Suitable for inhand showing-advice?!?

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Elvis

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So unfortunately my horse Elvis has been suffering with liver issues, he is now on the mend, but won't be back in ridden work for some time. He is a real worker and likes having a job to do, so I have been thinking about doing some in hand showing, obviously only with agreement from my vet. However I am clueless as to what he could enter, or even if he has the conformation for showing, so any advice or opinions on what classes would be suitable would be great. He is a 6 y/o 17hh TBxShire bred to event. He wouldn't be entering anything for at least a month as I am aware he needs to gain some weight (lost during illness) and also needs to grow out the vets 'interesting' clip.
First photos were taken today, the other is from last summer when his health was 100% but it gives an idea of his normal condition and summer coat.

Thanks in advance.

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I know nothing about showing but am bumping for you as I think it is a lovely idea to keep yourself and Elvis amused.

Good luck!
 
They usually have hunter type classes at shows which would suit him. Or even just a best turned out or best conditioned class.
 
If you want an honest answer, which you do appear to, here is mine.

Hunter classes I would say are well out of the question. He is far too lightweight, undermuscled and unfit looking. They look for a horse capable of doing a days hunting and remaining sound and fit. He is also the wrong build for this type of class.

Conformation wise. My thoughts are:

He is upright in the shoulder
He has long sloping pasterns which aren't at the same axis as his upright shoulder
He has a very low set neck (even in the pic of last summer) at the wither and appears quite 'downhill' in conformation.
He also (though hard to tell from the pics) appears to be a little sickle hocked and weak behind?
 
If you want to get him out and keep his interest, he'll be totally fine at local level. If you're just looking at it as a trip out for a change of scenery, then it doesn't really matter where you are in the lineup... I'd say that I've seen much odder looking horses placed round me, and most dinky shows have an 'in hand horse' or 'open in hand'... So tbh, if you want to go, just go! Just be prepared (as everyone who shows should really be) not to top the lineup and to be open to feedback. And remember that some judges are as mad as a box of frogs ;) x
 
It would only be local showing just so he's got a change of scenery.
And regarding hunter classes I did wonder if he was too light.
What about 'riding horse' classes?
And yes moomin1 he is weak behind, but much of that is to do with a late start with previous owners and then all this time off, he had started to look stronger but we are back at square 1 now which is very frustrating. It's quite upsetting to see how much condition he's lost between last summer and now, and even then he was only just starting work.
 
I took my TB out in-hand showing when he was recovering form colic surgery. The only classes we could find to enter were turnout and condition classes. He did tend to come last as he was not well muscled and a bit skinny still but we had fun anyway. The judges were always very positive when they found out he was comign back from surgery. I found that most in-hand classes were for youngsters or veterans and nothing really in between.
 
Thanks Sprig,
That's what I've found too, and the best turned out classes certainly don't apply to him at this stage. I did think about just doing the silly little classes like 'handsomest gelding' and 'best bay' but it's more about keeping him ticking over, I don't think he'd appreciate seeing his friends going out to parties and him being left behind. :)
 
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