Showing/training Shetland Ponies

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Kimmi9080

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I have a Shetland Mare who i would like to show in local classes this year, she is 5 and very green. She is a dominant mare with a bit of a temper she also happens to be scared of everything as well, including her own shadow however, she's very pretty and i think she would do well (her mother has shown successfully)

I am a novice owner and have never done any showing, can you please give me some advice as to what we need to learn at home, what we need to do at the show and what do do to help increase our chances of placing.

We also have another Shettie who is a 17, is it worth showing him at all? he does have a bit of arthritis but its not bad and in the spring / summer he improves no end, he's a sweetie and no problem to handle and i do beleive he has done some showing in his younger days.

Any advice about bringing our mare on would be greatly appreciated

Thank You :)
 
If a pony is v.green it's often useful to take them to a show just for a look round the first time. Just lead her around, stand and watch a class or 2, let her have a look at everything without the added pressure of going in a class yourself.

All I really practise with mine at home is standing them up properly, standing with legs all over the place looks awful. And walking and trotting them out properly. It's easy for a Shettie to break into canter when being trotted up if you run a bit too quick, obviously you don't want this to happen in the ring.

If your mare has a bit of an attitude I would put a ribbon in her tail. Red means they kick. Green means they are, well green! I have found though at certain local shows there are a lot of people who don't know what a green ribbon means.

As for the other one, at 17 he is old enough to go in veterans classes, so there's no reason why you can't take him too.
 
Definitely go to a (affiliated) show, and see what others are doing.

What area are you in? There should be a local shetland group you could join.

As to what you need to be able to do, as long as you can walk/trot/stand up inhand, that is all you need to be able to do.

In the first instance, forget about placing, just get to shows, and get your mare used to the atmosphere, and learn what is needed in the ring. Learning to do it well, and being placed is something to worry about later! I would agree with the previous poster as well, that initially just go to some shows without entering - if she settles well, you can always enter on the day.

As far as your old boy goes, as long as his arthritis isn't affecting his movement badly, there is no reason not to show him. There are often veteran shetland classes.

I'm not on H&H all the time, but if you've future questions, you can contact me through this FB group about shetland ponies: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Varkies-Stud/203505606365792
 
I took my two to a local show last year to see how they behaved, they are both 5. I did ridden best turned out with my pony who spent most of it on his rear legs but managed to get a first. The with my little welsh section A I did in hand best in show and got a second! Admittingly it was a small show but there were 4 in the first class and about 12 in the second class!
You've got a bit of time to prepare him for it...... go for it!
 
Great advice above, and I highly recommend going to watch a shetland class before taking part.

One prominent different ins hetland breed classes is that the shetland's in-hand, during their individual show - walk away from the judge then walk back, then trot away and trot back.

This is different to other inhand classes, so watch out for it! :)
 
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