Showing and dressage, can you do both?

[Simbapony]

I have a very nice m&m who qualified for HOYs a couple of times before I bought her and we now do dressage (about to go elem at BD). I haven’t shown her as didn’t want to be the one to end what had been a very successful showing career, hence the dressage. However I’m finding the idea of showing her to be a bit of an itch that I want to scratch. However she is dressage fit, not showing condition so I’m sure I am wasting my time in that sense and I’ve been told the way of going is different so probably won’t work. Sam Roberts seems to do it very successfully but is that down to the type of pony? I have a Sec D. Thoughts welcomed I just want to do everything
Im not talking about doing little local type shows, I’m too all or nothing for that!

 

[smiggy]

A friend has a few Welsh ponies with Sam and they do super well in both, better than me in either
they are b’s though so I think not expected to be as heavy for showing as a d would be . Are things changing there though? They are supposed to be.
I think if you start with a dressage way of going, you could translate that to a show way of going better than the other way round .

 

[AdorableAlice]

A schooled balanced and obedient horse is required for both activities. My old lad was a medium dressage horse in the winter and a very successful show hunter in the summer at county shows, going to Hoys in October. We planed his campaign around the regionals and nationals, alongside picking his Hoys qualifiers carefully.

The key is to keep the outings fun and successful without exhausting the horse. He worked all year but stayed sweet.

 

[dottylottie]

personally i think it would be quite refreshing to see a section d “fit not fat”, show condition is code for obese to most people it would seem. the general way of going would be easily transferable, i think!

 

[catkin]

I would give it a try - with a D it is all about the movement after all. I dont see how the way of going stuff is particularly an argument, for both activities you want a balanced pony and typey movement for a D (if that's what the comment is about) is pretty spectacular anyway!

I appreciate that her past success may be a dampener on going showing but go with the mindset of having a day out, accept that not all judges will like every pony and enjoy it anyway.
PS do the breed society still do performance schemes? if so, her dressage successes could be part of that.

 

[gallopingby]

Showing classes are or are supposed to be judged depending on specific society rules 50. % conformation and 50 % way of going / manners etc so if you’ve a nicely schooled well mannered pony you’re going to be at least half way there. Breed type and conformation marks can be hugely variable depending on how knowledgeable the judge is about your breed. Turnout is sometimes different and a pulled and plaited dressage type isn’t / shouldn’t do well in a M&M class where ponies should be trimmed according to the breed rules. Worth giving it a go. Very fit looking ie eventing fit possibly isn’t going to win too many prized but middle of the road with an obedient show and a judge that is sound should be fine.

 

[humblepie]

Yes - my RoR medium dressage and county level showing. Have dropped the dressage now as cut back on the amount of competing. In his classes only thing I found was that he could go into counter canter if the ride judge asked for that and didn’t teach him flying changes either in case he popped one of those in . I don’t do M and Ms but lots of good advice above.

 

[dorsetladette]

At county level you D would be ridden by a ride judge. If your pony is obedient and easy to ride, easy off the leg and have breaks your ride score is sure to help keep you up the line. Some welsh cobs in show condition are bl##dy hard work to ride, on the forehand, heavy in the hand with little steering to speak of. I think after riding a few heavy in the hand down hill cobs the ride judge (usually a small lady) would find a nicely schooled pony very refreshing. I'd say go for it.

 

[tda]

Yes go for it. Welsh D are not shown with full manes anyway are they? So even if you pull and plait for dressage it won't matter.
If A judge comments that your pony is not in "show condition" smile and nod, then take your fit and healthy animal home

 

[rara007]

Not many M+M classes even for Ds have ride judges

 

[dorsetladette]

Not many M+M classes even for Ds have ride judges

Your right! I've just gone through the WPCS hand book. Not sure when that changed. Medal shows always had a ride judge previously. Guess I'm behind the times as shown youngsters for a while now.

 

[Hallo2012]

IMO (as someone who competes my own natives in dressage and schools a lot of show M&Ms for other people) to do well in showing, it will be too fat and lacking stamina to work correctly at elem and get good marks esp as a D. the small breeds manage it a bit better.

whatever anyone says the tide is not turning and a lot of top ponies are still obese.