Tips for condition and turnout class

[southdowns]

As my boy is just coming back into work from lameness i am only doing to 'quiet class' now at a show on Sunday.

I'm thinking hacking jacket, yellow shirt, tie, navy hat and plain tack (no numnah). I was also thinking of quarter marks?

And of course hacking everything spotless!

Any tips greatfully recieved

 

[Kenzo]

Your wanting to compete in tack and turnout classes.

Tack needs to fit correctly, be very clean and it helps if its also immaculate...I used to keep my T&T tack just for shows to keep it in top condition, clean out of the buckle holes with match stick, polish any steel/brass on the bridle/stirrups/bit (not mouth part) D rings on saddle. Make sure your saddle cloth is discreet and same colour as you saddle.
Your dress - Again clean, so you may need to have you jacket dry cleaned as they look at the cuffs and collar, must fit well, well matched colours (tie/shirt/brown band/bobble/jods/button hole etc (depending on type or horse/pony), your boots need to be clean underneath too as well as polished to perfection...hence why you see lots of kiddies with plastic bags on their feet at shows...I wouldn't quite go as far as that if you an adult lol! Hat needs to be clean, no hairs or finger marks.
Horse needs to be clean, trimmed/plaited (depending on breed/type) whiskers/heels/sharp clean cut at the end of the tail/ears clean and trimmed (not inside though depending on breed) make sure under the belly and round the private parts are all clean, bum wiped etc, nostrils clean.
Oil the feet, chestnuts and baby oil round the eyes/bum hole/dock and nostrils...depending on colour and personal preference.
Horse needs to be correct weight...as in good condition and well shod, quarter marks/sharks teeth ...again depending on breed, very neat small plaits, fewer the better so you may need to pull the mane to give your horse a set of nice plaits. Plait/pull tail..again personal preference.
Could chalk some white bits on the legs to give a really clean look, then paint on hoof oil on the line between the white and the natural leg colour...again beware, judges don't like there hands covered in chalk and grease...so thats a risk you might not want to take!
Coat shine/gloss to give your horse s nice clean shiney look, white tails need to be while...not yellow stained with urine and no stable stains or straw prints.

You just really need to pay attention to detail on everything to be honest, above is just stuff in general some people really go to town,,,some dont.

Gosh...I'm glad I dont to T&T's anymore...way too much hassle

 

[southdowns]

OMG i'm not sure i'm going to do it now!!!!!

 

[Kenzo]

I'm a slap dash it al do kinda person,

you can even go as far as how many plaits, the shape, how they lay on the neck, if you use rubber bands or sew, pefect sharks teeth, quater marks being in the correct place to give a nice round bum...the pattern of the quarter marks, colour of tack, quality of tack, colour of oil on the hooves, depending on if you horse has dark ones or white hooves etc etc.

My advice...just be clean and tidy and enjoy yourself hun!