Showing attire advice please - small hack

[Marigold4]

A couple of weeks ago, I showed my horse inhand. He won his first class, but after the second class the judge and steward came over and said they absolutely loved him but he was wearing the wrong bridle and I was wearing the wrong attire. They said we were correct if I was presenting him as a hunter but he did not have enough bone to be a hunter. He was a small hack type. He had on a plain bridle, leather browband and I was wearing a tweed jacket. We have another class this Sunday so would like to dress correctly. Blingy browband for him? Dark blue jacket for me?

 

[lynz88]

No idea over here but in hand shows back home are shown in "dressy" clothes. Dress pants, nice collared shirt, etc. Horse in standard cavesson noseband.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

You will need a finer bridle Jeffries do a nice show bridle ideal for a hack type with a coloured browband, I think most hack classes you would wear a navy jacket.

If you think of how show ponies at top level are shown its very similar.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

H&H's guide to show hack classes - Horse & Hound

Class format, what to wear, how to turnout your horse as well as some tips from the professionals on how to get the best out of a show hack

www.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[humblepie]

In hand I would still wear tweed with a hack but navy if ridden. Definitely pretty brow band though. Good luck.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

You turn out a hack as you would do for a show pony.

 

[blitznbobs]

Navy jacket cream breeches coloured velvet or ribbon brow band on a fine (double reined) bridle.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Fancy browband and button hole. Navy or black jacket. Double bridle if horse goes well in it.

 

[I'm Dun]

Is this the lovely buckskin you have? Have you got a recent photo as from my vague memory he'd have been far more small hunter than small hack, and not all local level judges know what they are talking about!

 

[gallopingby]

Photo would be good. Hack turn out is the same as show pony and jockey should be suitably dressed with hack in a finer bridle than for hunters. BUT it largely depends what level you are showing at. If local and for experience it really shouldn’t matter it’s not your turnout being judged and type, conformation, way of going are much more important. If local l always have a look at who’s judging and how experienced they are, remember a little knowledge can be dangerous!

 

[Marigold4]

Is this the lovely buckskin you have? Have you got a recent photo as from my vague memory he'd have been far more small hunter than small hack, and not all local level judges know what they are talking about!

Yes, that's him. He is 50%+ tb and does have spindly legs but a deep body. Difficult to decide which type he is! I'll try and find a photo.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

He is very lovely how big is he?

I would ditch the trainers or at least wear some dark ones if it's local showing.

 

[Marigold4]

He is very lovely how big is he?

I would ditch the trainers or at least wear some dark ones if it's local showing.

He's 15hh. Trainers were not a good idea! The grass was v slippy that day and he can be quite lively so these were a last minute decision. Good idea to wear darker ones.

 

[conniegirl]

So tweed for you for inhand classes.
If you want to turn him out as a hack then the only thing you need to change on him is to put him in a blingy browband (a big ribbon one not a diamonte one)

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

He's 15hh. Trainers were not a good idea! The grass was v slippy that day and he can be quite lively so these were a last minute decision. Good idea to wear darker ones.

I know what you mean I used to show Arab's in hand you really have to run, I had some nice brown trainers I used quite a bit that looked OK with pale trousers.

I would actually wear pale trousers as he has black legs and they look nicer with a tweed or navy jacket.

When I did in hand I had beige cord trousers equitech do them, pale lemon shirt, navy and gold tie, navy waistcoat equitech, and a navy hat, brown gloves and brown short boots.

 

[Marigold4]

So tweed for you for inhand classes.
If you want to turn him out as a hack then the only thing you need to change on him is to put him in a blingy browband (a big ribbon one not a diamonte one)

The judge told me I should wear a dark blue jacket?

 

[gallopingby]

The judge told me I should wear a dark blue jacket?

@Marigold4 what type of show were you at? Do you know if the judge was on any of the judging panels? You wouldn’t normally wear a dark blue jacket showing inhand but would for ridden hack classes.

 

[I'm Dun]

I dont think hes a hack, they are usually high percentage tb with some arab in. Very refined and elegant. He looks to me like a riding horse but he'd be dwarfed. Hes gorgeous, but does that awkward thing where he falls between types. At lower levels it wont matter at all.

Honestly, I'd make some tweaks to your turnout, light trousers and dark boots/trainers etc and carry on as you are.

ignore me, I went to check the height limits for riding horse and small riding horse is 148cm to 158cms. So at higher levels he will be dwarfed. but lower levels and some county he would be fine. for some reason I thought they started bigger

 

[I'm Dun]

H&H’s guide to riding horse classes: how to impress the judges - Horse & Hound

New to riding horses classes and want to impress the judges on your debut? Find out how to turnout yourself and your horse and learn from top professionals

www.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[Marigold4]

I dont think hes a hack, they are usually high percentage tb with some arab in. Very refined and elegant. He looks to me like a riding horse but he'd be dwarfed. Hes gorgeous, but does that awkward thing where he falls between types. At lower levels it wont matter at all.

Honestly, I'd make some tweaks to your turnout, light trousers and dark boots/trainers etc and carry on as you are.

ignore me, I went to check the height limits for riding horse and small riding horse is 148cm to 158cms. So at higher levels he will be dwarfed. but lower levels and some county he would be fine. for some reason I thought they started bigger

He's a German Riding Pony so FS Golden Moonlight on his sire's side and then Primitive Proposal and Royaldik on his dam's side. A real mix! He has a big body on spindly legs and moves really well. Floats and points his toes. We are only doing local in hand showing to get him out and about as he is a bit of a maniac ridden in company. One day he will be calm enough to manage a canter round with others but at the moment it would fry his brain. I ride him round the warm up and lorries and then do in hand.

 

[Marigold4]

@Marigold4 what type of show were you at? Do you know if the judge was on any of the judging panels? You wouldn’t normally wear a dark blue jacket showing inhand but would for ridden hack classes.

I can't remember who the judge was but both the steward and the judge were adamant I should be dark blue and pointed out the winner who was correctly dressed in dark blue.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I can't remember who the judge was but both the steward and the judge were adamant I should be dark blue and pointed out the winner who was correctly dressed in dark blue.

If a ridden hack, then navy jacket hat etc is correct.
In hand hack would be tweed except for an evening gala performance/champ.

 

[conniegirl]

The judge told me I should wear a dark blue jacket?

Inhand is Always tweed during the day.

 

[anglo]

The judge told me I should wear a dark blue jacket?

For ridden -Dark Jacket is correct and blingy browband . Riding Jorses have tweed with blingy browband , Hunters plain bridle with tweed jackets. Men seem to wear tweed for all in hand from phots I have found. Mixed jackets for hacks so I dont know which is "correct"

 

[conniegirl]

Dark Jacket is correct and blingy browband . Riding Jorses ahve tweed with blingy browband , Hunters plain bridle with tweed jackets

Only for ridden classes. It is tweed for inhands during the day regardless of class

 

[anglo]

Only for ridden classes. It is tweed for inhands during the day regardless of class

Thanks , I just went and looked it up on the BHSA site - IN-HAND• Suitable clothing including for gentlemen a suit, collar and tie or jacket and trousers• Bowler hat• Ladies tweed jacket and trousers (not jeans), collar and tie or suitable skirts or suits• With tweed jacket and trousers a hunting cap should be worn• With skirts or suits a suitable hat securely fitted• Suitable footwear for walking and running appropriate for underfoot conditions (no trainers or tennisshoes)• Gloves• Showing cane• Buttonhole if wished