Showing gear for 2yr old ISH? Who isn't bitted yet.

Kallibear

Kallibear

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 July 2008
Messages
4,618
Location
Edinburgh
Visit site
Roo is an orange 2yr old ISH: IDxTB. He currently looks more like a Giraffe X Weed but he's off to a local show this weekend to do a Youngstock class for experience.

However he's not ready to be bitted, which makes my inhand bridle useless.

So choice therefore is either a headcollar (leather, if I can beg borrow or steal one that'll fit!) or white rope halter.

What are baby sport horses usually shown in? (I've always show natives)
 
Baby sports horses are shown in in hand bridles with a bit. Yearlings usually in a little straight rubber bit and anything older in a proper bit. I used a nice little eggbutt bridoon for my 2yr old when I was showing him in hand.

Why is he not ready for bitting? No reason why you shouldn't put a bit in his mouth now.

If I was taking a 2yr old out for the experience I would certainly want a lot more control than a headcollar offers! And I would not be impressed if I was in the ring with mine and another competitor was showing youngstock in a headcollar no matter how well behaved you think he may be.

Apart from all the above you will look a complete numpty showing him in a headcollar etc. ;-)
 
I have a bitless inhand bridle. It is not a filly slip, but no idea how to describe it other than that! I used it on my weanling, but it was too big. May fit a 2 year old - pm me if you want to buy it as I have no use for it anymore - I can take pics so you can see what it is actually like!
 
You can unhook the noseband from your in hand bridle and re-thread it through the bit attachments. That's what I did when I showed Wolf as an unbitted yearling:

36732_1315927019041_1256686644_30776384_512152_n.jpg


If you do add a bit, you don't have to attach the lead to it. It can just be there for show with the lead attached to the noseband.

Mind you, don't listen to me, I'm not a serious show-er and only do it for the lifeproofing.
 
Esteryoung: never thought of that! It actually looks ok too. (although your baby does have a pretty little face anyways) I hope the inhand bridle actually fits tho! (never tried it on and he's got a dainty little nose)

Zoon: Thanks for the offer and i'd be really interested except show is on Sunday and i've broke until payday on Thurs (curse roadtax and MOT's!) :(. Plus I do have an inhand bridle, he just needs to learn to wear a bit first!

Burge: he was basically unhandled until 2months ago (taught to lead and tie in Ireland, nothing else). Teaching him to wear a bit, in a rush for sunday, is not exactly on the top of my priority list for him.

And the LAST thing I want to do is hold onto his mouth if he's messing about. A bit is not essential for control and I don't need to hurt him to force him to listen. There is no other reason for using a bit over a headcollar for 'control', other than to hurt them enough that they comply even if they don't want to. In fact it'd more likely make him 100x worse as he's sensitive and occasionally nervous.

Native babies, inc opinionated welsh brats, are show in white halters until they're 4, so there's def no 'need' for a bit.

As for being a 'numpty' in a headcollar, it's that attitude that put people off showing in the first place :( Thankfully i've done enough showing to not really care ;) He looks like a scrawny weed anyways so he'll be there for experience, not rossettes!
 
burge said:
Baby sports horses are shown in in hand bridles with a bit. Yearlings usually in a little straight rubber bit and anything older in a proper bit. I used a nice little eggbutt bridoon for my 2yr old when I was showing him in hand.

Why is he not ready for bitting? No reason why you shouldn't put a bit in his mouth now.

If I was taking a 2yr old out for the experience I would certainly want a lot more control than a headcollar offers! And I would not be impressed if I was in the ring with mine and another competitor was showing youngstock in a headcollar no matter how well behaved you think he may be.

Apart from all the above you will look a complete numpty showing him in a headcollar etc. ;-)
Click to expand...

This exactly ^^
I wouldn't dream of taking a big 2yr old to a show in a headcollar.
If he's not ready to be bitted now, i would wait until he is ready before showing.
A native baby is not the same as a a ISH!
 
I agree with Burge and FF. Don't use a headcollar, even a leather one, it really does look daft. Try your in-hand bridle out the way suggested above. Some look good like this, others just don't it depends on the make of the bridle.

If he a colt he will HAVE to be bitted - you don't define what he is other than that he is male.

As for not bitting - why ever not? No need to put the lead onto the bit, keep in on the nose band but it does look better, especially for big horses to be bitted regardless. I'm sure he can learn to accept an unused bit in his mouth by sunday.
 
Are you sure you will be allowed to show him without a bit in his mouth? I know some shows will not allow anything older than a foal be shown without a bit in their mouths because of insurance rules. Its the same with some sales companies. Check the show schedule just in case. Natives shown in halters are a different story to larger youngstock.
 
I'll try the inhand bridle on him, without a bit. Don't see the point of rushing to bit him if i'd be leading him by the noseband anyways?! I agree bitted does look better but I don't care enough to want to force it. Plus i'd need to go and buy a suitable bit as everything i've got will be too big!:o He's a gelding BTW so allowed to be a dope on a rope.

As for 'control', I wouldn't dream of taking him if I needed a bit to control him! Scary, if people are taking out big horses and the only thing stopping them from causing carnage is a strip of metal in the horses mouth and the pain they can inflict with it! :eek:
 
Go and have some fun with your baby!.

It's all experience, and the most important thing is that you feel in control and he is happy and comfortable. I agree 100% what you say about the bitting for control.

Bite me everybody, I can take it!! But Ive only just bitted my 4 year old. Her wolf teeth were removed last year, but I had no reason to bit her until her ridden carrer had started.

Dont forget to post some pictures of your outing!
 
TBB. Cross posts. Yes, they can be shown bitless. It's only a small local show. There will prob only be a handful in his class (all breeds and up to 4yrs old).

If 17hh clydesdale 3yrs olds can be shown in white halters, I don't see why he can't (apart from looking funny)!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top