Talk to me about showing?

[maya2008]

New pony is the cutest little thing, but definitely prefers younger children - she thinks they are absolutely adorable and just melts. She also naturally walks and trots just next to me, on a loose lead, and is actually very pretty. She is a registered Welsh A.

Looking online, I can see that my daughter could take her in lead rein classes next year for experience (daughter turns 8 in a week). And then could do first ridden also. It would give my daughter something competitive to do (not a fan of jumping) and I think would be good for the pony as she will move on eventually to a family with small children.

But… I know absolutely NOTHING about showing! Help?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I find the best way to get an idea is to watch a few classes you want to do look at what they wear to get an idea, Google will bring up images of shows which is also helpful.

I used to show shetlands and Arabs in hand mainly you need to get them really trotting out so you have to run quite fast teach them to have a nice square halt for when you present them to the judge.

I would just start with a few local low key shows and see how you get on initially, your daughter could also do some young handler classes they often have them at local level.

The clothing is quite expensive but there is always loads of second hand stuff to be found especially for kids.

Be nice to see a picture of the pony ?

 

[maya2008]

Not the best pic - she’s sweeter/prettier in person (and less tense, this is my son on the first time we met her!). Will try to get a good one tomorrow.

She’s only just being started, so I know she will need more muscle etc, and to learn to carry herself nicely even with little people on board. We have time though.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

She looks sweet I think they look like mini Arab's you will need a good purple shampoo chalk and a snuggy rug to keep her clean ?

Greys look lovely when they are show ready and clean but they are hard work keeping them pristine, might be worth putting a tail bag on and keep it on to stop the tail staining and it stops it thining so it will look fuller.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Lead rein showing is the pits. Honestly! Get the kid and pony going over winter and just leave them to do first ridden classes!

Lead rein outfits cost a small fortune though if you are just going v. Local showing you will get away with a tweed jacket, shirt, tie and trousers. A hat is ALWAYS a must and not a riding hat. For the leader btw.

The pony should be well schooled and polite. The child should be riding the pony, the Handler on the end of a long, loose rein as a safety net that's all. They should be looking through their bridle but steady. Yu do not need to show off the big Welsh movement in a lead rein class, tone it down a couple of notches. Same for first ridden. The pony should go sweetly and sanely for the rider.

Lead rein is just walk and trot. First Ridden includes a canter in the individual show but not the go round.

 

[maya2008]

Lead rein showing is the pits. Honestly! Get the kid and pony going over winter and just leave them to do first ridden classes!

Lead rein outfits cost a small fortune though if you are just going v. Local showing you will get away with a tweed jacket, shirt, tie and trousers. A hat is ALWAYS a must and not a riding hat. For the leader btw.

The pony should be well schooled and polite. The child should be riding the pony, the Handler on the end of a long, loose rein as a safety net that's all. They should be looking through their bridle but steady. Yu do not need to show off the big Welsh movement in a lead rein class, tone it down a couple of notches. Same for first ridden. The pony should go sweetly and sanely for the rider.

Lead rein is just walk and trot. First Ridden includes a canter in the individual show but not the go round.

Thank you! I think my daughter would want to do lead rein a few times as a comfort blanket, but we can find somewhere super informal so I can wear less expensive clothes ?. I am also conscious that she is 11.2hh so may well go to a lead rein family after us, or to a family with one on the lead and an older sibling off it.

She has the most adorable, gentle, floaty little trot when she is in-hand next to me, that any tiny tot would find easy to sit, and never pulls ahead/hangs back. Would we want to show that trot off in first ridden, rather than the bigger, faster movement she shows when led from another horse?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

For first ridden teach her both trots. A sweet one for the go round and parts of the individual, the bigger one for when they change the rein.

It's a hard mix but a good pony is worth it's weight in gold.

 

[maya2008]

For first ridden teach her both trots. A sweet one for the go round and parts of the individual, the bigger one for when they change the rein.

It's a hard mix but a good pony is worth it's weight in gold.

Thanks for the advice! She’s such a showy little thing, just perfect on the lead - went out in howling wind and driving rain today, beautifully behaved, always next to me flicking her little toes in trot, rock solid even on slippery ground, through puddles, gates, past random vehicles… So much faster than our non-showing part-cob first ridden though, who declared that going any faster than a steady trot in this weather was dangerous and got left miles behind (out of sight at times). I can trust that pony to make the decisions for my daughter and always look after her - this one will actually need instructions I think ?.