Total beginner to showing

[Allthosehorses]

alas my foot has been turned to showing my Connemara x . I don't have the the slightest clue about showing . With a wide range of classes available I don't know which one I should enter her in . Also was is expected of you in certin classes , how should both myself and my horse turned out . Also should I plait her tale , her mane , both ? Or should I leave her mane pulled ?

Replies would be greatly appreciated

-Charlotte

 

[soulfull]

Hmm because you have a 'x' breed it will depend how tall horse is, how much bone as you will be looking at Hunter or riding horse/pony
all of which require plaiting mane and either pulled or planted


In the rink you will etc as a group then line up. Followed by individual show which is usually a figure of eight inntrot a canter on each rein and a gallop.
then all walk round while judge picks out wiñners

It's good fun if you don't take it too seriously

 

[Orangehorse]

Preparation for showing starts weeks in advance, as you groom daily until your horse shines, and puts on muscle (yours as well as the horse's). As yours is not going to go into Native Pony classes, you trim head, ears, and legs. Exactly what you trim is up to you. Some people will not take off nose hair, others pluck the long hair from around their eyes. Some will clip inside the ears, others just trim around the ears. Trim round the head, under the jaw, to make the head look as neat as possible. Take the feather of the legs and just generally trip/clip to make their legs looks as neat as possible. Some people will trim the hair around the coronet band. Mane and tail pulling can be done gradually over several days/weeks, or you risk being ejected from the stable by your horse, if they take exception to the deed. (People have been killed by horses having their tails pulled!)

Tails - pulled or plaited. Decide soon! Hunter usually have pulled tails. I am not sure where plaited is "correct" you need to ask someone. I think given your horse's breed pulled would be correct.

At home practice getting your horse to stand correctly with the front legs together or one very slightly in front of the other and the hind legs nicely arranged. Start placing the hind feet first, and then get the front feet. If you can teach your horse to hold up his head and prick his ears, so much the better! Then in hand forward into a reasonably brisk walk, and then a willing trot. You lead the horse away from the judge and then push the horse round and trot back, towards the juge who wants to look at his action and then will step away to let you go past.

For the ridden part, the horse needs to go at walk, trot and canter and let down for a short distance of gallop. It helps a great deal ifyou can guarantee that your horse will go off immediately in canter on the correct lead. If you have to do an individual show you should show the paces on both legs, and finish on a nice gentle and square halt and stand still. Not sure if people do a rein back now, if you are 100% sure you can do it without sawing his mouth then do, otherwise don't bother.

Go along to a show first and study everyone, but don't get too het up about it. Go and have a try. Turnout, very clean and tidy for bothhorse and rider. Good luck.

 

[GreenEyedMonster]

My best advice would be to "compare"
Literally.
Go through the showing section of horse and hound and compare the type/build/shape of your horse and choose this class it should be defined as hunter or hack/riding and for this the attire is different.

For both I very very strongly suggest a velvet show hat with a CREAM leather strap, such as the charles Owen hats. You will notice almost every female rider in a showing class wearing one of these unless it is a beagler or a top hat. A black fabric strap is not traditional in appearance. However you can wear a skull cap or plain fixed peak for working hunter as it is less about appearance really.

For hunter classes you must wear a TWEED jacket, one of the old grey/black tweed jackets isn't very common and more of a pony club thing so I suggest a brown or green tweed. Pair this with a blue canary or white shirt and a RED tie. This completes the look. You can wear different coloured ties but red is best.

Absolutely NO white jodhpurs, they should be beige or canary.

Black long boots only. Brown is allowed but doesn't look quite right and NO chaps, gaiters or jodhpur boots or those silly wellie/country boot style things because this is not traditional attire.

It is important all the above is well fitted, a baggy jacket or floppy hat silk looks awful and you are supposed to look well put together.

As for turnout this depends on class, often you must be plaited and feathers trimmed.


If you want to take it really seriously then look at what your fellow competitors use on their horses regards tack. You will notice at county level riders use straight cut, flat seat saddles to show off the top line and shoulder. Many also use double bridles but if your horse goes better without or you are not experienced enough then I suggest not.

Take the time to practice a balanced and fluent individual show as you will be expected to perform one in each class, if it is a ridden class this requires walking away from the judge and then trot and canter on each rein.

Even if your horse is not in a correct outline (which it should be if you would like to do well or compete county level) don't worry, as long as your horse stops and gos when you ask and doesn't stumble or fall in round corners or circles it should look smart.

And no NUMNAHS! Unless you need a comfort pad e.g. A prolite or sheepskin pad then leave it all it home, it is not allowed and looks awful unless a working hunter class. You CAN use fur or wool numnahs that are discreet but these are expensive unless your horse really needs one

Your tack should match, no colourful or detailed browbands, only plain and if your horse is ridden in a cavesson make sure it is a plain one without the flash attatchment as this looks scruffy otherwise.

I think I've covered everything! Like I said, check out the photos in horse and hound for the class your horse suits best and if they aren't wearing it neither should you! (Within reason) it's an expensive one unfortunately, all about looking good and less about doing it right!

 

[Kat]

It really depends upon what class and what level you want to do.

I only show my horse at local and RC level, we do riding horse, riding club horse, and style and appearance classes. I don't pull her tail I plait it and have never had a negative comment. She wears a coloured browband and snaffle bridle. I wear a green tweed with a blue shirt and navy tie. I use a brown sheepskin halfpad under her saddle.

