Ridden Showing Tips!

[ohdearme]

Hi all,

I'm a complete beginner to showing & looking for some tips - have been scouring the internet but lots of conflicting advice!

I'm taking my 14.1 skew bald pony in some ridden shows at a local show (not a massive one, but fairly popular!) she's an Irish cob, but quite 'fine'. Will be doing coloured class, family pony & hopefully something else but no idea what!! Show pony or riding club pony maybe? Don't think she's a hunter type really.

For the horse, I have: black synthetic saddle, black numnah (quite fluffy, sheepskin type - is this okay?), plain black bridle, Wilkie bit, rubber reins.
And for me: tweed jacket, shirt & tie, cream jods, black show cane, black gloves & black long boots.
Is this all okay? She is a loan horse and this is the only tack I have for her.

I will be plaiting mane & tail (have no clue how to pull & my tail plaits are pretty good - is this acceptable?). She is pretty 'trimmed' - face, bridle path, bottom of tail, legs etc, but do I need to get rid of all her whiskers, eyelashes etc?

Have to do a ridden show - will I need to show a gallop? Ive tried, and she doesn't do it very well at all - is it better to leave it out, or attempt it?

Very nervous, but hopefully it'll all go well!

 

[silv]

Brown tack is really more correct for showing but if you only have black and it is just a small local show it will be fine. Just make sure everything is well fitting ie straps in their keepers, everything properly adjusted, numnah tidy etc and sparkling clean. Same applies for your outfit sounds which sounds OK. Same goes for the pony, she should be sparkling clean and shining, hoofs oiled etc.

Many showing people get rid of all the whiskers etc to get a really neat profile, but for a small local show probably not necessary. If she is at all hairy I would trim out her jaw. Trim the ears but leave the hairs inside as it is their to stop dust and other foreign bodies from entering the ears.

Make sure your tail plait and mane are really neat. If your pony has a short neck do more plaits. Thick looser plaits are better on a pony with a thin neck, whilst small tight ones suit a thick neck.

The judge will normally tell you what they want in a ridden show. You could try a few lengthened strides in canter rather than a full on gallop. Individual shows often comprise of a walk, trot towards the judge, then trot on both reins and canter a figure of 8 followed by a gallop but the judge probably will advise you.

When you go into the ring, don't follow the best horse,

try and make your pony walk out well as this gives a good first impression and find plenty of space, nothing worse than being bunched up as you won't be able to show yourself properly.

If there is an inhand phase make sure your pony will trot out in hand and stand up square for the judge, you can practise this at home as you can your an individual show.

Remember to smile at the judge and look like you are enjoying yourself!

Good luck and enjoy your day!

Remember to post some photos on here.

Hope this helps.

 

[dominobrown]

Same as above, make sure you have room in ring, i.e don't get to close to the horse behind or in front and circle away if you are. Practice the ridden show, make sure it is quite short, judges hate long shows, what they are looking for a smooth and easy transitions. Basic ridden show is... go up to the judge from the line up, then walk away from the judge in a straight line, turn around and trot back towards the judge in a straight line, hopefully the judge will move out the way! Then start on your figure of 8 to change the rein, once you have changed the rein canter, then change rein through trot and canter the other way, down the longside you can ask for an extended canter, this SHOULD NOT be behind the other horses lined up, you should do it on the opposite side of the ring. The judge is then looking for you to pull up smoothly and promptly (demonstrating control ) then make your way back to the judge, rein back if you can, then salute.

 

[conniegirl]

Unless asked to by the judge do not trot directly back at the judge, all it does is highlight a less than perfectly straight movement!

Do not attempt a reinback unless you can do one perfectly! It looks awful when a horse is hauled backwards or does a funny backward shuffle!

If you can swap the rubber reins for a set of leather or plaited reins and pull her tail. As she is a being shown plaited you will need to trim whiskers! Never trim eyelashes but you can trim the long hairs around the eye area.

 

[ohdearme]

Thanks for all the tips! Very helpful.
I did mean the long hairs around the eye, not actual eyelashes - oops!!

My main dilemmas are plait vs pull tail & to attempt a gallop/extension or not :/

Pretty sure I won't place, as pony is very pigeon toed, I have been told, but still want to try my best!