Showing help please!

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youngfarmer

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I'm not into showing at all (having done 1 best turned out class as a kid) but have recently got a new mare to work on who walks out very nicely and has an extremely nice trot when worked up (she decided she was having a silent season and then heard a stallion-no fun for me!).

She is a bit of a mixture of breeds, so not even sure on classes etc but looks very Welsh atm and looks very working hunter type when she is built up.

What kind of thing do judges look for at all levels? Not even sure what class she could go in as so far I've no idea if she can even jump to be able to do Working Hunters?

Thanks :)
 
A bit more info. would help, height? if you post a photo you will get more response as it is very difficult to have an opinion without seeing her.
 
She is 137cm, grey and fair conformation. She has done well so far in in-hand showing but we're just not sure the direction to take her in. After today I would definitely say she could be a show pony but we are also considering producing her to be a general all rounder or a dressage pony.

http://www.ravarastud.co.uk/photo_player_flash.html If you find "Ravara Precious Gem" on there that is her as (I believe) a 2 or 3 year old. No recent pictures as of yet (she is under condition at the moment).

Just wondering really what kind of thing show judges look for and what different classes there are, incase we do decide to head her in that direction.

Breeding wise she is a British Riding Pony/ Welsh Mountain Pony/ Arab/ TB
 
All I could see on there was a head shot. Indications from that and the breeding you outline is that she'd be a 138cm show pony.

At local level you could do riding pony, riding club pony and working hunter pony if she jumps (when you find out...). It's amazing what a change of tack and rider's jacket can do for the overall picture.

If you want to show at County level then you need to put more thought into "correct type". Height wise she sounds bang on for the 138cm show pony class. Show hunter ponies are up to 133cm then up to 143cm so she would be small in the 143cm class. Whether she is a true show pony or show hunter pony depends on bone and type although way of going is also an important factor in considering the overall picture. There are endless discussions these days about ponies which are shown with reasonable success in both SP and SHP classes when [old purists like me think] strictly they should be one or the other. However, different judges look for different things and at the end of the day showing is all about the judge's preference on the day!

She looks to be very pretty from the picture, I hope you have lots of fun with her :)
 
I'm a bit confused about the 138cm part-do you mean she has to measure up to that, or can't exceed that? (Might seem a daft question-but I really know nothing about showing lol!)

Thank you though-does help a lot! Have heard it is basically about what a judge likes on the day (and partly who you know!) but she has already done quite well in in-hand stuff at the Northern Ireland Festival. She is a very pretty mare-just too much of the Arab and TB was showing today!
 
At 137 she is the correct height for SP classes and would be rather small in WHP/SHP. classes.
It really depends on her movement and quality, a show pony must move well from the shoulder with little knee action,they are mini tbs really, very quality and full of presence,they need to be very well schooled and mannerly.
A SHP or WHP will have a bit more substance and bone and can have a little more knee action,obviously a wHP needs to jump well and also show a good ground covering extended canter/gallop.
In the photo she looks very nice and the stud seems to have a good record of breeding SP. so it could be a good place to start.Look at their photos for ideas on turnout.
It is worth giving her as much experience as possible ,there will,if you ever want to sell, be less of a market for a straight SP,unless it is top class,than for a good allround childs pony.I hope that is of some help.
Good luck and update with photos when you get going.
 
SP classes are 128/138/148 not to exceed each height so the nearer they are to the max the better
SHP/WHP are 133/143/153 so she would be in the middle and look a little small.
 
Thank you-that helps a lot!

Today when she decided she wanted to act up she had a much more Arab presence about her (very high knee action, high head carriage and tail straight in the air) yet when she works in the school she has the typical "daisy cutter" leg action and moves very straight with no movement through the knee.

A group of us have her for youngstock production (module at uni) and I believe they are hoping to sell her once she has been brought on and conditioned. From what I've gathered from our lecturers, we are to prepare her for sales and then price her accordingly. We have near enough decided on a 2nd pony type (she's very sharp) but change our minds daily on the type of discipline she would be more suited to-with her showing us something completely different each day!

Thanks again-will definitely update with pictures when she looks a little more presentable.
 
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