Showing Critique

[superpony]

I'm hoping to do my first inhand showing show with my thoroughbred in a few weeks.

Heres a picture of a show i took him to so he could look around, not long after i got him.

I was wondering if you could offer me any advice of what i could do to improve?

Also i'm only going to a local show so there are limited inhand classes. I'm planning on taking him in open breeds inhand. Theres not really any other suitable classes but there is hunter in hand. Do you think i could take him in that as a LW hunter? Or will i look totally out of place?

Thank you.

 

[RoscoeBlue]

Lovely horse

For showing turnout I would pull his tail and trim off those little bits of feather.

Also depending on if his length of mane allows you too I would try and use a few fewer plaits to give the impression that his neck is a little shorter and also try and sit them a little higher on top of his crest rather than at the side. This will make his neck look a bit thicker which would be much better for a hunter class.

As its a local show I think he would do fine in a LW Hunter class.

You say this is a pic when you first got him so i cant comment on his condition now but is there a best conditioned class?

I would look at doing...

- Open breeds
- LW Hunter
- Best Conditioned
- Show Horse

Anyway, hes lovely, and good luck x

 

[zoeshiloh]

He looks a nice sort - here are my tips;

I'd halve the number of plaits on his neck, and try and sow them up onto the crest to make his neck look shorter and a bit more substantial - like these;

http://www.paranormalmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/horse-plaiting.jpg

Either plait or pull his tail, and make sure there is a clean cut/edge at the bottom - John Rawding told me that I should cut the tail to sit level with the top of the chestnuts when in the relaxed position.

Quater marks/sharks teeth - they will just make his bum look a bit more substantial if done correctly, and catch the eye a bit more - I would do the typical 'hunter' marks - three stripes and then some teeth like this;

http://board.youngrider.com/Uploads/Images/b5bfc0a4-6e27-4552-8957-5186.jpg

In terms of bridle I would go for either a loose ring snaffle or a double/pelham bit. If going for a loose ring snaffle, I'd use a coupling and leather lead. for a double bridle/pelham - use two sets of reins. It depends how much you want to do, whether you want to buy a whole new bridle, but I prefer plain bridles with no makers marks etc on them. Has he got white on his face? If not, or if he has a little bit, a clencher browband would really set his head off I think.

In terms of your dress (I can just see you) you should be wearing jod boots/shoes (brown), beige trousers (not jods) cream shirt and hacking jacket (tie) and a navy or brown beagler. At local level just a general smart appearance is fine, but it might look a bit better to get some trousers on rather than wearing long boots and jods.

With regards to lightweight hunter, at local level he would be fine I'm sure, and to be honest with a bit more muscle and condition (oops the dreaded 'show condition') he would probably be ok in affiliated LW classes!

 

[MissSBird]

Personally, if you have the choice I would put him in riding horse class, not hunter. Local shows rarely split the hunters by weights and with those little legs he seems a little fine for show hunter. But, if it's just hunter in-hand available it'll still be good experience for him, so I'd go for it all the same

Ditto what Roscoe says about trimming/adjusting your plaits. Also, do you have a plain browband with no silver bits? If so I'd pop that on as it's a little more appropriate for hunter. Again no major problem.

Not sure if that's you handling at the side of the photo, but if it is I recommend you switch to a pair of light coloured trousers and shoes you can run in. You can pick them up cheaply from a charity shop/asda/matalan. It looks smarter for in-hand classes than jodphurs and boots. Also remember a pair of gloves

 

[superpony]

Thank you everyone! I really appreciate it. Will take on all your advice and will be posting a report and pictures in a few weeks to tell you how i got on.