Showing turnout critique

r0450111

r0450111

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This is me and my ex racer at our first ridden show class this summer. We won it but we were the only ones in the class! What can i tweak for next season?
I know i desperately need a new hat (navy with a nice leather harness!). Aiming for local level only as he is 16 next year so want him to just go out and enjoy it rather than chase any qualifications!
Thanks in advance
 
Thank you! was beyond proud of him. Been a slog to get to that point as he used to run backwards and spin on that particular park even on our own!
 
I would suggest a discreet nummah the same colour as the saddle and not showing around the saddle, and the rugby pelham looks too big for him. A small weymouth and bradoon would look nicer.
 
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I'm no pro but I think the correct person turnout for a non-native is a blue or black showing jacket and tweed just for natives. Traditionally tack should be brown (so you're right there) but more and more people are using black tack now adays. Are you using a double bridle? I can't tell in the pic. Also if you use a brown numnah shaped to the saddle it will look neater - white doesn't do greys justice.

All in all a neat picture though.
 
Ok, smaller saddle coloured numnah is going on the list! He is in a double bridle with a rugby Pelham in, a smaller one is def doable. Not sure he will have room in his mouth for two bits. He has a huge tongue! Will def look into it though and speak to his dentist (she gave me fab advise last time!). Am plotting to have a different saddle next season, probably a dressage saddle as we aren't showing 'properly' as such so don't want to spend ££££ on a showing saddle. Thank you both a lot.
 
which class are you planning on entering? I am presuming ROR or RH? If so then your jacket is absolutely correct - it should be a tweed. Definitely change your numnah to a more descreet one the same colour as your saddle, a white dressage square is not correct. Brown tack is more correct but I wouldn't rush out to buy if you are only doing local. And yes a navy hat with leather harness would make a better picture. Adorable Alice is right, the Pelham looks a little big but might just be the photo. Enjoy.
 
Tweed for all classes apart from hacks or evening performances, I agree with AA the numnah is doing nothing to help and the bit looks too big/ bulky, a brighter browband would stand out more, maybe a bit of red in it, your horse looks very clean and well presented.
You look fine and a new hat will improve the impression, i cannot see what colour your gloves are but if they are black get some brown ones and hold your cane more towards the middle.
 
This is how I turn out my grey TB.

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Discreet numnah, blingy browband, flat noseband, the bit is a Show Pelham - looks like a double, has the leatherwork of a double but has 1 mouthpiece, neater than a rugby pelham by miles!

A Tweed jacket is correct. Blue jackets should only be worn by show ponies and hacks, black jackets shouldn't be seen in the daytime in the showing only in evening performances and then more by men than women. Women should wear blue for evenings.
 
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EKW said:
A Tweed jacket is correct. Blue jackets should only be worn by show ponies and hacks, black jackets shouldn't be seen in the daytime in the showing only in evening performances and then more by men than women. Women should wear blue for evenings.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that :) Love this forum :)
 
Loads of info there! Thanks so much all! I had brown gloves on, was considering swapping colours as this is mostly what I showed my veteran in hand with season before but he was bay so the green and gold stood out on him! Should be entering riding horse, veteran and throughbred classes, not specifically ROR though. Will def look into a show Pelham for him. Don't want to 'clutter' his head up too much. Thank you so so much, just want to do my best for him and give a good account of ourselves.
 
For a veteran she looks excellent and a lovely dazzling grey, you should be really proud!
I am being really pernickety here but don't tuck your stirrup leathers through the keepers on your saddle, especially with a grey horse. It draws the eye and 'breaks up the barrel' in an unflattering way.
If you are buying a new saddle a dressage saddle is not preferred but there are ways around it; get the girth straps changed to short ones so there is less bulk around his middle. Alternatively consider a VSD as a good all round saddle that should fit the image for showing.
You asked for critique, and it may just be the angle of the picture, but the plaits on his neck make it look a touch long and weedy. Fewer plaits would shorten it but placing them up on top of the neck would also create depth - I can't plait for toffee so I know that's easier said than done.
And finally, when carrying a show cane you need to have more of it above the hand than you currently do. They shouldn't be carried like a whip.
 
Definitely get a show Pelham rather than another Rugby. Some people hate Rugby Pelhams with a passion where a nice show Pelham offends very few
 
Wrong colour jacket. Numnah should not be visible and the hat needs to be a nice navy velvet one with flesh harness. Personally, I would want a white girth. Well done for the first time though!!
 
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Have added a photo of us side on whilst we were in the ring. Have added a show pelham, better smaller numnah, will be swapping colours so it stands out more, new saddle, new hat and new gloves as checking my showing kit, my gloves are now looking tatty! Best start saving my pennies up! Huge thanks to all, nice to get outside perspective.
 
Take the ribbon out of his tail! Nothing shouts louder to a judge to dismiss a horse than having a red ribbon in the tail! Just turn to quietly warn people not to get too close if they are angling that way if your horse will kick.

Also check with show rules at the ones you go to regarding spurs, not all shows/classes allow them.
 
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Spurs are allowed at my local show in certain classes. Which is nice as i do think they 'finish' off the look. Have only had positive comments from judges over the ribbons (so far!) but can appreciate it does scream that my lad may not have the best manners. Will consider taking them out though.
 
To me ribbons in tails and kids in body protectors that aren't jumping show that you don't trust your horse/pony and if you don't trust them to behave then should they really be in the ring? Just my view.
 
Completely get it, I trust him a lot more now after a season of foot perfect behaviour so it is worth considering. He doesn't kick unless he gets run into which is rare but since he has back shoes on, he would cause some damage!
 
He's lovely!

I'd have a play with a white girth and see what looks better on him (sometimes white can make a grey look dirty, but brown can cut them in half) and also see how you'd look with slightly yellower-jods and shirt. Not significantly yellower, but they look a smidge washed out to me - it could be because your tweed is quite muted. I started out with a blue tweed and beige jods and the difference when I went to "sand" (I have a Welsh D so we can be a bit less restrained than the horses) jods was enormous.
 
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