Post some pictures of your horse for more help as a Connie cross could be eligible for lots of classes depending how it looks.

 

[conniegirl]

Take the time to practice a balanced and fluent individual show as you will be expected to perform one in each class, if it is a ridden class this requires walking away from the judge and then trot and canter on each rein.

And no NUMNAHS! Unless you need a comfort pad e.g. A prolite or sheepskin pad then leave it all it home, it is not allowed and looks awful unless a working hunter class. You CAN use fur or wool numnahs that are discreet but these are expensive unless your horse really needs one

Your tack should match, no colourful or detailed browbands, only plain and if your horse is ridden in a cavesson make sure it is a plain one without the flash attatchment as this looks scruffy otherwise.

SOrry but the above information is incorrect!!

Individual shows are totaly up to the rider but you will notice that unless it is specificly asked for by the judge professionals will NEVER walk away from the judge and then trot back. all that serves to do is highlight if your horse isnt perfectly straight moving or perfectly straight in its schooling. Its a bad Idea all round and you just dont do it!

All show horses should have a discrete numnah on, it should fit to the saddle and be the same colour as the saddle but can be sheep skin, wool, cotton, gel etc. Infact a good numnah can hide an overly long back if needed!

Browbands depend on class, a hunter pony or horse, M&M's, traditionals and show cobs will have a plain leather browband. Hacks, Riding horses and show ponies all wear pretty ribbon browbands

OP please post a photo of your horse/pony so we can help more.

 

[GreenEyedMonster]

SOrry but the above information is incorrect!!

Individual shows are totaly up to the rider but you will notice that unless it is specificly asked for by the judge professionals will NEVER walk away from the judge and then trot back. all that serves to do is highlight if your horse isnt perfectly straight moving or perfectly straight in its schooling. Its a bad Idea all round and you just dont do it!

All show horses should have a discrete numnah on, it should fit to the saddle and be the same colour as the saddle but can be sheep skin, wool, cotton, gel etc. Infact a good numnah can hide an overly long back if needed!

Browbands depend on class, a hunter pony or horse, M&M's, traditionals and show cobs will have a plain leather browband. Hacks, Riding horses and show ponies all wear pretty ribbon browbands

OP please post a photo of your horse/pony so we can help more.

You will realise on reading my reply again that I did not say a horse should trot towards a judge, I said that they should walk away because it is not considered polite to trot into the judges path or very common for riders to begin with canter...
I did say also that subtle wool numnah (the furry sort etc.) are accepted and comfort pads such as prolites but again, the majority of numnahs are frowned upon.
Assuming the horse is a connemara X as the OP stated, I would have thought it would be better suited to a hunter or M and M class, my own gelding is a connie cross TB and despite his slender hindquarters his large shoulders and neck make him better suited to a hunter class. Hence recommending plain tack.
I suggested the rider trot and canter as unless it is a first ridden or lead rein class the judge can't be sure the horse is balanced in all gaits from seeing it walk and trot and they will be expected to canter. I did not mention a specific show and you will notice most riders will perform trot and canter on both reins as I have said.

Not everything I have said is wrong thank you.

 

[conniegirl]

actualy prolites are not OK as in general they are not discrete at all, they stick out miles even on 18" saddles, however ANY saddle shaped numnah the same colour as the saddle is fine it does not have to be furry.
as a Connemara X it would NOT be elegable for M&M classes as they are for pure breds only.

I've had a connie x arab that made a beautiful show pony, so not all connie crosses are hunters!

Nowhere did I say only walk and trot, infact you should walk, trot and canter on both reins and gallop on one (or for hacks & SP extend the canter)

 

[GreenEyedMonster]

actualy prolites are not OK as in general they are not discrete at all, they stick out miles even on 18" saddles, however ANY saddle shaped numnah the same colour as the saddle is fine it does not have to be furry.
as a Connemara X it would NOT be elegable for M&M classes as they are for pure breds only.

I've had a connie x arab that made a beautiful show pony, so not all connie crosses are hunters!

Nowhere did I say only walk and trot, infact you should walk, trot and canter on both reins and gallop on one (or for hacks & SP extend the canter)

She is new to showing, I doubt she'll be riding to such a level that they expect gallop. Most local shows don't ask for it
And my prolite is very discreet, it's a 17inch saddle on a short backed horse and you wouldn't know it was there.

I was only standing up for my point...

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

The only showing classes that are not expected to extend the canter at the very least or gallop are Lead Rein and First Ridden classes. All other should kick on. As said above - show ponies and hacks extend, everything else should show a true gallop - even if only for 4 strides or so. I would forgive a novice to extend rather than gallop but opens should definitely gallop - from the smallest native to the biggest hunter.

Pop up a pic of your horse and some more details -height, age et al. But either which way definitely plait the mane. Tails - pull. If you cant bear to pull it then plait it at local level, not affiliated. If you can't plait it neatly then leave it. There is nothing worse than a badly plaited tail.

 

[ester]

I was going to say a connie cross could be any type so predicting browband types etc is difficult!

and you should extend in canter even at more local level!

 

[conniegirl]

Even at the smallest local show at minimum an extension of the canter should be shown except in Lr and fr classes or in vhs affiliated veteran classes.

The only time I've been told not to extend in a show has been when the ground was incredibly slippy and 1 horse had already fallen in the first class!