace v tight across the d rings and get your littleone to loop their thumbs under the shoelace to steady them and tidy up the picture.
 
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