Showing a veteran

Wundahorse

Wundahorse

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Hi all i need some advice about showing my 27 year old Arab mare in ridden and in hand classes this year.She looks in fantastic condition has no age related problems like stiffness and remains very fluid and supple in her movements.She has a couple of old scars,one inside her outside cannon bone from a kick,and a small dent on her neck below her throat where another horse kicked her years ago.Do judges mark down on old war wounds,or are the part of the deal of being an oldie?.She looks fit and has amazing stamina for her age and barely blows at all when she has a gallop.Forgot to mention that our WB has chewed the end of her mane,so would this matter?.Any tips and advice would be gratefully received.
 
Veterans are shown to type. They will not be asked to gallop. Any acquired scars, lumps n bumps are discounted. The societies [Veteran Horse Society and 15+ ] are pretty hot on correct, neat and tidy dress and exclusion of all jewllery [not tiepins tho!] Your mare sounds as if she should do well...go for it!! Google the societies and read up on dos and donts on there, they are also very friendly and helpful on the phone :D
 
Thanks maisyblu i was worried they would mark her down for the odd scar and chewed mane.Will be entering some local showing both ridden and in hand and hope for the best.The only problem is the veteran classes range from 15 years onwards,and most 15 year olds these days are not as they were years ago when the rules were set.Do the judges take the individual age into account,as the difference between my mare and a 15 year old is 12 years.
 
Wundahorse said:
Thanks maisyblu i was worried they would mark her down for the odd scar and chewed mane.Will be entering some local showing both ridden and in hand and hope for the best.The only problem is the veteran classes range from 15 years onwards,and most 15 year olds these days are not as they were years ago when the rules were set.Do the judges take the individual age into account,as the difference between my mare and a 15 year old is 12 years.
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I think they'll mark her according to her age. I can't really speak for the UK, but showing her in SA they do take age into account - even in normal open classes. We don't have Veteran classes here (not often anyway) so I compete against the younger horses on my 17 year old - and I know the judges have always taken his age into account (and his whooped some young horse butt).

I think your mare will do great:). She sounds like she's in fab condition for her age!
 
I show my 20 year old veteran and find that, if you have a 'proper' oldie that's good for their age, they do far better than the teenage youngsters. Don't expect it to be a nice quiet class though, most veterans that show have done a different 'job' in the past and can get quite hyper when they get to go out 'partying'! Scars, lumps and bumps would only really count against you if the judge was struggling to decide between a few horses, if one is 'perfect' they will probably choose that one over one that's marked.
It's good fun, there's usually a good mixture of horses. Sometimes, inhand and ridden are mixed. Once you've had a go at each, you'll work out if your mare is better inhand or ridden.
Good luck and lots of pictures please
 
Wundahorse said:
.The only problem is the veteran classes range from 15 years onwards,and most 15 year olds these days are not as they were years ago when the rules were set.Do the judges take the individual age into account,as the difference between my mare and a 15 year old is 12 years.
Click to expand...

If you are showing under VHS rules they have classes for different ages anyway - the pre-vet is 15-19, veteran is 20-24 and super-vet (I think) is 25 onwards.
 
It is awkward doing mixed age classes as a lot of judges just seem to go ...o you are the oldest you can be first! A decent and affiliated judge will take a lot more into consideration, so it is nicer to go for the proper Veteran classes as they do use a scoring system, they do have a lot of classes around the country too, at a variety of shows, local, RC, agricultural and county. Enjoy, its a friendly bunch as most have had their "babies" for years and love em to bits no matter where they come!!!! {not saying either, other people dont :eek:!!!!]
 
I'll be aiming for the local bridleways show next month but i should really try the affiliated classes but there hardly anything near to us and i don't want to travel miles away.All the advice has been much appreciated.Thank you all.
 
Scars/lumps and bumps will depend on the judge, the last veteran class I did resulted in clean legged, but filthy, badly turned out and horrifically behaved horses being highly placed :confused: :D

Good luck :)
 
Oh dear poor Arab won't stand a chance as she is so well behaved the judges in the Arab classes used to overlook her in favour of rearing,bronking fire breathing dragons.
 
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