Ridden Showing - Appaloosa x New Forest

[AppyLover1996]

Hi Guys,

Just after some advice please.

I'm going to a local show (competed there a few years ago and despite being a bag of nerves everyone was so lovely and encouraging - they even cheered as I did my lap of honour for second place - I felt like I'd just won HOYS!), but this time I'm doing the ridden rather than in hand. The classes that I am doing are Tack & Turnout, Best Combination and Best Veteran. My lad is a 14.1 Appaloosa x New Forest, has quite slim legs and a slim build but a real look at me presence wherever we go (cue the "Mummy look a dalmation pony!" comments! ). He isn't majorly spotty however, and in the Spring and Summer months he goes a beautiful light grey with some chestnut spots and has chestnut points (knees downwards go a lovely chestnuty roan colour with some lovely white socks to compliment them) so of course he requires an insane amount of bathing to get him looking polished aha!

With regards to turnout for both of us where do I stand please? I know I'll have to plait him up and he will need a snaffle bridle, but in terms of browbands do I stick a nice velvet one on to compliment his colouring, saddle cloth I'm expecting to be brown and a numnah style, do I need to do quarter marks (I pray not as I'm crap at them!), and terms of turnout what's best for me to wear? Do I need to wear spurs, can I get away with a black jacket, cream jods or white jods?

I'd attach a photo but no idea how to aha!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Definitely plaited tail cut to just below the hocks and pulled it raked at the top, a velvet browband is fine but not essential and a discreet numnah same colour as your saddle you don't need quarter marks.

A tweed or navy jacket would look better but black is fine for local if that's all you have, beige jodhpurs or canary never white in the show ring try and match your shirt and tie with your velvet browband if you get one you don't need spurs.

Good luck

 

[AppyLover1996]

Definitely plaited tail cut to just below the hocks and pulled it raked at the top, a velvet browband is fine but not essential and a discreet numnah same colour as your saddle you don't need quarter marks.

A tweed or navy jacket would look better but black is fine for local if that's all you have, beige jodhpurs or canary never white in the show ring try and match your shirt and tie with your velvet browband if you get one you don't need spurs.

Good luck

I can plait manes till the cows come home (I'm a weirdo who finds it rather theraputic! ) however tails I'm rubbish at so I'm assuming I can get away with a nice pulled tail? My lad hates his tail being plaited anyway and carries is rather odd - after extensive vet checks etc vet concluded "He's a bit special and just doesn't like this tail plaited!" - cue the receptionist who knows me and my pony personally jumping in with the "Ah yeah he's deffo spesh" comment .

I've never breathed such a sigh of relief at not having to do quarter marks - for love nor money I can never get the damn things to stay or look decent - however my Mother who is nost horsey in the slightest can produce the most beautiful sharks teeth, show pony checkerboard patterns and has an insane amount of talent for intricate ones - something that has evidently missed me as I can barely get away with some lines....

Ah I wonder why it is never white in the show ring - luckily I have beige and canary jods at home so it isn't an issue

Aww thank you - if I remember, I'll try and update the thread once the show's done!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would just pull the tail rather than plait it and quarter marks are not essential, you won't ever see showing people in white jods they are only seen in dressage and jumping really just one of those things I suppose.

Let us know how you get on