Shetland (well almost...)

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Scot123

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Hi. This summer I've promised my little girl we'll take the family pony to our first show! We are absolute novices (as will become clear) and I have been reading up everything I can and thought I was prepared. We were going to do a few inhand, lead rein and first ridden mountain and moorland classes.

However. I've been living under the stupid assumption that just because he's obviously a shetland type then he can enter. But he's not registered or even part registered. Only just realised this will be a problem.

So wondering. Will any local shows accept m & m ponies that aren't even registered part breds? Or if we have to enter just ridden pony, will we be able to show him in a natural state or will he have to be plaited etc (he will look daft like this!)?

Never (ever) easy!!
 
I feel your pain. I too have a very obviously almost shetland but on a standard BHS passport. I think locally you can do lead rein, in hand you could do junior handler or our local venue has some nice "have a go" in hand and ridden classes for any type. I don't think, even at local level you can do M&M, but I'm sure you will find something fun to do. There are also coloured classes if your pony is one.
 
Most local level shows do not state that ponies need to be registered, you need to check the schedules, many are open to "native types" it may mean looking around but you are sure to find somewhere you can compete in the classes you want as long as he is of shetland type you should be fine, there may also be a few fun classes such as prettiest pony, longest tail etc that you can do, don't forget the best rider/ equitation classes that will be open to all.
 
Thank you. I still have vague hope - the couple of shows that are within travelling distance don't actually specify that the M&M ponies are registered (although maybe they presume they don't have to say it as it's obvious!) so I've emailed them to check.

We don't have much of a choice of where to go as distances are a bit too far here. Classes also seem a bit limited! Do you think, then, that we could enter a ridden pony class if we can't do M&M or would he look a bit daft/out of place with other 'finer' type ponies?

Failing which, we can fall back on the fancy dress and send him as a big pudding!!
 
We have a shitland/heinz 57 type. My sons happily do child handler, prettiest mare and lead rein classes with her. The classes tend not be M&M ones around here so we are lucky.

The aim is for them to have fun is it not? So does it matter so much if you are up against the "show" ponies? (We frequently encounter them at our local show:()
 
Most local shows are either open to unregistered (unless it specifies must be registered with respective pure breed society I assume open) or have a class for unregistered :)
 
Just in the process of
Acquiring a Heinz 57 pony of
Indeterminate breeding but Shetland descent; our local shows don't specify registered, they say "M&M type", so you'd be fine.
And ridden pony, is different to
"Riding pony". I think riding pony refers to the smarter finer ones, ridden pony to me is a broader "pony that is ridden" local show type class.

Enjoy!
 
Thank you! It's great to have advice from all those that've been there/done that. Also nice to think that our (wonky) credentials won't be too scrutinised. Yes, all will be good, have to remind myself it's only wee local shows I'm thinking of. Quite looking forward to it all now! And also thanks as I hadn't picked up on the difference between riding pony and ridden pony.
 
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