Tips for County Level Showing?

wellsat

wellsat

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Can anyone give me tips for County Level showing and what the groom is expected to do? My friend has asked me to groom for her but she's never done it and neither have I, don't want to commit a huge faux pas.
 
There was a post on here about dress for grooms the other day.

It depends what classes she's doing, but basically your job is to frequently visit the burger van, and also calm her nerves if she's not done it before! It is also to get knackered, filthy (staggeringly, preparing an already sparkling horse for the ring leaves you looking like a coal miner, I do not know why this is. Something to do with the dirt attracting properties of vaseline and brill cream I think), and probably at some point acquire a squashed foot or mash your fingers in something ;)

On a serious note, in the ridden classes (and it does depend on the class and judge), if they're 'stripping', DON'T get the camera and pop corn and sit back and enjoy the show as it's not going to be what you think. Stand by instead to go into the ring and held remove the saddle, brush away the sweat patch, tidy up anything that needs tidying up so judge can then see the horse trot up in hand, then help saddle and rider back on and dissapear. Simples. Hopefully she won't get pulled in first the first time so you can watch how the other grooms time their entry, but if she does just ask anybody else hanging round the way into the ring with a box/basket or simply a brush (that one's me, no fancy equipment here lol) when you should go. (Just need to be sure you're now going to walk into comebody's gallop down the back of the line or something) Do find out how to get into the arena as a groom, aside from that it's all uber easy.

Signed, a county show groom and occassional idiotic foal ring handler ;)
 
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Thanks, she's doing several classes with an ex racer, not exactly sure which ones.

Port is already in the lorry and will be well prepared with snacks. I'm used to grooming at events but showing is a scary new world for me.

I can manage to take a saddle off and brush him down, think we'll just practice our leg ups so I don't fling her into the air :D

I'm presuming dress is smart, casual and unobtrusive? They don't want to be looking at me instead of the horse!
 
You will *usually* have to wear some kind of hat, doesn't have to be a riding hat just any hat hahaha!!!

plus no jeans, so dark trousers, and a blouse/coat

and all you will have to do is help her smarten the horse up when they strip :)

My grandad grooms for me usually and he's not horsey so just holds the horse while I brush him down ect HAHA!!! we bring in, wet wipes (clean up mouth/eyes if need be) a brush, a towl/cloth and fly spray + a bottle of water for me if a hot day!!! he also brings in a mounting block and polos ;)

have fun!!! xxx
 
I too had been event grooming a fair bit before I turned into a showing groom, and I was a bit frightened about etiquette etc and it being a b!tchy world - but showing does get a bit of a bad rap I think, actually in it, or certainly in the breed specific little world that I inhabit, it's really friendly and there's always somebody nice to chat to! Maybe not quite the friendly atmosphere of an eventing lorry park, but not as daunting as I thought it would be!

What you take it with you may depend on the horse. Basic stuff for us is just a clean brush, comb to put mane over, and maybe a towel. But if you're miles from the lorry maybe take more, or be preapred to go back. For example I had a big moving young pony in a class on downhill long grass with white socks who caught a bit of scar tissue on her front heel with her hind foot. I spotted it from outside the ring as she came past, legged it back to get a wet sponge and some chalk so when we went in to strip could clean off the little bit of blood and rechalk her socks before she was presented in hand. Subsequently moved up the line to come 2nd in a big class, probably wouldn't have done without the touch up!

(PS I go in the ring in jeans usually tbh, but it's not champ shows or anything. If I needed to be tarted up to show something myself I might go in as a groom dressed more smartly, but usually I haven't got time.)
 
much-jittering said:
I too had been event grooming a fair bit before I turned into a showing groom, and I was a bit frightened about etiquette etc and it being a b!tchy world - but showing does get a bit of a bad rap I think, actually in it, or certainly in the breed specific little world that I inhabit, it's really friendly and there's always somebody nice to chat to! Maybe not quite the friendly atmosphere of an eventing lorry park, but not as daunting as I thought it would be!

What you take it with you may depend on the horse. Basic stuff for us is just a clean brush, comb to put mane over, and maybe a towel. But if you're miles from the lorry maybe take more, or be preapred to go back. For example I had a big moving young pony in a class on downhill long grass with white socks who caught a bit of scar tissue on her front heel with her hind foot. I spotted it from outside the ring as she came past, legged it back to get a wet sponge and some chalk so when we went in to strip could clean off the little bit of blood and rechalk her socks before she was presented in hand. Subsequently moved up the line to come 2nd in a big class, probably wouldn't have done without the touch up!

(PS I go in the ring in jeans usually tbh, but it's not champ shows or anything. If I needed to be tarted up to show something myself I might go in as a groom dressed more smartly, but usually I haven't got time.)
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Thanks, he's luckily got black legs so no white bits to worry about. Will arm myself with baby wipes for last minute emergencies.
 
Tbh most people don't bother dressing the grooms up until you get to shows which are high level/qualified for shows. I've never seen any 'smart' groom except for at the NPS finals at Blair Castle.

The only important thing is a hat (even a baseball cap). It's considered to be rude to the judge to enter the ring without wearing a hat.
 
MissSBird said:
Tbh most people don't bother dressing the grooms up until you get to shows which are high level/qualified for shows. I've never seen any 'smart' groom except for at the NPS finals at Blair Castle.

The only important thing is a hat (even a baseball cap). It's considered to be rude to the judge to enter the ring without wearing a hat.
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You obviously haven't seen me groom ! I always try to look smart !!
 
Never really understand the wear a hat requirement and then people wear baseball hats. If its about being respectful to the judges then it should be a smart hat or if its for safety then a hard hat. OH generally feels that his motorcycle helmet might be the best thing given the number of horses that don't stand quietly in the line up.


Back to OP, just look clean and tidy and wear a hat. Jodphurs/breeches with a jacket whilst not perhaps the norm would be fine.
 
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