tack and turnout classes - tips?

georgiegirl

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were taking my youngster to a fairly largish show in a couple of weeks - think sheep, pigs, cows, tractors, vintage cars the lot so there will be plenty to look at! hence only doing tack and turn out, as well as giving her valuable experience there is a very nice carr and day martin tack box fully kittted out for the winner so i may as well have a crack!

any tips to help?

Im going in tweed and blue showing hat with flesh harness though unfortunately have only cream gloves. Twig will be in her brown albion jumping saddle and bridle - im planning to use no numnah but dont have a leather girth - just a wintec waffle type one. will i get marked down for these things?

Mum is refusing to stitch the plaits in too and im rubbish at it so going to have to band them too
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will make sure everything is spotless though!
 
these classes are so contentious i would take whatever the judge say's with a pinch of salt and enjoy your day!!
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buy some black gloves! there like £3! Don't wear a martingale or flash noseband, basily you need as little tack as poss! Wash the girth (in a sleeping bag) in the washing machine before hand. Hoof oil. Baby oil round eyes and nuzzle. A little baby oil in the tail will make it shine like mad, only use a little bit though. Take baby wipes, there great for last min wipe round the nose and bum! Polish your boots, allot! beg mum to sew your plaits, they'l look so much better. pay extra attention to stirrup treads, under the saddle flaps, the underside of the bridle. Wear a hairnet, no earings....

...can't think of anything else!
 
Brown gloves are correct for any outfit.
Make sure your shirt and tie are neat and tidy, with tie pin.
 
Well it depends on how serious you take them and what the judge is like.

Some judges wont knock you on what type of tack you use, providing it fits correctly and is spotles...and I mean every inch of it.

Take everything to pieces, clean your leatherwork, polish your metal work (buckes,sides of bit (not with polish as it may have a reaction to your horses skin so just polish with cloth) ,d rings, stirrup bars, stirrups and poke your holes with a matchstick to get any gunked up soap out. Make sure your stirrup treads are taken out and cleaned.

Coller must be clean, don't any makeup on it.

Tie or stock - must be neat and clean.

Colour co-ordanate yourself - tie/browband/shirt etc or if your going for a traditional look go with a nice shiny brass brownband and keep things workman like.

Gloves - Brown or Black, depends on what colour boots, show cane and hat you have on.

Make sure your quarter markes are neat and compliment the shape of your horses bottom.

Attention to plaits - If there neat but still done with rubber bands, then this should be ok but cotten is best. Just get them as neat as possible. Odd number up the neck and finish with a even number for the forelock. Ideally 7 or 11. Pull your horses mane to thin it so they don't end up like golf balls or in some cases tennis balls! *cough.. cough*

Your horses coat wants to be gleaming, the judge may rub her fingers into his coat on his back behind your saddle where the scurf or grease may rup up...so be warned, give your horse a good groom despite having a bath. You may need to bath a few days before as some horses get a bit scurfy straight after a bath, this will give your horses coat time to settle and get some natural oil back in it.

Total Groom by Lincoln products is brilliant, use this the day before and your horses coat will gleam and will be like silk to touch...don't over do it though a judge knows when too much grooming products have been used...they don't like having slippery fingers.

Chalk any white bits, but make sure you don't get the chalk on any tack, plus if it rains it may run, so only use sparingly and brush excess off.

Make sure the insides of your horses ears are clean, trim outside of years (not inside if M&M type though). Personal preference if you wish to trim whiskers, whiskers are there for a reason so think about that before you go scissor happy.

Straight bang tails - make sure its cut to the correct level for the type of breed or horse you have, clean straight cut for neatness across the bottom.
Plait your horses tail as neat as possible, if its the breed you plait, if not pull or neaten up where possible.
A little hoof oil the threads of a plaited tail on a sunny day give extra sparkle and depth of colour on bays or dark chestnuts.

Trim feathers/legs - again providing on breed.

Jacket - Try not to get any hairs on it, the velvet collar can show dust so make sure its clean, as well as the cuffs.

Dont let you horse go into the ring with grass slaver at the sides of his mouth.

Varnish his chestnuts as well as his hooves and underneath...however be careful as varnishing horses shoes can cause them to slip on roads (if your riding there).

Boots - Make sure your boots are spotless, using a an old tooth brush to scrub along the sole and underneath has to be clean too. Don't over do it with the leather wipes, judges can't stand people boots smothered in greasy leather oil.

Also give your reins a wipe over with wet cloth and leather wipe after you have worked just before you go in the ring, as the grease or sweat from the coat will rub off your horses neck onto your reins which you have spent time in cleaning...again check your boots/back of saddle.

Some judges don't like if when they see you without a numnah, thinks its a sign of laziness because you've not bothered to get one that fits correctly under your saddle and one that is the same colour or bothered about the comfort of your horse....so I'd get one sorted.

Bridle - Make sure you noseband is at the correct height and type/thickness for your horses head. Side pieces should be buckled up evenly and half way up, they will notice if your making do with a bridle that is either on the large or small side.

Wipe your horses wet runny nose before you go in the ring and bum also his bottom. Wipe over with some baby oil and also carefully over the eye lids (not with same sponge though lol) will give your horses eye a lovely kind expression and a nice velvety nose.

If you horse is grey or light coloured don't tuck your leathers in the leather keeper in the saddle, its very distracting to the eye, leave them out so they hang down (behind your leg).

I could go on and on but no doubt you have fallen asleep by now so I'll shut up now.
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Good luck and have fun...thats by best advice
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