Show prep, technical Q's!

[Meoldmucka]

This is my first show showing my MILs coloured cob (in hand) and I was hoping to pick your brains.... I'm going at him with the 'gallop' shampoo this week but how long should I leave it on for for maximum stain removal but no purple tinge?!
Also, I need to trim his tail. One of my family mentioned some measurement in relation to his hocks e.g. an inch below hocks but I wasn't really listening, oops! Any ideas?
Should I trim his ear hair? Is that even allowed?
I don't want to pull mane or tail but is there some trick with hair gel etc to get the top of the tail looking less like a hedgehog?

And what would you expect to see in an individual show (in hand)

Please and thank you!

 

[blitznbobs]

Is he a show cob or a traditional?

 

[blitznbobs]

Cobs are either totally hairy

or totally trimmed


Never the twain shall meet

 

[Meoldmucka]

Errr.... Can you tell I'm new at this?! I've seen photos of him shown before and it's with full mane and feathers if that helps? I think he did pretty well so I hope I do him justice ?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

As regards the individual show you will be asked to walk your horse out to the judge, stand them up in hand so the judge can look all round them. You will then be told to walk them away then turn and trot back. Remember when you turn to come back to turn the horse away from you so that you turn more or less on the spot, don't pull it round you. Then into trot straight towards the judge, they will get out of your way, keep trotting well past them. Watch others to see how long the judge keeps looking at them and make sure you go far enough to give them a good view.

 

[blitznbobs]

Errr.... Can you tell I'm new at this?! I've seen photos of him shown before and it's with full mane and feathers if that helps? I think he did pretty well so I hope I do him justice ?

then dont pull or remove any hair just make sure hes spotlessly clean - his white bits are white ( purple shampoo left on for 5 to 10 mins always worked for mine) and his other bits are shiny…

a nice bridle and smart clothes for you. Walk away from the judge and trot l back then continue around the ring in trot - thats it really but make sure the trot is a banging forward trot .. no dawdling

 

[blitznbobs]

Unless of course its a welsh cob…

 

[Meoldmucka]

Thanks guys, his passport says 'sports cob' ?. He's the sweetest boy. Can't upload a photo as it's too big but he's gorgeous too!

 

[holeymoley]

Unless he’s a native in which case you can tidy the mane up ever so slightly but it must have the native look. Or if he’s a lighter type you may get away with plaiting him up. Really depends.

Mine’s an inbetweener- native. But I don’t show him anymore. I keep his mane on but trim his legs. He’s more of a pony so can get away with it.

 

[blitznbobs]

Thanks guys, his passport says 'sports cob' ?. He's the sweetest boy. Can't upload a photo as it's too big but he's gorgeous too!

if you email the photo to yourself you can shrink the file size and then we could see him in all his gloriousness

 

[Meoldmucka]

He's on a weight loss program so a bit slimmer now, I'm hoping I don't get laughed out of the show ring cos he's too fat!

 

[blitznbobs]

Is it a local show?

 

[Meoldmucka]

Yeh it's local and for charity so very low key

 

[blitznbobs]

Yeh it's local and for charity so very low key

ok the honest answer is that you arent going to be able to get the turnout quite right unless you hog him and clip him out, take his tail short to about an inch below his hocks (when carried), and pull it properly too. He doesnt have enough feather to go’ traditional’ so i would tidy him up a bit, shorten his mane and even it out so its ‘native’ length and get him gleaming clean, you can
Bandage his tail to get it lying flat at the top and then go and have fun xx

 

[Meoldmucka]

ok the honest answer is that you arent going to be able to get the turnout quite right unless you hog him and clip him out, take his tail short to about an inch below his hocks (when carried), and pull it properly too. He doesnt have enough feather to go’ traditional’ so i would tidy him up a bit, shorten his mane and even it out so its ‘native’ length and get him gleaming clean, you can
Bandage his tail to get it lying flat at the top and then go and have fun xx

Thanks B!

 

[Meoldmucka]

This is him in his previous show days with a top Scottish producer. I always thought he wasn't hairy enough to be shown with full mane and feathers etc but he won the royal Highland like this before we owned him.

