Showing Advice

SGCR

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Hello,
I want to start showing my old boy in some veteran classes this year, as he dosent want to retire so he always comes out on the lead rope with the other gang and loves it, i have just found out im having a baby :) so the riding will gradually reduce so im thinking up ideas were i can keep him happy and his old mind ticking and also have fun myself i have found a show that is on in 3 weeks time and id like some advice, hes full tb.

What to wear for myself?

Do i leave him o natural or do i plait him?

Hes in good very good condition but how do i get that extra shine on his coat so he gleams and also he was not clipped this year so how to get those winter hair stragglers out?

Does he just wear plain bridle with leather show lead and chain?

any other tips would be great.

Thank you in advance
 
For you, tweed jacket, shirt and tie, gloves, most people wear a hat, trousers (not jods) dark colour if his legs are light, and vice versa.

For him, I'd plait, au naturel is best left for the natives. I wouldn't worry too much about straggly hairs, after he's bathed rug him in a full neck and this will help the coat lay flat, I have used a block thingy (don't know correct name) looks a bit like pumice, this will help remove the long hairs. Found a link http://www.farmway.co.uk/equine-2/for-the-horse-22/horse-grooming-30/lincoln-grooming-block-230.htm
Quarter marks/sharks teeth add to the finished look

He should be in his 'ridden bridle, he can have a blingy browband if you want. It's more correct to use the reins over his head than a lead and chain. Some will use a pelham/double but it's up to you.

In my experience, judges like to see an older horse with a bit of spark so practice your trot up so that he is really forward.

Hope that helps a bit!
 
Thank you very much :) he has lots of spark so i think ill be ok and that part,
Also i want to take my mare in inhand she is grey id would the same cloths be ok for that aswell, and can you wear any other colour jacket ie blue or black?

O and also what to trim is do i take the ears out, muzzle, under the chin and fetlocks off.
Thanks you x
 
Yes you will be fine in a tweed with your grey too! :-)

I'd be tempted to get him a pretty brow band and yes you will need to plait him.

pop a bit of oil in his feed of a night time that should give him some shine, my bay boy looks like he has been Mr Sheen'd when all he's done is roll about in the field !

Have fun and watch what every one else is doing

Leg wear I have got a pair of biege cords I bought off ebay for 99p look great with my tweed jacket !

Let us know how you get on x
 
o thank you so much :) he looks great, id just like that extra gleam on him lots of grooming and ill get some oil tommrow as the next show is in 3 weeks so id reckon he'd look super by then :) also with grey's is there a way to get them whiter than white, ive heard of the chalk blocks but i keep invisaging the judge patting her and getting covered in chalk :/ x
 
For your grey try and get a blue based shampoo designed for white/grey horses, I like Champion Tails range and also QuikSilver but there are lots of different ones, they really take any yellowness out.

I'm guessing your TB is bay/brown so you'd need light trousers, for your mare you'd need dark! Go for something in the middle, the main thing is that the judge doesn't want to be distracted by your legs against the horses so make then significantly different in shade to both sets of legs! I hope that makes sense?

At local level you could wear a navy jacket though tweed is better.

Edited because I missed the chalk bit, only use the chalk on white socks, put loads on and brush as much as possible out just before the class, I have always failed with chalk really, it gets everywhere!
 
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this is him in the summer hes more chestnut now x
 
Aww he looks a nice chap! You'd get away with really dark trousers I think, maybe very dark brown or navy? He looks great, I'm sure you will do well with him :)
 
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