Small hunter broodmare with foal at foot showing class - qu's

[Gingernags]

Hunter bridle for mare, thats easy, her working hunter bridle will do nicely - plain flat havana. Is it correct to lead by the reins over her head or can you use newmarket chain/leather lead rein?

Foal OK in smart leather headcollar and lead?

But main thing, how the b*ggery do you plait a thin vertical foal mane????? He's only 3 months, he has no mane!!!! Well ok he has some but I usually stitch plaits but no idea how I'll do his. Any tips?

Am dreading this, his first party, he's never been off the quiet farm with his mum - this is going to fry his brain!!!!

 

[volatis]

I stitch plaits into my foals when they are old enough. I cant plait with bands! If they are too young and have no mane I dont plait them
For the mare, double bridle, reins over her head

 

[Penniless]

Can I just say, that you don't plait foals for Hunter breeding classes. I would also suggest that you put a plain leather browband on your foal as well.

As for mare, if you have a double bridle - then use that for your mare, and yes, the reins go over her head. Good luck - hope you both do well.

 

[machannah]

Penniless, just what i was going to say. I did some county level small hunter classes, i had a plain bridle on mare, and foal headcollar with browband for him - no plaits, only for mummy.

 

[AmyMay]

Double bridle for the mare. Reins over the head.

Leather foal slip for the foal - unplaited, but you can lace the tail. You want the foal to look like a foal, so don't trim the mane in any way.

Mare plaited and tail pulled.

 

[Gingernags]

Last question - quarter marks on mare?

Can you tell I'm too used to ridden showing!!!???

I was sure they plaited the foal when we did this class a few years ago. I'm not going to look all wrong with an unplaited foal am I?

However, I am only doing this to get him out as there are no other shows with foal classes unless you have natives so small hunter it has to be... mare is spot on at 3/4 TB, she's a proper hunting pony and has won workers and show hunters so she should be the right type... its just a blanket spot appaloosa x foal will look mighty strange in there!!!

 

[Gingernags]

Thought of another one - do you still trim the foal - specifically scruffy ears? For a foal I'd rather leave whiskers but am open to advice for that aswell!!!

 

[CrazyMare]

I show mine as a hunter pony, plaited, double/pelham with reins over head. Mine is grey so never has quater marks however if she was another colour she would have.

I plaited my foal ?? But seems like others don't.

 

[Gingernags]

I checked with my sister as she did the same class, same show, a few years ago - she thinks foals were all plaited.

Have to admit it will be quicker to unplait if no-one else has plaited than to plait up if I haven't and everyone else has!

 

[AmyMay]

Don't trim or plait the foal.

No quartermarks

 

[Gingernags]

I'm sure everyone else does plait though Amymay - won't that then make ME look wrong and scruffy with a 3 colour punk vertical mane on the little un?

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm sure everyone else does plait though Amymay - won't that then make ME look wrong and scruffy with a 3 colour punk vertical mane on the little un?

[/ QUOTE ]
All I can tell you is that my friend who I stable with has shown at county level for 20 years with small hunter broodmares. On each ocassion the foal has never been plaited - even going to the Horse of the Year show (and winning it twice) the foal was never plaited.

So - my experience at the highest level is that you don't plait the foal. However, if it's your wish to do so - then go for it.

 

[Penniless]

Totally agree with AmyMay - we've also been showing (and winning) Small Hunter Broodmare at County shows since the 1980's and have NEVER plaited a foal. As for quartermarks, yes definitely.

 

[Gingernags]

[ QUOTE ]


So - my experience at the highest level is that you don't plait the foal. However, if it's your wish to do so - then go for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm grateful for the advice or I wouldn't have asked I'm just a scaredy cat who doesn't want people pointing fingers!!

I really would have struggled anyway as being a later foal, he's not really got much of a mane, just a short mohican.

Does your friend leave hers vertical or at least try to tame it down a bit with a water brush or something?

 

[Penniless]

I wouldn't worry in the least what the foals mane looks like - providing its been brushed through. When our foal won at the Nationals, her mane looked like Tina Turner on a bad day! We gave up showing people her photos of her win because literally everyone remarked on the mane - didn't make any difference to the judging though.

 

[volatis]

We show hacks and riding horses, and the foals are always plaited for those classes. Wonder why the hunter folk dont?

 

[Penniless]

Have the rules changed now for Hacks and Riding Horse foals? We haven't shown in these classes for the past three years, but always did - and never ever plaited for these classes either. Are you talking local or county level - because ours were shown at County and National and we'd never seen a foal plaited in these classes. Be interested to know if the rules have changed for future reference. We'd better make sure we update ourselves on all the turnout rules when the County circuit comes around next year.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Does your friend leave hers vertical or at least try to tame it down a bit with a water brush or something?

[/ QUOTE ]
No, au natural....

Basically foaly is clean and sparkly (never washed I have to say) just groomed, and well presented. But no attempt is made to tame the mane as it were.

Good luck - you'll have a fabulous time. Enjoy xxx

 

[Maesfen]

[ QUOTE ]
We show hacks and riding horses, and the foals are always plaited for those classes. Wonder why the hunter folk dont?

[/ QUOTE ]

But years ago, hack foals (it's only recently there have been RH breeding classes isn't it?) wouldn't be plaited. It's only since the advent of the more professional handlers/producers that it's become the norm.

I personally think it's a crying shame that youngstock should be tarted up before they are yearlings at least; if the judge can't see through some plaits to what's underneath, then they shouldn't be judging. But.............

I'm another that county showed hunter brood mares and foals, many years ago so, GM, I'll go with the others, hunter foals should not be plaited but it is permissible to plait the tail, not only to show the hindquarters off better but possibly because if it is new to the foal, it'll be more on its toes so will show itself off better!

 

[Gingernags]

The show I'm going to - Stokesley, isn't actually county but its not small. It does have affiliated classes and previously we've qualified BSPS there but for ridden clases (show hunter) and at one point the workers were affiliated, not sure about now.

I am totally with you in that I do believe that a foal should look like a foal and he looks cuter for his punk mane. He had his first encounter with a sponge bath last week and was an angel. I'll have to wash some bits as he's a filthy little troll - loves rolling in poop!

I think in not being county and therefore any type of qualifier, the "turnout rules" aren't being followed as I'm sure they do plait the foals at this particular venue, however, I am going to NOT plait the little monster and be correct as he would be at county etc.

If the judge comments I will explain nicely that HOYS classes don't plait hunter foals and as such I followed their standard.

I really would have struggled to plait such a fine mane, the plaits would have been pea sized and more thread than plait!

 

[Penniless]

Well done you for standing up to NO plaits. If the judge comments on it, tell them to look into the SHB(GB) Rules Book for Hunter Breeding.

 

[volatis]

[ QUOTE ]
Have the rules changed now for Hacks and Riding Horse foals? We haven't shown in these classes for the past three years, but always did - and never ever plaited for these classes either. Are you talking local or county level - because ours were shown at County and National and we'd never seen a foal plaited in these classes. Be interested to know if the rules have changed for future reference. We'd better make sure we update ourselves on all the turnout rules when the County circuit comes around next year.

[/ QUOTE ]

we show at county level and although we often leave our hack foal unplaited as boss not overly keen on it, most of the pros (the likes of Jerome, Jeff Grace etc) all seem to have their foals plaited.
No idea what the rules are as I just decide whether my foal has a neck that is accentuated by plaits or not, and do what I think looks best