showing

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horsey mad matt

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i am thinking of showing my 15.2hh irish x skewbald gelding next year and wandering what needs to be done for preparation and what gear i need. i was thinking of only local shows and more as experiance for us both as he is only s6 and i havn't done any competing in the past. so any advice from anyone that knows anything about showing i would be really greatful

thanks matt,
 
Well rule number 1) Enjoy yourself!!

Showing unlike showjumping or anything like that is down to the judges personal opinion. They should judge to the conformation of the individual animal, but if the field is pretty level it will likely come down the the personal tastes of that particular judge!

Usually for showing you'll go around as a 'ride' all together then usually they'll pull you into a line and then you can do an individual show, have this practised in advance but ensure that were you do it in the ring in relation to the other horses gives the judge the best chance to see it, make sure walk, trot, canter and usually a hand gallop (extended canter or contained gallop within the ring) are shown, make sure you can halt square as this is a) correct and b) gives the judge the chance to see the conformation of your horse accurately. Sometimes you may need to untack in the ring for the judge to see the conformation without tack, but this is not normally done at local level. Also at higher levels, there will be a 'ride' judge who will ride the horse, again this is not usually done at local level.

With regard to tack, I believe no martingales are allowed, cavesson nosebands are preferable. bits are usually snaffle, pelham or weymouth and bradoon, depending on the control you need. No boots to be on horses legs either.

With regard to whether to plait, trim, show natural, this will depend on what class you are entering.

But never forget rule number one!
 
The essentials:

-Clean, well fitting tack. Either a snaffle, a pelham or a double - if not confident with double reins then go for the snaffle. At local level can be either black or brown.

-No numnah or a saddle shaped numnah of the same colour as your saddle, that as little shows as possible.

-No boots on horse.


For you:

-Jacket. Tweed or black depending on the class but at local level don't worry too much!
-Beige or cream jodhphurs - not white
-Long boots or boots and gaiters, not chaps
-Shirt and stock/tie
-Dark gloves
-Hat - ideally a velvet, but again at local level don't worry too much, but go for a plain silk not a fancy coloured one!

Before I took Genie out I made sure she was happy working with other horses, as in ridden classes you will need to be able to walk, trot and canter (and in hunter classes often gallop) as a ride.

The main thing though is to go and have fun! What classes are you thinking of doing? It may be a good idea to go to a show to see what people in those classes wear.
 
Please absolutely no black jackets in showing classes. Tweed or navy blue depending on the type of classes you are doing.

I judge at local and county level and my best advice would be to go to a show as a spectator to see what everyone else is doing - in particular the people standing at the top of line. They must be doing something right to be there.

My horse competes at National level so I see both sides, as a judge and as a competitor.
 
Perissa - I thought it was black for gents? I've never paid much attention to be honest! I have an M&M so for me it's tweed and tie all the way!!! :D
 
Technically gentlemen may wear black evening suits when showing hacks in championship classes.

The best bet is to follow Perissa's very simple rule. Black never belongs in the show ring :)
 
What you wear and what tack you can use will depend on what class you enter. If there are any specific rules that the local show is adhering to then usually this is outlined in the schedule or they may say they are using CHAPS for coloured, for example and then you can look them up on the website,

I think tweed is normal if you are doing a coloured horse class, at local level it is unlikely that a judge will ride your horse - but if they are expected to be ridden by a judge this will be outlined in the schedule. I have seen people wear black jackets but this has tended to be in evening performances only.

Your horse should be as well schooled as possible, be able walk, trot and canter calmly in company and stand quietly in the line up. In your individual show you should show walk, trot and canter on both reins and an extention in canter, in open classes you should also show a gallop.

Some local shows also have RC horse, best turned out, family horse or pony and other non traditional classes.

If your horse is not a cob or M&M or arab you will normally be expected to plait unless perhaps you are doing a novelty class such as longest mane!

Also the judges decision is final and you may not always understand or agree the placing this is a bit of a gripe in showing that quite a lot of people seem to complain about so you need to be prepared for this. Try and be a good sport and not complain about the judge if you do not agree with your placing, try and smile and remain polite at all times.
 
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I'm glad i read this as i'm thinking of showing next year in ridden classes but for fun at first something different.
Silly as it sounds is there a good book/website or something else for all the rules, regs and info about classes?
Also my boy is ridden in a grackle and martingale, i know this will have to change but any suggestions for changing that?
 
