Showing questions

[samlf]

Well the season will soon be upon us and I havent been showing in a couple of years....

Planning to do Working/Ridden Hunter.

She doesnt go in a double bridle yet, so it'd probably be best to go in a pelham I think. The thing is im not sure if it'd be be better to get a double bridle with rugby pelham, or a snaffle with normal pelham?
considering I'm going to buy a new bridle, what do we think of sabres or something similar for an ID?

For me - recommend a nice tweed jacket?
I'm assuming I need tweed rather than navy for hunters? with a navy hat...?
Brown boots? Would short boots and gaiters be as acceptable, I cant wear long boots because I have dodgy ankles.

Also obviously plaited, a pulled tail is better than plaited? Trimmed heels?
I forget how stressful this showing lark is.

 

[be positive]

If doing workers it may be better to stick with a snaffle to start with, many are shown in them especially in novice classes.
You need to find which pelham she is best in they all give a different feel so see what is best although I have found most horses that are going well in a snaffle accept a double, which would be my preference for hunter classes.
Get a double bridle and remove the sliphead if using a pelham or a good snaffle bridle and buy a sliphead separately if you need it. The bridle should have a decent width flat noseband to suit the horses head.
www.fyldesaddleryltd.com do a good quality range for showing.
For you it must be tweed, navy hat, black boots, long are better but gaiters are now being worn more.

Pulled tail, plaited is incorrect, heels trimmed.

 

[Capriole]

hunter - tweed. Long boots, but as you cant then nice gaiters that look like long boots rather than chaps. Id go with black , personally

pulled plaited trimmed

get a show pelham, theyre much neater than rugbys etc.

ID, a jeffries bridle might be nice (i havent seen the sabres) as they do some nice wide cavessons. I have some m2m bridles for my IDs, very reasonably priced, pm me if you want contact details.

 

[Little Claybrooks]

Pulled tail and make sure you trim properly, face and fetlocks and your plaits are neat, no many people I see showing hunters use sloppy plaiting and it does nothing for the neck.

Flat bridle, make is fairly irrelevant so long as it fits well and is flat, should be an appropriate width for your horses face, it makes all the difference. Aim for the buckles to be about half way up the straps and sit level to each other as it creates a nice picture for the judge and doesn't distract from your horses head. Make sure you saddle fits well and your stirrups have enough room for adjustment for the ride judge.

You should be in a hacking jacket with long black boots or as above, a well fitted pair of gaiters. Cream jods, not canary or white!

Practice your gallop. That's a biggy with hunters, it should be a gradual incline up and down!!

Bit wise, if its a novice class you can get away with a snaffle, but if not and your horse isn't used to a double try a rugby. Make sure you use it at home, so many people shove in a double on the day and wonder why the horse becomes unsettled. Have to say, my more sensitive hunters eventually do better in a double with narrow bits than a rugby because its more versatile, but it all depends on the horse and your hands, and playing about at home to see what suits your set up.

Hope that helps and doesn't sound like I'm preaching!!

xx