Turning Out A HW Coloured Cob.

Orca

Orca

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I definitely wasn't going to get back into competing and showing wouldn't normally be my first choice but I've been encouraged to give Orca a go in the show ring later in the year.

The only showing I've done previously was some WH, so I don't know where to start in preparing a piebald, 14+hh (haven't taken an accurate height measurement yet), hairy, feathered, hw cob (or myself, for that matter!).

This is definitely at a 'just for fun' level but I'd like to do my best by her. So, what sort of classes should I look out for? How should she be turned out? Any tips on mane and tail length? Both are voluminous (ridiculously so. Is a nose length forelock which entirely covers the breadth of her face undesirable? If so, what should I do with it?!). What constitutes show-worthy feather?

Although I've been briefly tempted to hog and trim, I've decided against, so we'll be going the 'traditional' route, I think? Honestly, I don't know where to start but it would be nice to have a focus and I would very much appreciate any tips ��.
 
If you're showing her as a traditional then just leave all the hair flowing and natural. There are much more options for traditional cobs now and you can show her in coloured classes as well as trad classes (in which you would be competing against solid and coloured horses). For trad classes, basically the more hair the better and they will obviously also be looking at the usual conformation, movement, etc. Have a look in the next few weeks on the TGCA website at their show diary as there are more and more trad classes popping up at local level shows as qualifiers for TOYS - you don't have to be a TGCA member to compete and can do it just for fun - although you do have to be a paid up member if you want to do TOYS.

When we show our little trad we wear a pair of beige chinos, a shirt & tie, a tweed waistcoat and tweed cap (pics in my blog). Ridden will be beige jods, tweed jacket, velvet hat.

Good luck with it all and enjoy! If you really get into it, we may see you around on the circuit :)
 
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Thanks so much! I'm determined to not get too into it but last week I was definitely not competing again, so who knows ��. Her confirmation and paces are good and she has a lot of presence. I'm quite interested in finding out how she might do and there's the start of the slippery slope - if she does reasonably, it will be hard to leave it there (and if she doesn't, I'll probably be just as included to give her another chance!).
 
No worries. It gets quite addictive! Last season was our first showing with the TGCA and we had a great time. Everyone was extremely friendly and TOYS was great fun. They do hairy dressage in association with BD as well for which there is a champs in October-time. The trads are up and coming! :)
 
They really are! I did speak with TGCA just before she came to me and I ought to get in touch again. I'm so glad their talents are being showcased in this way, particularly in dressage. If they can do that and do it well, they can do pretty much anything ��. (... admittedly, I love dressage. And eventing. Uh-oh!)

Orca said:
Thanks so much! I'm determined to not get too into it but last week I was definitely not competing again, so who knows ��. Her conformation and paces are good and she has a lot of presence. I'm quite interested in finding out how she might do and there's the start of the slippery slope - if she does reasonably, it will be hard to leave it there (and if she doesn't, I'll probably be just as inclined to give her another chance!).
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It's too late to edit but I couldn't just ignore those autocorrects!
 
Cob classes are for hogged and trimmed cobs as a rule. If showing in these then you'd need to turnout likewise and also measure your horse to see if your mare is a HW cob or a maxi cob

Having said that cob classes at a local show are often a free for all some stating in the schedule that the class is open to anything remotely cobby regardless of turnout and some saying its a pure cob class but often accepting all sorts of entries

Showing as a coloured is different, in this case you CAN turn out as a traditional, if you do this then the more hair the better (horse not rider) and ideally feathers should be full right up to the knee

A nice flat noseband in a width that complements the horse's head - find this out by using dark paper cut in to strips to find the best width, a show Pelham or double bits (rugby Pelhams seem to be loathed by many so best avoided) a saddle that shows off the shoulder with no numnah or a discreet brown one, tweed for the rider and cream/beige/yellowish jods a blue/brown/dark green hat, long boots, brown gloves and a show cane for the rider

Again that is the norm but again local shows seem to be a law un to themselves but it doesn't hurt to at least try and aim for correctness!
 
