Tips for showing a traditional cob

[basilcob]

Hello, anyone any useful tips for showing a traditional? In particular with regards to preparation? I have a two year old and had him out about a month ago. I bathed him etc the night before, but needn't have bothered as he was just as dirty in the morning? I struggled to get the yellowing out of his tail and bandaged his legs overnight which seemed to result in his feathers looking rather flat! Also he's a bit lazy! Any tips for getting him more forward and to carry himself a bit more. He can do it as I've seen him in the field, but he walks round more like a Blackpool donkey! Thank you in anticipation

 

[royal]

Hi,

did you turn him out after you'd bathed him?? really he needs to be stabled overnight, preferably with a rug on and a hood (I only use the ones that go over the ears and not the full face ones).

I use blue fairy liquid followed by a good whitening shampoo on my girls feathers to get them really white. Then put Gold Labels Show White paste on and bandage. Mine isn't a traditional but if your finding the feathers a bit flat then just fluff them up...brush them upwards to get some air inbetween the hair etc.

When you practise walking him in hand, do you carry a whip? If he's lazy, I would be tempted to carry a schooling whip to give him a quick flick to perk him up..

 

[Theresa_F]

Stinky lives out all summer. In winter he is out and covered in pig oil and sulphur to stop the hair getting damaged and mite free.

To clean him up I use in equal amounts, tresume deep cleansing shampoo, arial excel gel, green fairy liquid and vanish liquid with a bit of equine blue in it. I only use this mixture on legs, mane, tail as it is fairly harsh. On the body I use tresume and equine blue and a bit of the above mix on any bad stains and scrub them.

On the day, cowboy magic is super stuff to get off stains.

After his bath the day before a show, he is then sprayed with alva conditioner and the coat brushed flat. Mane, tail and legs have survivor detangler on them and carefully combed out. I then put on his Snuggy body and hood with a no fill t/o on top. I put on stable leg wraps once the legs are dry and a tail bag and then back out he goes. I also use this wrapping up when in the stable. If it is cold, I will change the t/o rug for a warmer one. This lot keeps him fairly clean.

Do not plait the mane up. I put it in bunches with tape, ditto the forelock before putting the hood on. The tail has a very loose plait and is only put in the bag once totally dry so it does not curl.

Stinky has natural curly feather so I don't worry about having it straight. Leg wraps keep the worst of the dirt off and most of the time, once you are in the ring if it is wet, they are dirty in 30 seconds, so I just keep the worst off and don't panic if they are not snowy white.

On the day, clean off any stains. At the show I then use alva gleam and polish the body. Mane and tail are treated with supreme sparkle and I use a little of their gel on his face - traditionals must not have any make up. I little clear spray on his hooves. Legs can have talc applied - avoid pastes etc as this leaves the hair looking very flat, fine for non hairy and welshies but not full flowing hair of traditionals. I carefully comb all hair through so it is floating and tangle free. Also avoid bandages unless you do them very carefully. This is why I use the wraps.

When Stinky was in youngstock classes, I showed him as a baby in a Flyde inhand hunter bridle with a copper snaffle. A good traditional should not be fired up, what you want is a workmanlike pace, not jogging along eyes on stalks. Stinky is naturally calm and well mannered and getting him to go forward is training. To increase his speed I move my hand forward and he knows this means stride out. I also have found that feeding simple systems green gold and red grass nuts gives him a bit more sparkle and stamina.

This is Stinky as a two year old in hand

and as a three year old - bit more muscle but keep the weight off.

and last year as a five year old

and when you start riding, should look something like this

first ridden season as a five year old

and this August at the BSPA WCC champs

He is not "produced" apart from a bit of schooling and a bath but I do showing for fun first and always.