Shetland Pony showing!

ChestnutTinker

ChestnutTinker

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Owner and I have been talking about showing Sparky and possibly Violet but we have no clue on anything in the showing world :o Can anybody help us out? (cue lots of questions)

What gear will we need, for pony and handler?
How can the ponies be presented? Bath, clip, etc?
What do we need to take to a show?

Sparky is a 7 year old shetland pony gelding and Violet is a 5 year old Shetland x (would she still be allowed in M&M classes?)
The ponies have never been shown before so we were thinking about going to a few local shows to get them used to them and the atmosphere - how would we go about this?


Thank you :)
 
Shetland ponies get turned out in their natural state - ears can be trimmed flat as can beards but everything else is simply wash, brush, go.

Most shows require the pony to be registered but local ones not always. Your part bred will not be allowed in M&M classes unless they specifically say they allow part breds.

Geldings and mares can be shown in either a bitted in-hand bridle or a filly slip.

The handler wears smart, sensible shoes/boots, trousers the opposite shade to your ponies legs - dark legs = pale trousers, light legs = dark trousers. Shirt, tie, tweed jacket or waistcoat, trilby/beaglar style hat. Hair tied neatly back in a bun and hairnet. Gloves - brown preferably and show cane. And most importantly - a smile!
 
EKW said:
Shetland ponies get turned out in their natural state - ears can be trimmed flat as can beards but everything else is simply wash, brush, go.

Most shows require the pony to be registered but local ones not always. Your part bred will not be allowed in M&M classes unless they specifically say they allow part breds.

Geldings and mares can be shown in either a bitted in-hand bridle or a filly slip.

The handler wears smart, sensible shoes/boots, trousers the opposite shade to your ponies legs - dark legs = pale trousers, light legs = dark trousers. Shirt, tie, tweed jacket or waistcoat, trilby/beaglar style hat. Hair tied neatly back in a bun and hairnet. Gloves - brown preferably and show cane. And most importantly - a smile!
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Great advice! Thank you! :D
Got to spend a fortune on all the stuff now :o
 
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ChestnutTinker said:
Great advice! Thank you! :D
Got to spend a fortune on all the stuff now :o
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. For handler smart trousers, good comfortable footwear (jod boots fine), shirt and tie (asda) and hat would be fine at most local shows. Waistcoats look really smart and you can often get in the charity shops......and if your lucky trilby hats. Old velvet hats which are out of date for riding in can have harnesses cut off for in hand showing as they are only really there for show. If they are a bit faded you can probably dye them or maybe even use shoe polish........be careful in the rain though. Riding schools may have them or look on ebay? :D

Correct advise about M&M classes however smaller fun shows often have fun classes you can take them in. Prettiest Mare, Handsomest Gelding etc. Our local show has 'Have a Go Showing' classes where anyone can enter whatever horse and they help you. They also have 'First/Borrowed/Riding School Pony' classes.

Good Luck! x
 
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Hetsmum said:
Not necessarily. For handler smart trousers, good comfortable footwear (jod boots fine), shirt and tie (asda) and hat would be fine at most local shows. Waistcoats look really smart and you can often get in the charity shops......and if your lucky trilby hats. Old velvet hats which are out of date for riding in can have harnesses cut off for in hand showing as they are only really there for show. If they are a bit faded you can probably dye them or maybe even use shoe polish........be careful in the rain though. Riding schools may have them or look on ebay? :D

Correct advise about M&M classes however smaller fun shows often have fun classes you can take them in. Prettiest Mare, Handsomest Gelding etc. Our local show has 'Have a Go Showing' classes where anyone can enter whatever horse and they help you. They also have 'First/Borrowed/Riding School Pony' classes.

Good Luck! x
Click to expand...

Well that sounds fun! I wanted to enter Kilnsey Show but it's quite a big show and I don't think would suit the ponies for their first time out - then there's Ilkley show but I don't know if they do inhand classes. I wanted to do ridden with Paddy this year but he's now in Scotland so think it's a year off competing and just waiting until next year - which gives me time to buy stuff and practice :p
 
If Ilkley show is this one:

http://www.idra.org.uk/

then classes 41-46 look like in-hand to me. Although they are not marked as such on the schedule, there are classes for Ridden Coloured etc higher up in the schedule. You could always double check with the organisers. So based on that Violet could do class 41 any part bred. class 43 Coloured...is Mr Sparks Roan? can't really tell from the photos. Ages? do any of them qualify for Veterans - class 44? Class 45 M&M - pure bred only. Class 46 Condition. Any of them could do that. You would need to bath them and ensure feet are up todate trimmed etc. They are looking for the horse/pony in the best condition.....so not too fat/thin and with a nice glossy coat. Oil feet for optimum shine......a dab of vegetable oil is great for this. Mane and Tail looking as full as possible. Mane and tail conditioner or even a little baby oil will add a shine to a mane and tail. Buffing with a cloth after grooming really helps with the shiny coat. If ponies have a good diet the coat should shine anyway, but by adding a bit of oil to feeds it does help. Soya oil is good ready cooked linseed (specifically for horses). Ooooo exciting! :D
 
Yes, That's the one although I couldn't find anything on it when looking at their page earlier. Wow! You have helped me out with the classes there, thanks chuck :D
Sparky is 7 and Violet is 5 years old :) So don't qualify as veteran!
Sparky is chestnut - photo's are edited so looks different then what he is :o and a full shetland pony!

Woah! Thank you for all the information and tips! HUGE HELP!
It is exciting :D!
 
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