Showing - have I made a mistake?

MasterBenedict

MasterBenedict

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Ok, so I have entered Ben into his very first show today - very excited!

The show has a ring for horses and a ring for ponies....my dilemma is that he is 2 yrs old and only 14/14.1 HH at the moment.

Now he is 3/4 appaloosa and 1/4 cob and is expected to mature to 15hh.

I have entered him into the horses ring....is this correct??

Sounds silly I know but completely new to this showing malarkey and don't want to make a complete and utter fool of myself!! Just keep questioning myself now!

Any help appreciated :)
 
Current height is where he should be, IMO but happy to be corrected. Phone the show organisers! Aren't there specific youngster classes?
 
Agree with Cinnamontoast - it is based on current height, irrelevant of age and potential height.

Just pop to the tent/caravan at the start of the day and ask to be swapped - usually isn't a big deal. :-)
 
I think he should be in the pony class as he is still pony height.

Speak to the organisers when you get there, they will advise and swop you if need be.

Good luck and have fun!
 
I think you are right to enter the horse ring as Ben will mature to be a horse not a pony
unfortunatly he will look small if you enter a class and he is against mature horses however a good judge should take his age into account
If you have entered him in the youngstock class he will fit in fine
 
cinnamontoast said:
Current height is where he should be, IMO but happy to be corrected. Phone the show organisers! Aren't there specific youngster classes?
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Yup, will probably contact the show organisers for clarification, good idea :)

There is a specific class for 2 year olds which is great but it's quite far and I'm having to hire a box so pretty expensive so don't want to do just 1 class ;)

All the other classes have 'special awards' to best placed young stock so assume I'm fine to enter them - I can just imagine him looking very small compared to the others and have a feeling people might think I'm entering a pony in the wrong ring as he's sort of bordering on the heights between horse and pony...

Sorry if that doesn't make much sense!!
 
You have to decide if Ben is a large breed or a pony breed
I have cleveland bays and i think it would be frowned on if i took a foal in a pony class just because he is small at the moment
Does this make sense
 
Any youngster classes I have done you go by their expected height at maturity. As a yearling my filly was approx 13hh, she was still entered into 'horse youngstock' and as a 2 year old at 15hh she's in the same.
You won't look out of place in the horse ring even in a mixed aged class as it will be evident your horse is only 2 and will be maturing up to horse height.
 
harveysmom said:
You have to decide if Ben is a large breed or a pony breed
I have cleveland bays and i think it would be frowned on if i took a foal in a pony class just because he is small at the moment
Does this make sense
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Well this is where I think I'm getting confused as he kind of falls between the lines....

His dam is a 14.3 spotted cob x appy registered with the British Spotted Pony Society and his sire is a 15.1 imported American appaloosa horse.....

Now judging by his current growth and the string test he should easily make 15hh.

I realise that his current height may well disadvantage him as he will look small compared to thers in the class but I'm not bothered about winning or even being placed at all - just taking him out for the experience and having a bit of fun :)

I'm pretty sure that with his breeding and estimated eventual height I would class him as a horse but I am happy to be corrected!!
 
mturnbull said:
Any youngster classes I have done you go by their expected height at maturity. As a yearling my filly was approx 13hh, she was still entered into 'horse youngstock' and as a 2 year old at 15hh she's in the same.
You won't look out of place in the horse ring even in a mixed aged class as it will be evident your horse is only 2 and will be maturing up to horse height.
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I'm glad you've said this as I was 100% thinking this exact thing when I posted my entry this morning. Only started doubting myself after something I had read and now a few replies on here....I'm going to go with what I've done but contact the organisers just to completely confirm.

Thanks! :)
 
I show in hand and usually the class information will state - to exceed 14.2 at maturity or not to exceed 14.2 at maturity

He will eventually be a horse therefore he should be in horse classes

I'd check the conditions of entry carefully before changing.
 
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This is how I have always seen it done, using the expected height at maturity. Good luck and have fun, it's all about a good experience with a youngster. I'm not sure what classes you are doing but if your doing a mixed age don't be disappointed as I have always found these to be unfair to youngsters as opposed to a specific youngster class. Also make sure you have entered the correct in hand section of 'native' and 'non-native' so that you are presented right. Sorry if this sounds patronising I'm not sure from your post how much you know/don't know!
 
