Show prep for Fell pony - any tips?

catkin

catkin

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After years of Welsh showing I now have a delightful young Fell pony to go showing with.

now, although we're OK with what we actually do in the ring - and I've read the rules on trimming and presentation etc etc. - it's the actual prep that I'd be grateful for tips on. What products work well? what not to do?

What I've got so far -
mane and tail, no brushing just detangle with fingers.
He's fine with 'Gallop' shampoo.
Have got natural bristle brushes, linen clothes and sheepskin mitts for polishing.
We don't have a hot water shower just a hosepipe and buckets of warm water brought from house.
I've ditched the trimming scissors and chalk :)

Any suggestions on conditioner/detangler for mane and tail and, in particular, feather care - he has very luxurious 'floor mops' after Welshie 'tufts' :)

Thankies
 
No advice for feathers my Arabs don't have much but I bought some marvelous cloths from asda they are for dusting really but really get the dust off the coat, they are like mittens you put your hand in with little bobbly bits on and they are only £1 and go in the washing machine. I tend to use the supreme products sparkle spray is good it makes the mane and tail very glossy I also use it on the coat and makes the hooves nice and shiny too without making anything stick to them.
 
I know nothing about showing, but I have two black ponies...

Lots of polishing and polishing, and hot clothing and polishing. Black looks dusty/dirty at the drop of a hat.

The only show I've prepped for, I gave a bath the week before, and used a "magic brush" to really get down to the skin. Took extra care on washing the top of the dock. While wet I used copious amounts of a silicone based detangler (I know not everyone likes them, but for a one off I didn't think it could cause that much damage!) on mane and tail.

Every day thereafter I brushed and polished (they still had field time, so it was just a case of keeping ontop of the dust).

After the initial bath I didn't use any coat sheen or anything, just arm power and a rubber curry to bring out the natural oils.

They were both adequately spiffy for our internal show ;) mind you, I'd probably go into panic if I had to show them outside of the yard lol!
 
Thanks for the tips

I've got some sparkle spray that I used on my last welshie - I'll patch test him with it (though I think this boy will need cans of the stuff as he really does have some hair! :) )

Hadn't thought of using a magic brush for bathing - what a good idea, can see how that would work well.

I've had dark-coated horses for years so am well used to hot clothing. This chap likes being groomed, he'll probably love it.
 
His feathers MUST be fine hair, not course.
Judges in breed classes will still feel down the leg to check this, so ensure the feather is soft & silky if you can. Less silky hair is preferable than a lot of course stuff.
Remember, you will need to practice a walk away and walk back, then trot away & trot back - a lot of the older judges will do this in FPS breed classes.
Good luck with the showing :)
 
If you can find it locally (or have time to order it online) Cowboy Magic is a very good detangler - i've got a QH with a very thick tail and while I use serum (eqyss survivor) between shows the cowboy magic shine is great for show prep. Remember that if you put too much in his mane it will make your reins slippy! Better to use the detangler BEFORE bathing on the mane. Damp cloth and then cloth with coat gloss on is best for a last minute shine. If you've shown a Welshie you know all the stuff about plain tack and flat leather.
I had a hilarious experience showing a Fell that was a rescue - the local RDA had bought her not realising how green she was! We think she'd had a difficult foaling as a youngster so was very protective about her bottom! I got to the point where I could brush her tail and back legs at home, but when we arrived at the show she was a bit nervous and was not having any of it, so she had to go in the ring with a bit of a green tail where she'd pooed on it in the trailer (I could get a tail guard on but not a bandage). Anyway she was good as gold in the ring, and the judge really liked her so she came 4th in a mixed M&M class, green tail and all! Have fun, they are great ponies!
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
His feathers MUST be fine hair, not course.
Judges in breed classes will still feel down the leg to check this, so ensure the feather is soft & silky if you can. Less silky hair is preferable than a lot of course stuff.
Remember, you will need to practice a walk away and walk back, then trot away & trot back - a lot of the older judges will do this in FPS breed classes.
Good luck with the showing :)
Click to expand...


Ah ha! knew there'd be some breed specifics. Thanks for that - I'll make sure that we've got both walk out/trot back AND walk out/walk back nailed.
i've presumed that we walk when going into an in-hand ring rather than the full-on trot that you do with welsh ? (though I'm still fit enough to do it if needs be :) ) He's an energetic boy and trots out well on a good length of rein.
 
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I really like the Eqyss products for my Welsh D - the Premier shampoo and conditioner make his feathers really silky, even the back ones which are "mud burnt" still.
 
For the mane and tail, the Detangler/Polisher from www.showready.co.uk is fab. It contains no oils so can be applied without making reins etc slippery, and can be used on feathers too. I put it on my boy's legs in winter to stop mud sticking. It last ages too- I bought mine in April last year (small bottle) and still got some left (I apply once a week).
 
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