Good advice on turnout, but you need to show your horse to its best advantage. So schooling so you can get a good canter on both legs on demand! Walk out in a ground covering stride, transitions upwards and downwards smoothly and obbidently. At riding club level the judge doesn't often ride, although sometimes they do, so you should get your horse used to being ridden by different riders. Also not to get excited when hearing others cantering up behind him.

Also practice standing correctly so the judge can see conformation, head up, ears pricked. Good idea to go to a show first and take note of how the horses are made to stand, lead, and what they do for an individual show. Turnout IS important, but on the other hand, no-one is going to see that closely, I think it is how the horse goes that is the most important.

You have to be able to take being first or last, as some judges will love you horse and others not. Go and enjoy whatever the result and concentrate on improving your performance. It is supposed to be fun. Have a good time.
 
The only class I *think* a grackle is really allowed is Working Hunter. As a general rule most judges prefer to see a plain cavesson bridle.

It will really depend on the level you are showing at. As others have said it may pay you to go and have a look to see the standards displayed by the winning combinations.
 
This was at a local show, my 4 year old in the riding horse class .

20100629_002.jpg


Just to give you an idea on turnout .
 
SO1 said:
Also the judges decision is final and you may not always understand or agree the placing this is a bit of a gripe in showing that quite a lot of people seem to complain about so you need to be prepared for this. Try and be a good sport and not complain about the judge if you do not agree with your placing, try and smile and remain polite at all times.
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Absolutely agree-this is often the part of showing that competitors (or their entourage) fail on. Nobody likes sour grapes!

I judge at local level and would say the best thing you can do is study your schedules for info on the class and ensure you enter the most appropriate one for your horse. If theres not much to go by in the schedule phone the Secretary & ask! Check out showing society websites i.e. BSHA, BSPS CHAPS etc for tips on how to turn out to type - they usually have guidelines on dress code too.

Pet hates of mine are huge visible numnahs (if you can go without it's better) or coloured saddlecloths (NO!) coloured bit-guards (save them for SJ!) and overtaking another rider in front of the judges line of vision so they're obscured.


At local level it's not as important to spend loads getting new gear just be smart and spotless, smile and have fun!
 
Ok, so you have a coloured. I show a non-native coloured at county level so here's my two penneth....

The first rule for showing coloured's is you turn out according to the horses type...so if they are a riding horse or hunter type wear a tweed and plait up. For riding horse type, use a coloured browband. For hunter type a plain flat wide (width to suit your horses head) nose and brow band....etc etc. Natives are left natural and unplaited. Cobs would be hogged....

Traditional bit is a Double or pelham with 2 reins, though at local level you can use a snaffle and won't be penalised.

Turnout out of the horse is paramount - must be sparkling and clean!

Conformation is judged, as well as turnout, way of going and your individual show. ie: a horse that has spot on confo, moves really well and shows a clean polished well schooled show will generally do well!!

The horses markings do not come into it, unless the judge has 2 horses on tied marks and then it may be used as a decider.

Tack should be havanna and the saddle should be straight cut with a discreet brown numnah or no numnah at all. Again, at local level you may not be penalised for having a black gp...but saying that, I was moved down to 3rd a while ago in a local class for having a black gp!! It all depends on the quality of the class and how strict the judge is!!
Hope that helps....
 
horsey mad matt said:
do you think that for our first time we should do some in hand so that he can get used to the atmopheire without someone on his back and also he is more confident with someone next to him??
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Very good idea. Most horses find thier first show exciting so getting them used to the atmosphere in hand is a good idea. You can always ride around the show ground.
 
Perissa said:
Very good idea. Most horses find thier first show exciting so getting them used to the atmosphere in hand is a good idea. You can always ride around the show ground.
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yeah i could do some in hand classes get him used to the atmosphiere, then chuck him saddle on and have a little ride round in the warm up areas!!!
 
All very sound advice but echo that whilst it is nice to have the exact correct wear, don't get paranoid about it. You can always tweak and acquire things if you decide you and your horse like showing and the judges like your horse. I did very well locally with in riding horse/competition horse/hunter classes etc but various aspects of our turn out particularly in the early days would not have been "correct" (plaited tail, black jacket, black hat, etc) but everything was spotless, correctly fitting, and fortunately the horse was well schooled and had excellent conformation. The best thing is to remember the first bit of advice, the enjoy!
 
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