Trying a riding horse showing class?

[The_Dappled_One.]

Me and my ISH are possibly trying our first showing class at a local show at the end of the month. We'll probably go in riding horse as I think he's too fine to be a hunter, does he look okay for that class?
Excuse the bad plaiting, grass belly and lack of muscle, we're working on it

I'm also pretty confused about plaiting. Obviously the job above was just a 5 minute practice, but are there any rules I should know about plaiting for showing classes and can anyone give me some tips on plaiting to suit his neck?
As I'm probably plaiting his tail too, how should this be finished off? (pinwheel, folded back etc).

Thankyou in advance, I know I'm asking a lot of questions!

 

[be positive]

You really should plait on the other side, his mane seems to be rather undecided so should go the other way easily enough. Cut a tiny bridlepath for neatness, it will make it far easier to get the first plait in neatly, start at the top and work down, make the mane damp so it can be pulled tighter and will hold better, make them as even as possible and have an odd number on his neck. His neck is fairly long so try not to put in too many plaits, 9 or 11 would be plenty.

He is an attractive horse, if he goes nicely he is of riding horse type, if you can pull his tail do so, if not a neat plait, folded will be fine but cut at least 6 inches off the end, it looks very long in the photo and trim any hair from his heels, he seems to have a little there which would be best gone.

Enjoy yourself, he should look really smart turned out well, don't forget he needs a coloured browband and you should, ideally, be in a tweed jacket.

 

[conniegirl]

To me he looks like a LW hunter, he has too much bone for a riding horse

Plaits should be on the other side of his neck, Idealy between 7 and 13 plaits along the neck placed high up on his neck to give an illusion of more topline.

Tail realy should be pulled not plaited but if you absolutly must plait (and you will likely be the only one) then it should be folded back.

 

[Honey08]

I think he looks more hunter than riding horse. How big is he? He looks bigger build than my mare, and we were always told we were on the cusp of hunter/ridden horse.

At our local shows you will find hunters with plaited tails and also un pulled and un platted tails. Don't stress too much unless a posh show!

 

[The_Dappled_One.]

He's only 15.2hh, hence why I thought he wouldn't be in hunter. Thanks for the plaiting advice to, I forgot they had to be on the other side oops!

 

[zigzag]

If he is 15.2 then he can go in small hunter, he isn't "pretty" enough to be a riding horse, they are basically big show ponies

 

[whiteflower]

agree with the above, definitely hunter rather than riding horse.

hes a lovely boy, good luck

 

[Stroppy Mare]

My 15hh is classed as a small hunter - I'd agree with the others in that he looks a similar build to the small hunters I've seen.

 

[AdorableAlice]

If he is 15.2 then he can go in small hunter, he isn't "pretty" enough to be a riding horse, they are basically big show ponies

Can't agree with this comment, and I judge.

OP, the horse is attractive but a long way off being a show horse at the moment, however at local level there is absolutely nothing stopping you having fun. He could do riding horse, sports horse and novice hunter classes at your riding club shows. Make sure he is happy to be ridden by the judge, stands up and trots nicely in hand and is mannerly. If he jumps have a go at the working hunter too.

There is a huge difference between local and County level in both type and quality of horses and the cost of competing.

He is not a small hunter. A true small hunter is not merely a small horse in terms of height. A proper small will have masses of bone and be a scaled down version of a middleweight hunter. A good small is, like a good heavyweight very difficult to find.

 

[zigzag]

Can't agree with this comment, and I judge.

OP, the horse is attractive but a long way off being a show horse at the moment, however at local level there is absolutely nothing stopping you having fun. He could do riding horse, sports horse and novice hunter classes at your riding club shows. Make sure he is happy to be ridden by the judge, stands up and trots nicely in hand and is mannerly. If he jumps have a go at the working hunter too.

There is a huge difference between local and County level in both type and quality of horses and the cost of competing.

He is not a small hunter. A true small hunter is not merely a small horse in terms of height. A proper small will have masses of bone and be a scaled down version of a middleweight hunter. A good small is, like a good heavyweight very difficult to find.

I meant at 15.2 he can enter small hunter so he wasn't dwarfed by the 17hh hunters Didn't actually say he was a small hunter! I have shown small hunters at county standard

 

[The_Dappled_One.]

OP, the horse is attractive but a long way off being a show horse at the moment, however at local level there is absolutely nothing stopping you having fun.

.

Completely agree with him not being a show horse, we were just entering for the experience and to try something new as we usually just stick to the jumping

 

[Pinkvboots]

Can't agree with this comment, and I judge.

OP, the horse is attractive but a long way off being a show horse at the moment, however at local level there is absolutely nothing stopping you having fun. He could do riding horse, sports horse and novice hunter classes at your riding club shows. Make sure he is happy to be ridden by the judge, stands up and trots nicely in hand and is mannerly. If he jumps have a go at the working hunter too.

There is a huge difference between local and County level in both type and quality of horses and the cost of competing.

He is not a small hunter. A true small hunter is not merely a small horse in terms of height. A proper small will have masses of bone and be a scaled down version of a middleweight hunter. A good small is, like a good heavyweight very difficult to find.

I also agree with this at local level he will look fine in a riding horse class, I often enter my pure bred Arab into riding horse if there is no other class and have been placed, good comments about the plaiting and tail from a few others, and more importantly enjoy yourself good luck

 

[be positive]

Completely agree with him not being a show horse, we were just entering for the experience and to try something new as we usually just stick to the jumping

It is all good experience, he is a nice type, you are not going to a county show, at local level he will be fine, if he jumps well think about doing some workers, again at local level he should do ok, it is all about having fun with your horse and trying new things is all part of it.