Showing for beginners. Advice please

[Blossom89]

Hi everyone, thought this would be a good place for advice. I have owned my ponies for 18 months, I am really just a happy hacker and enjoy driving them. I would like to get involved in local shows, probably just in hand. I do not have a clue where to start to be honest. Where would I find where they are? What do I wear? Etc any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've got gorgeous cobs (well I think they are) and just want to do something different. I don't have any friends with horses local to me so struggling abit as don't get much word of mouth ie what's going on locally. I live in Nottinghamshire btw. Thanks in advance

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Have a look for shows in your area on the Riding Diary website, feed/tackshops and vets surgeries often have schedules for local shows.

 

[Shay]

Riding diary is probably the best place to start with. Once you get out and about you start to learn which centers have shows that suit and you can look at their websites directly. You can also pick up printed schedules at tack / feed shops - although around us that is getting rarer as print costs money and putting it online doesn't! I'm very good at finding shows - but have no experience with in hand showing. If you need more detailed advice on what to wear, how to turn out etc it might be worth posting in the "Competition and training" section.