Tnavas said:
I show in hand and usually the class information will state - to exceed 14.2 at maturity or not to exceed 14.2 at maturity

He will eventually be a horse therefore he shouldn't go in pony classes

I'd check the conditions of entry carefully before changing.
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Thanks Tnavas - you are confirming what I was thinking :)

I have contacted the show organisers just in case as there is no set height on the schedule/entry form?! Quite a big show too!
 
mturnbull said:
This is how I have always seen it done, using the expected height at maturity. Good luck and have fun, it's all about a good experience with a youngster. I'm not sure what classes you are doing but if your doing a mixed age don't be disappointed as I have always found these to be unfair to youngsters as opposed to a specific youngster class. Also make sure you have entered the correct in hand section of 'native' and 'non-native' so that you are presented right. Sorry if this sounds patronising I'm not sure from your post how much you know/don't know!
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Not patronising at all. Thanks for your time replying much appreciated! As you an probably see I'm a complete newbie to showing...

This is the show-

http://www.horseeventsuk.com/backend/uploads/schedules/horse-events-136473407565051100.doc

No native classes that I can see specifically. I'm entering a few classes in ring 2 and class 36 in ring 3 for 2 yr old horses and ponies.

Yes, I'm aware that his age/height will more than likely disadvantage him but for once I seem to have found a show that seems happy to have young stock in most classes :) (it seems pretty much every class I'm entering has an award for highest placed young stock) so hoping we won't be the only ones!
 
IIRC when showing the height limit for a 2yo in a class of youngstock to make not over 14.2 was 14h 1/2" so if he is under that height now he should probably go in the pony class even though you expect him to make over 14.2.
 
I see why you are having trouble now, difficult one.
I think perhaps as its his first show you are right to just go for fun it will help stop you getting so nervous, and have a chance to see where he fits as it sounds as if it is down to your judgement as to whether he is a horse breed or not
as both parents are over 14.2hh he maybe more horse than pony
The most important thing is that you both enjoy yourselves so much you want to do it again
I think it is good advice to ask the organisers for their opinion.
as you are hiring a horsebox is it self drive? im assuming you are new to traveling horses as its your first show
Give yourself plenty of time to get there as you will have to drive much more slowly with your pony onboard dont give him a rough ride. you would not believe how often i see horses that dont want to load purely because nigel mansell was driving the horsebox
it will add to your stress if Ben starts being naugthy to load
I hope you have a lovely day and come home with a red rosette. GOOD LUCK
 
The show looks fantastic. We don't ever get specific 'in-hand' only shows! Looks like your doing the right sort of classes to me. Best of luck :)
 
harveysmom said:
I see why you are having trouble now, difficult one.
I think perhaps as its his first show you are right to just go for fun it will help stop you getting so nervous, and have a chance to see where he fits as it sounds as if it is down to your judgement as to whether he is a horse breed or not
as both parents are over 14.2hh he maybe more horse than pony
The most important thing is that you both enjoy yourselves so much you want to do it again
I think it is good advice to ask the organisers for their opinion.
as you are hiring a horsebox is it self drive? im assuming you are new to traveling horses as its your first show
Give yourself plenty of time to get there as you will have to drive much more slowly with your pony onboard dont give him a rough ride. you would not believe how often i see horses that dont want to load purely because nigel mansell was driving the horsebox it will add to your stress if Ben starts being naugthy to load
I hope you have a lovely day and come home with a red rosette. GOOD LUCK
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Thank you really helpful reply I'm glad you can see why I'm confused!

Yes it's a self drive but hav a much older more experienced driver on board who used to be a professional groom who is being our chauffeur for the day :) lucky me! He is a good boy with most things very un-youngsterish and I have yet to see him freak out at anything. I have a very lovely lady at my yard who is letting me practise loading him onto her box which is very similar to the one I'm hiring so we should get plenty of practise in beforehand. When he came to me he travelled 6hrs in a tiny trailer from Wales on the hottest ay of the year and was totally I phased bless him.

