Showing Clinic with Lynn Russell

ClaireH78

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 September 2006
Messages
124
Location
Kent
Visit site
I went to a showing clinic with Lynn Russell a couple of weeks ago with my LW coloured cob who I am hoping to show. He was a good boy and Lynn was fairly complimentary about my boy, slated my saddle and bridle and my pony club coloured breeches and my dressage top boots (I can't afford all the gear all at once!!) She is of course very knowledgable in her field and I picked up a few hints and tips! Here are some pictures. My horse is still very green and I have one of the worst habits in looking down (I need to wear one of those neck braces!) Comments welcome!

GeorgeatLynnRussell3.jpg


GeorgeatLynnRussell2.jpg


GeorgeatLynnRussell1.jpg
 
Was that FrogPool? I think that’s my friend’s horse in the background?? Glad you had a good day, I think my friend also found it very interesting.
grin.gif
I have found Lynn blunt but fair. She certainly knows how to show off a horse.
 
i have no knowledge of showing, nor of lynn russell, but everytime i see her or read about her i just get a really bad vibe?!

your horse is lovely
smile.gif
 
deffinately agree that your saddle is doing you and him no favors.

Bridle deffinately needs to be thicker all round with a wider noseband

some serious strapping needed to build up that neck.

i think you might need some more pulling on that tail but cant see properly from that angle.

I think he is lovely. is he quite young?
 
Horse is fab and you look like you're doing a good job. Trust me, you'll look up when you're in show ring with 15 other wild baby cobs surrounded by a brass band, pony club games and tack stalls!

A tiny bit of spring grass and sunshine along with lots of the right work (bit of schooling, lunging, lots of hacking with hills and some fun stuff - we all know how bored cobbies get!) will build him up to a better shape. Don't let anyone tell you he needs to be fatter.

Get some entry forms filled in and go and have some fun!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Don't let anyone tell you he needs to be fatter.


[/ QUOTE ]

Whole heartedly echo that (although with the spring grass and a cob you may struggle to keep the weight off him). Its muscle not fat that he needs!

Top line and building up his bum trotting up hills with him working correctly will realy help, but be careful you dont do too much work on the roads as you dont want a lovely lad like him to throw a splint.
Passoas are wonderful things for building top line as well!
 
She may be successful but there is no need for her to 'slate you'. I have done a fair amount of showing over the years and from the photos you are tidily turned out. I would suggest that your boy would look lovely in a double bridle or pelham unless you're showing him in novice classes. He looks fit, well conditioned and not too fat! Well done, have fun with him.
 
he looks niiiice!!

Only thing I'd say is his white marking on his offside shoulder almost makes him look downhill. Its almost like double reins might improve that, purely on an aesthetics point of view because it would break up the white. Not a conventional comment, I'm sure, but hey!
 
Don't worry too much about the jods and the boots. I am wearing the dressage top boots as my made to measure show boots looked awful when they arrived. Judges are not so worried about them as they are about the way a horse looks! However, I can understand her making a comment about them as technically it is not correct, just bloody impossible to find good quality straight cut boots which fit.

Your bridle is the easiest and probably cheapest thing to change to improve the look.
here is a pic of Bob so you can see the difference a chunky bridle makes.
bob.jpg


The tail looks too long and as others have said, needs to be pulled. Putting your saddle back a little may help the look without having to replace. You will probably need some sort of sticky pad to keep it in place.

Re the boots - lots of showing people were wearing gaiters last year and that my be a cheaper way of replacing your boots.

He is a nice horse and well worth spending a little to make him fit into the class better. And you also have coloured classes you can do, so you will be busy this season!
 
Thank you everyone for your comments. I will read them when I get home tonight rather than a hurried look at work!!!

Thank you again
 
Top