Showing a veteran ... No luck in cr hence trying here

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muffinmunsh

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To all you showing people out there...

I have a 17yo WB gelding I would like to take veteran showing. I have no experience in this and am grateful for any advice!

First issue ... he has a brown thorowgood high wither saddle. It is the only saddle that fits him. Not very posh looking but in good condition.
Can I show him in it?

He does need a tiny felt pad at the back so I would need to use a numnah. What stile and colour would be acceptable?

I suppose he'll need a brown bridle ... Should it be a double? Or would his normal hanging cheek do? And what stile of bridle... He is a riding horse type and the hunter nosebands look a little large on him...

Please help :-)))
 
For local level, yes your saddle is fine. A discrete brown numnah would be acceptable. Snaffles are ok although doubles are preferred; however I would not introduce a double bridle to a veteran horse purely for showing. Brown bridle preferred.

Generally people use a flat hunter noseband and a smart velvet browband, although you would get away with a finer noseband if you prefer. At local level you will find a huge variation in turnouts!

Have a look here for some information/photos :)
 
I thought veteran horse society rules stated snaffle only, no spurs and no long whips. If I can use a double I'll be over the moon!
 
Hi muffinmush!
Don't worry about the saddle - for a first seasion trying VHS classes I would use what fits and is comfortable for your horse rather than rushing to find something straight cut.
You will find very very few people show without numnahs, something plain, brown, and cut similarly to the saddle is ideal - Griffin Nu-med do some good ones.

As per the bridle - again I would go for whatever suits your horse's level of schooling, I'd rather see a happy polished picture in a synthetic GP and a snaffle than uncomfortable horse winched in in a pelham etc - but I have to say that the look of a double/faux double looks very professional and more suitable.
For a riding horse, I you might find a large flat hunter noseband is actually very appropriate but might take a bit of getting used to for you to look at. The one thing I notice aesthetically - not that it makes a JOT of difference in judgeing - is when the noseband is of a considerably heavier weight than the browband - cheap show browbands area usually thin and a bit weedy looking, I bet if he's a good RH type he would carry off a decent thickness of both browband and noseband - agaiun it makes no difference to the judging but on a note of "looking professional" nothing looks worse than thin leather bridlework!

Hope that helps a little bit. Remmeber its often the finer details than the big saddlery one s that ultimately make the difference between a tidy and a professional turnout - look closely at your jacket fit, shirt, tie, cane, rein thickness, stirrup irons, trimming of horse, the works!
 
Are you doing affiliated or just local.

For local your saddle will be fine, I personally wouldn't use it for bigger shows. A brown numnah cut close to your saddle is fine, no other colours or saddlecloths though.

A double or rugby pelham havanna bridle would be correct. You dont have to use the 2" nosebands, choose what suits his head, but it should be a plain hunter bridle. However riding horses can have a fancy browband on it I believe.

For local your current bridle would probably be OK
 
rhino said:
Generally people use a flat hunter noseband and a smart velvet browband, although you would get away with a finer noseband if you prefer. At local level you will find a huge variation in turnouts!

Have a look here for some information/photos :)
Click to expand...

You turn out according to type so for example you would not use a velvet browband on a hunter.

Competition is tough so would recommend you go and watch one of the regional final before you enter one - not so tough at area final level

Claire Frost at veteran horse showing is very approachable so worth talking to.

Details of everything you have to do and turnout etc is on the VHS website as detailed above

Good luck - I had a great time when the boy and I were doing it
 
its not worth compromising your horses back, so yes use your normal saddle and i would think a shaped numnah , not too big and as close to the colour of your saddle as poss so its not too noticable.

bridle should be similar colour to the saddle and pick a style that suits his head...if you are happy riding him in a double then use a double, if not perhaps a pelham with 2 reins. if he is unhappy in either of these then ride him in his usual bit , (its not worth upsetting him )and see how you get on. have you googled veteran showing to find out what is required? im not sure but i used to do riding horse classes and hunter classes at local level and did quite well. hopefully some more knowledgable peeps on here will know more than me and can help you. just remember to enjoy your day:D
 
It'll be a local show as I have no experience whatsoever ... We retired him from competing last year as he wasn't feeling right anymore but something has happened over the winter and he seems to be just fantastic at the moment!
 
You turn out to type for the VHS showing. So if a riding horse you want a hunter noseband with a velvet browband. You can use any suitable bit, although if he goes well in a double I'd use that. Matching the colour of the saddle.

Saddle will be fine, although a straight cut brown leather saddle would look more proffesional and present a better picture. But rather he's happy in a comfortable saddle.

You can't wear spurs in a VHS class.

You want a nice tweed jacket that doesn't clash with browband, with beige/corn/canary breeches with long black boots. A hat to match, generally navy velvet. Brown leather gloves. Tie co-ordinated with browband. Waistcoat if you'd like. A cream shirt tends to look neater than a white one.

Hair neatly back in a bun under a hairnet. A smart show cane. Age badge- you can get these from the VHS.

I think that's everything! And most of all have FUN! I thoroughly enjoyed doing it with a friends horse the last couple of seasons!
 
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