Thanks for the lovely kind words I'm planning for it to be great fun :)
 
mturnbull said:
The show looks fantastic. We don't ever get specific 'in-hand' only shows! Looks like your doing the right sort of classes to me. Best of luck :)
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It's great isn't it? I've been searching everywhere for a show I can take him to that is local to me and has more than 1 class we can enter, as it just doesn't seem justifiable to hire an expensive box for 10 mins in the ring.

I wish there were more like it, I'd almost given up hope on taking him out at all this year until I stumbled across it :)
 
Pony classes tend to have more children in them. I would expect it to go on anticipated mature height and in any case you are more likely to have fun competing with other adults. Enjoy.
 
mturnbull said:
The show looks fantastic. We don't ever get specific 'in-hand' only shows! Looks like your doing the right sort of classes to me. Best of luck :)
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We have an awesome show every year 'North Island All Breeds In-Hand show'

Just been to the site - the committee changed last year and very dissapointing there are no results or pictures up so sorry folks.

The show has classes for all different breeds, and is the highlight of the showing scene.

It was started around 15 years ago by a group of people - see if you can get a group together and run one.

This show is held over two days - the venue chosen for its beauty and the stabling available as some people bring their stallions and also foals.

This is a picture of my Clydesdale under one of the beautiful willow trees

NIAB2013Serenity004_zps5f7a6c29-1_zps459d74cb.jpg
SerenityAllBreeds2008full.jpg
 
Just a quick update for any of you that would like to know- I have heard back from the show organisers who are incredibly lovely and helpful and yes, Ben is entered in all the right classes, phew!

Thank you so much for all your replies, the show is only a few weeks away so no doubt will be asking lots of silly showing questions in the near future! :)

Ps Tnavas - what an utterly stunning horse you have there, I have such a soft spot for the heavies :)
 
MasterBenedict said:
Yup, will probably contact the show organisers for clarification, good idea :)

There is a specific class for 2 year olds which is great but it's quite far and I'm having to hire a box so pretty expensive so don't want to do just 1 class ;)

All the other classes have 'special awards' to best placed young stock so assume I'm fine to enter them - I can just imagine him looking very small compared to the others and have a feeling people might think I'm entering a pony in the wrong ring as he's sort of bordering on the heights between horse and pony...

Sorry if that doesn't make much sense!!
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In that case, you have definitely entered him into the correct classes. He will grow up to be over 14.2hh - Appaloosas are always horses not ponies (because you can't register a pony with either society), in the same way that Arabs are always horses. If the judge is looking to give a special rosette to the best youngster, they will be expecting immature horses in their ring.
For the future, if you are unsure about which classes you are eligible for, it is always worth checking with the Show Secretary.
 
MasterBenedict said:
Just a quick update for any of you that would like to know- I have heard back from the show organisers who are incredibly lovely and helpful and yes, Ben is entered in all the right classes, phew!

Thank you so much for all your replies, the show is only a few weeks away so no doubt will be asking lots of silly showing questions in the near future! :)

Ps Tnavas - what an utterly stunning horse you have there, I have such a soft spot for the heavies :)
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Thank you :) She is the light of my life - I love her to bits - she was a long awaited dream come true and I couldn't have got a lovelier horse.
 
That is a lovely show and you will really enjoy it - I go every year even though it is approx 2.5 hours away, it is THE show for showing off your ex racehorse! My boys old trainer in newmarket comes to watch him every year too. Its a busy show but very well organised and never seems hectic or stressy :-)
 
3bh said:
That is a lovely show and you will really enjoy it - I go every year even though it is approx 2.5 hours away, it is THE show for showing off your ex racehorse! My boys old trainer in newmarket comes to watch him every year too. Its a busy show but very well organised and never seems hectic or stressy :-)
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Excellent I guess I will be seeing you there then! Obviously not in the same ring though - hoping to go and watch the thoroughbred ring inbetween my classes :) Great to know, I want him to get used to a show atmosphere but not completely blow his brains!
 
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