 

[blitznbobs]

This is him in his previous show days with a top Scottish producer. I always thought he wasn't hairy enough to be shown with full mane and feathers etc but he won the royal Highland like this before we owned him.

Thats a native coloured turn out rather than a cob xx

 

[Meoldmucka]

Thats a native coloured turn out rather than a cob xx

Gah, what does that mean?! I obviously have a lot to learn about showing ?

 

[Meoldmucka]

As regards the individual show you will be asked to walk your horse out to the judge, stand them up in hand so the judge can look all round them. You will then be told to walk them away then turn and trot back. Remember when you turn to come back to turn the horse away from you so that you turn more or less on the spot, don't pull it round you. Then into trot straight towards the judge, they will get out of your way, keep trotting well past them. Watch others to see how long the judge keeps looking at them and make sure you go far enough to give them a good view.

Do you keep trotting back to your place in the line or stop and walk back? Do I need to salute the judge? X

 

[blitznbobs]

Gah, what does that mean?! I obviously have a lot to learn about showing ?

so with coloured horses there is other options including ‘vanners’ and natives. Native is a coloured horse that can be comparable to one of the native breeds (welsh cob, fell , dales etc) but cant be classed exactly as one of those as none of these breeds can be coloured. These horses are turned out as you would a Welshy - ie they call it natural but actually manes are shortened and ‘discretely thinned’ tails are not banged but again can be discretely thinned … if you look on the chaps website it should give you the details…

 

[blitznbobs]

Do you keep trotting back to your place in the line or stop and walk back? Do I need to salute the judge? X

you usually walk when you go behind the other horses and join back into your correct place in the line . It is usually not necessary to salute the judge as they have moved on to the next horse by then

 

[Meoldmucka]

so with coloured horses there is other options including ‘vanners’ and natives. Native is a coloured horse that can be comparable to one of the native breeds (welsh cob, fell , dales etc) but cant be classed exactly as one of those as none of these breeds can be coloured. These horses are turned out as you would a Welshy - ie they call it natural but actually manes are shortened and ‘discretely thinned’ tails are not banged but again can be discretely thinned … if you look on the chaps website it should give you the details…

Thanks that's interesting, I'll check out the chaps website. The class I've entered is for 'coloured horses and ponies' so we should be covered

 

[jnb]

He's a Native cob rather than a Traditional therefore turnout like a Welsh but without the shorter tail so leave feathers, discreetly tidy mane so its approx 6"-8" long (as in your photo) - tail as natural as possible at the top and possibly feather the bottom level with ergots - no shorter
Brown flat plain bridle and brown saddle if poss with discreet matching numnah and brown leather girth

You wear a tweed jacket, shirt and tie, canary/cream/buff jods & black boots, brown gloves, hair in a bun (no scrunchies unless you're 10), Navy hat with flesh coloured harness if possible, brown or malacca cane or leather whip.

 

[minesadouble]

He's definitely turned out as a native in that pic. Google is your friend to help with turnout.
I'm assuming if he won the Highland he will have qualified for HOYS so should definitely be able to take it all in his stride. What is his day job now?

 

[Meoldmucka]

He retired from the show world as he had to have his hocks fused so now he's a happy hacker, cuddle magnet and sometimes show pony!

 

[Meoldmucka]

He's a Native cob rather than a Traditional therefore turnout like a Welsh but without the shorter tail so leave feathers, discreetly tidy mane so its approx 6"-8" long (as in your photo) - tail as natural as possible at the top and possibly feather the bottom level with ergots - no shorter
Brown flat plain bridle and brown saddle if poss with discreet matching numnah and brown leather girth

You wear a tweed jacket, shirt and tie, canary/cream/buff jods & black boots, brown gloves, hair in a bun (no scrunchies unless you're 10), Navy hat with flesh coloured harness if possible, brown or malacca cane or leather whip.

Thanks jnb that's really helpful. I'm showing him in hand so although we have his show saddle (how uncomfortable are show saddles?!) I won't have to clean it this time!

 

[jnb]

Thanks jnb that's really helpful. I'm showing him in hand so although we have his show saddle (how uncomfortable are show saddles?!) I won't have to clean it this time!

In that case, top half as per my comment above but navy trousers (not jeans!) with paddock boots (or stout shoes you can run in, not trainers).