Trailblazers Showing - Show Hunter and Sports Horse

dollymix

dollymix

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Hi All

I am looking for people who know something about trailblazers, or showing in general.

My mare is registered ID and is 5 yrs old. I hope to do some ODEs next year and have been looking for things to take her to over winter to get out and about. I have two dressage tests booked for the 20th but at the same venue I noticed that they do Trailblazers showing the week after so I thought we might also have a stab at that too!



I have previously had welshies and so did the M&M classes - I have no idea what is required re type, dress for Show Hunter and Sports Horse classes. Are these classes which are generally for for Irish Draughts? She does have a slight pigeon toe - so I am not expected to win...but I thought it would be good education for her!

Anyone with experience of these two classess....tips please !!!
 
I think she'd be a little too heavy for sport horse classes but she would definatley not look out of place for hunter classes. Turnout is the same as the m&m's. You could also do the mare to breed a hunter/competition horse as you could put her to something like a tb to get the finer comp horse.You could also do the workers

If you decide to step up a level in showing then there is the ID blue chip challenge which is £3000 prize money at the finals.

If shes slightly pigeon toed, if you get your farrier to off set the toe clips on her shoes, it will make her look straight

Good luck!
 
That's great - thansk for the advice. the Blacksmith is coming this weekend so I will ask him about the toe clips!

Her pic is on my profile...she is not overly heavy for an ID - although as a 5yr old, I imagine she'll change somewhat yet!

Re dress...is a brown tweed jacket and shirt and tie acceptable? That's what I was wearing for M&M. I do hope to try workers later in the winter once I have got her jumping a bit more!
 
yep that is fine but your best showing in a navy hat for hunters. At the minute then I would say stick her in the comp horse and see.

Good luck
 
Which venue is it ??

I would say you might not look out of place in either class - with Sports horse it very much is about the judges eye !

Hunter TO is very simalar to M&Ms
 
Thanks for the advice. It is at Osbaldeston in Lancashire.

She hasn't shown before (well, I think the dealer I bought her from took her to one to look around), but she is generally a good girl.

Will the judge ride at Trailblazers?
 
She's lovely.

Def hunter rather than sports horse to me, but I would say why not do both? The judge won't ride at Trailblazers (well, didn't used to!).

Hopefully, subject to new saddle being ok, we'll see you there - my first outing with new cob (also a lovely grey).

I have done the workers and the combined training at Osbaldeston for the last 2 years - great courses, and I've some vids if you're interested in the course.

Good luck and I hope you have lots of fun
x
 
Will see you there! lol I think we'll be going...all being well with saddle of course!

Would love to see a video of the course! Any insider info is always apprecaited :-)
 
Hi
Welcome to the world of the ID – best horses in the world :) :)

If she is a pure bred Irish Draught, sport horse classes won’t really be appropriate – they tend to be the domain of the ID x TB types. HOWEVER, hunter classes should be right up her street. Depending on bone and weight carrying ability, she might be a middleweight or a heavy weight. Most full up ID’s fall into the HW category.
If she is registered with the IDHS(GB) there are a few pure bred (& part bred) ID classes running in the NW area, including the Blue Chip Challenge. Look on the IDHS web site for lists of shows. They do regional breed shows and an end of year annual show – lots of lovely Irish horses :)

At some stage she will need to get used to being ridden by other people because in most horse classes there will be a ride and confirmation judge. Except at local level, when you’ll just have one judge and you will be required to do an individual show. Don’t worry, for hunters, this is usually a simple walk trot canter change of rein and a square halt, throw in a rein back if you like (but only if it’s a very good rein back).
Also workers classes, usually light and heavy weight at county level and novice and open at local level.
You can also do in hand hunter classes and brood mare – although I’m not sure if the mare has had to have foaled before to qualify for such a class.

In terms of turn out – tweed, shirt and tie, cream / beige breeches, long boots (brown or black), small blunt spur (if classes allows – some Novice classes it’s not appropriate) and velvet cap – brown or blue are best, but depends on what colour your tweed is and a show cane.
Horse turn out – clean (of course) plaited, trimmed, pulled tail. Brown tack is more traditional preferably with a straighter cut saddle (not a dressage saddle)but a nice GP is fine and a hunter style bridle – plain brow band and nose band, plain reins. At Novice level a simple snaffle is fine with a double or Pelham in open classes.

Good luck & have fun. In my experience, the ID will turn its hoof to most things, so there are all sorts of activities you can have a go at and be safe at the same time.
 
I did trailblazers sports horse classes with my mare - shes a 15.1hh TBx. Tbh the class was a total mixture of horses tho she was the smallest. The first time she was the only one who didn't look cobby, the second time there was more variety from TBxs like her, warmblood types, coloured - there was even one that should have been in a heavyweight hunter class! Judges were v good at weeding out the wrong types and were very nice about it :)
 
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