showing inhand for the first time

[popspony]

sorry to be such a novice. i have just registered on the site as i really need some tips for showing my daughter in hand at local shows. i will be doing best turned out and mountain and moorland classes.
Need tips on what to wear - i know about the jacket etc, but can i wear a frilly shirt or does it have to be plain. what size show cane and what colour should i have (seen on ebay loads of show canes but they all come in different sizes)
Need tips on what i should do when in the ring also.

Sorry to go but just don't want to show myself up as i find the showing classes quite daunting

 

[lindsayH]

First of all, try not to panic too much as it's pretty relaxed at local level. 'm not sure about the length of show cane, but mine is a little shorter than my normal jumpng whip if that helps. Mines brown but I don't think it matters awfully, whatever matches best. I've never done any lead rein classes but for in hand I wear beige trousers, tweed jacket, a plain white shirt and tie and leather paddock (ankle) boots. Lead rein people sometimes really go to town on the outfits but at local level as long as you're smart I should think you'll be fine. See if you can get hold of old summer editions of a local magazine such as Chiltern and Thames Rider. They have loads of photos of other people that might help.

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Is it lead rein m&m classes you are talking about ? or is it m&m inhand classes ?

 

[elliegirl12]

At local level its really really laid back nothing to worry about

, literally they will ask you line up then you will normally do a trot up and back they will ask you what to do, you will have to walk round in a circle about it really, you can actually just wear smart riding stuff that you wear for shows

, and not many people local level that i have seen seem to use a show cane either, unless i suppose the pony is ultra lazy or something :S

 

[Theresa_F]

M&M - lead rein classes, you should have a plain wool/tweed jacket with a fairly full skirt so you can run alongside the pony - ideally to compliment your daughter's tweed. Some leaders like to have matching jacket and skirt suit. You should wear a hat to compliment the outfit.

Shirt/smart blouse - again often matches the child and if a tie is worn, again often same as the child is wearing so you don't clash. Dark brown gloves, brown show cane and sensible shoes or some people wear boots. The top end of the line buy matching jackets to their child and it can get very silly on how much to spend.

I managed to get two very nice wool outfits and hats on ebay last year when I did a few lead rein classes with my niece to start her off showing.

If you are doing in hand, you wear trousers to compliment the pony - light for dark legs and vice versa. Tweed jacket, though some M&M people just use a smart waist coat. Boots you can run in, shirt and tie, brown gloves, show cane and a hat which can be a hard hat or some folks wear a trilby type.

Pony for lead rein should be very obedient and move and stop with you and never pull, the lead rein should not be tight and really not in use. In hand, again good manners, should halt correctly, back up if asked and walk and trot alongside - bit more flash and go than in lead rein but in control.

You will be asked to walk round and then you are stopped and trot to the back of the queue. You are then brought in and in lead rein do a show which is normally figure of 8s or similar to show walk and trot on both reins and finish with a halt. In hand, you walk away, turn - and do a loop and not a tight turn, then trot back at the judge - as if you want to run them down - they should move! Past the judge and round to the back of the line up, walk and back into your place.

Final walk round and pull in.