Showing advice

[axe1312]

need advice on showing. What is best for a first competition, showing or dressage? can i wear white breeches and a navy jacket for showing? or can i wear a tweed jacket and beige breeches for dressage and jumping? i dont have the money for 2 competition outfits. if i show he will have no saddle pad, if i do dressage he will have white. and i will be wearing a skull cap, with either a navy velvet cover. i dont really like showing but i dont know if its best for a first competition. can i even show an irish sports horse?

 

[Katieg123]

First competition for you, the horse or both?

 

[conniegirl]

So your best bet would be a tweed.
You can do dressage, jumping and showing in a tweed.

In showing only certain types of class allow navy and unless your horse is a stick legged show hack then you will need a tweed

Most ISH’s can do the hunter class and sports horse classes and there is nearly always a generic “horse over 14.2hh” class

Stick a picture up and we can advise better

 

[Cowpony]

Dressage judges in general don't care what you wear as long as you wear a jacket, helmet and gloves, and look tidy, especially at UA level. There are a few rules at affiliated level. For most disciplines tweed is rarely wrong, although you might find yourself the only person in a dressage class wearing it. Who cares!

You also don't have to use a white square for dressage - it's just fashion. I've done affiliated dressage in tweed and with a black sheepskin numnah, and the tack stewards haven't turned a hair.

 

[Carlosmum]

In showing only certain types of class allow navy and unless your horse is a stick legged show hack then you will need a tweed

At a low level a navy jacket would be ok, but you might get some funny looks from other competitors. as a judge I would never disallow someone for the incorrect clothing but might make a comment at the end of the class.

 

[Cowpony]

Regarding what sort of competition to do first, it probably depends how your horse will react. If it's a laid back kick along type then showing may give him a bit more sparkle as he'll be going round with other horses. If he's likely to get wound up then being alone in a quiet dressage arena may be best. Whatever you do, good luck!

 

[axe1312]

First competition for you, the horse or both?

for me

 

[axe1312]

So your best bet would be a tweed.
You can do dressage, jumping and showing in a tweed.

In showing only certain types of class allow navy and unless your horse is a stick legged show hack then you will need a tweed

Most ISH’s can do the hunter class and sports horse classes and there is nearly always a generic “horse over 14.2hh” class

Stick a picture up and we can advise better

pic of my horse?

 

[axe1312]

Regarding what sort of competition to do first, it probably depends how your horse will react. If it's a laid back kick along type then showing may give him a bit more sparkle as he'll be going round with other horses. If he's likely to get wound up then being alone in a quiet dressage arena may be best. Whatever you do, good luck!

if he is out on a hack with others he does like to get in front and if they go fast, then he wants to race them. if they are walking, he will just push to be infront

 

[ponynutz]

Is this the same horse who was extremely stressed a few weeks ago? Do you now have a saddle for him and has that helped? Or is he still showing signs of stress/discomfort?

 

[axe1312]

At a low level a navy jacket would be ok, but you might get some funny looks from other competitors. as a judge I would never disallow someone for the incorrect clothing but might make a comment at the end of the class.

would i loose points or anything?

 

[axe1312]

Is this the same horse who was extremely stressed a few weeks ago? Do you now have a saddle for him and has that helped? Or is he still showing signs of stress/discomfort?

yes it is. im not planning on competing him yet, he needs at least a few more months. i just want to get my head around what to buy, where im competing, transport etc. he does have a saddle, and was excited at the fitting, but is a chill boy now. he is still quite a spooky horse, but everything else has settled. his funny faces only show when i groom his fav spot, his old owner said hes always done it. he has kicked me, but with work he is learning his manners, he also has stopped biting. he will occasionally bit his door, but only if we keep him waiting without hay, eg getting tack ready, moving chairs so we can turn him out, etc.

 

[Cowpony]

would i loose points or anything?

Showing isn't really about points. But if the judge was trying to decide between you and another competitor the correct turnout would probably swing it.

 

[axe1312]

Showing isn't really about points. But if the judge was trying to decide between you and another competitor the correct turnout would probably swing it.

 

[axe1312]

Showing isn't really about points. But if the judge was trying to decide between you and another competitor the correct turnout would probably swing it.

how do i know if they allow navy jackets? im not too worried about breeches, i can get them cheap on ebay

 

[Cowpony]

If it's local level showing you'll be fine