Look out for Native/Cob/Traditional type coloured classes (at local shows there may just be one coloured class for all types however). Some shows include classes for Cobs and state that they are open to 'hogged and hairy' types, so look out for those too. The hogged cob classes tend to be for horses from 148cm - 155cms and so you'd be ineligible for those anyway.

If you decide to pursue showing further, it sounds like she is a Traditional type, and so look for TGCA classes to show as a traditional breed type and CHAPS or BSPA to show as a coloured. All organisations are very friendly and there are a lot of showing classes aimed at novice combinations or those new to showing at their shows.

If she is a true traditional then the longer the hair the better - although 'excessively long' manes and tails are not encouraged. I would get hold of some wood flour to volumise the feather, it's great stuff! Just make sure you are both clean and tidy, tie your hair back in a bun and a hairnet, and turn out as closely as possible to what WelshD has advised above. If the head has a lot of white or is fairly plain then a thicker noseband will look great.

Here's a photo of my fluffiest horse, turned out correctly for a coloured and a traditional:
11870730_10155851484740705_8821520120458093122_n.jpg
 
Squinting at your avatar pic the horse (if that is the mare you are referring to) has a much too short mane to be a traditional

I think to be honest at anything other than local level you are going to be in a no mans land regarding classes

But like I say you'll probably do just fine at local level if you can give at least a nod to correct turnout, there will be far far far far far worse than you on the showground, you wouldn't believe what you see at local shows!
 
WelshD said:
Squinting at your avatar pic the horse (if that is the mare you are referring to) has a much too short mane to be a traditional

I think to be honest at anything other than local level you are going to be in a no mans land regarding classes

But like I say you'll probably do just fine at local level if you can give at least a nod to correct turnout, there will be far far far far far worse than you on the showground, you wouldn't believe what you see at local shows!
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I think the horse in the avatar is actually sporting a running plait.
 
WelshD said:
I think to be honest at anything other than local level you are going to be in a no mans land regarding classes
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I think this certainly used to be the case but there are a lot more options for traditional cobs nowadays, with some doing very well at HOYS for e.g. (Sue-Helen Shuttleworth had a very successful season with Boston last year). The TGCA have done great work to get them recognised as a breed in their own right and many shows will offer traditional cob classes in conjunction with the TGCA now.

Trads are certainly on the up imo :)
 
Clare85 said:
I think this certainly used to be the case but there are a lot more options for traditional cobs nowadays, with some doing very well at HOYS for e.g. (Sue-Helen Shuttleworth had a very successful season with Boston last year). The TGCA have done great work to get them recognised as a breed in their own right and many shows will offer traditional cob classes in conjunction with the TGCA now.

Trads are certainly on the up imo :)
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Sorry I should clarify that my comment was made when I thought the horse has a short mane and of course I need to go to specsavers on that point!

Absolutely with you regarding traditionals there are some absolutely stonking ones out there who are amazing but also a lot more with poor conformation hidden by an awful lot of hair which dazzles the judges
 
WelshD said:
You are quite right! I said I was squinting lol
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Don't worry, it was a running plait in an odd position! The children were keen to see how it was done but at the time, Orca had a short section of mane, so it had to be done at an odd height to include said section. Her mane is thick and approximately 12-18", to clear up any confusion �� (yes, my hands ached!).

Thanks all, for the wonderful advice. On having a peek at last years show schedules, it seems some local shows do have classes to include her type. I'll definitely go the traditional route if we attend.

WelshD, I agree that there are quite a lot of duds out there and the same can be said for all types and breeds, no doubt. Although I wasn't intending to show when I bought Orca, I still aimed for a certain standard, as much because good conformation lends itself to soundness, lovely energy, paces and carriage lend themselves to a better level of schooling, a lot of presence (she's a bit of a show off!), coupled with character and good naturedness make a fun horse to be around, etc. I'm certainly not saying she's perfect, HWs aren't my forte, for one thing! But I'm intrigued to see how she would do, since my YO suggested it ��.
 
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