Showing - Help!

[Ambers Echo]

To help Felix and Myka see a bit of the world, we are going in-hand showing on Monday

Questions!

Felix is rising 3. Does he have to wear a bridle. He never has before.... I think bitting 2 year olds is a bit weird tbh but it says 2/3 year olds must be 'suitably bitted'. Can I decide that a bitless halter is 'suitable bitted'!
Myka is rising 4. Does she count as 'youngstock' or not. If not what class would she be in?

The options that seem possible are:

Plaited horse
Coloured non native (she't not really coloured though - has a splash of white on her belly. She's been DNA tested as black)>

How do I turn then out and what do I wear.

Thanks!

 

[Ambers Echo]

Oh and how do I rescue/disguise his mane where it's been rubbed out. x

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Oh and how do I rescue/disguise his mane where it's been rubbed out. x

You don't, he's going for education.
Yes, a simple bridle with bit for him, but you can opt to lead from noseband.

Myka, adult 4 and over classes for her.

Turnout as if you were going stressage, clean, workmanlike and plaited if not in a native type class. Handler wearing trousers that are opposite to horses legs - light or white legs then dark trousers, opposite if dark legs.Are they ok with leaving each other? If so, have a good time
If not, take one solo, or with a reliable nanny.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Only other thing to add is it a good idea to wear a hat for safety. You can wear any sort for in-hand (tradition says hats should be worn) but with babies at their first shows, safety hats is a good idea .

You can use a bit of tail hair to make a fake plait and then you can sew it into the remaining mane, however, for fidgety babies I'd just neaten the mane as much as poss and not worry too much.

Edit: To add on the ages, showing will take them to be age they are this year, so Felix will count as 3 and Myka as 4. Felix can do youngstock classes but Myka will be in the adult classes.

 

[Ambers Echo]

Thank-you!

So Myka:
Plaited horse.

Felix:
Youngstock and Hunter.

Is that right?

 

[ihatework]

Thank-you!

So Myka:
Plaited horse.

Felix:
Youngstock and Hunter.

Is that right?

Yup.
And bit Felix, but when I’ve done that I’ve used a coupler that also runs through noseband so there is little bit action

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I would also bit Felix, just for that bit of extra control just if its needed, you don't always know how they will react to a show environment. I took Beryl with her big flexible trust bit for her first shows, not very 'showy' but its what she was comfortable with and the judges didn't mention it even at the bigger shows.
Her first ever show:

Then once she proved she could be a good citizen I bought her some more show appropriate bridle attire, this was her at Flint and Denbigh as a three year old.

I went dark clothes as she is so pale!