Turnout for local showing... what have I done!?

Girlracer

Girlracer

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So, among much misery at the lack of planned eventing after deciding to tone down the lorry hiring in 2017 with a view to buying my own at some stage, I have some how signed myself up to a season of showing...

There are only 2 other liveries at my yard, and only one who is in a position to share transport with me, and she enjoys showing... and the way I see it any outing is better than no outings!

So here we are, King and I ready to set sail into a whole new world of individual shows, cantering in a group, standing still in a line up...

I have been having a look at the schedules, and trying to decide what to do - I would really prefer not to have to get changed several times a day/buy multiple outfits. So as I would like to do some working hunter, will I get away with turning out as a hunter so that I can do a couple of none jumping classes too (i.e best turned out, ridden hunter - that sort of thing). It had been said he would need to be turned out as a riding horse, but I am of the opinion that as it is local level (albeit a competitive series) we will probably be okay?

Obligatory photos below...

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Any hints/tips much appreciated!
 
At local level I would turn him out as a hunter then you can basically enter most things without looking out of place, all you need is a tweed jacket shirt and tie and beige jodhpurs that is perfectly acceptable for any local showing class, if you wanted to do a riding horse class they are shown with velvet blingy browband so you could change it but you won't get marked down if not and I see plenty of horses without them at that level, have fun you may even get hooked it can get quite addictive you know:)
 
Exciting! Nice to have some parties to go to even if in a slightly different direction to how you'd planned it. I did a few local shows last year. Did hunter type classes but ended up inadvertently in a riding horse class, which I mistook for a riding club horse class, turned out all wrong. V confusing but we came third and qualified for a champs - that's the randomness of showing I think.

You may also find you go down a whole new path, we ended up at Hickstead sunshine tour champs doing a novice ridden and a hunter class, and had a ball!

Have fun ��
 
Bernster said:
Exciting! Nice to have some parties to go to even if in a slightly different direction to how you'd planned it. I did a few local shows last year. Did hunter type classes but ended up inadvertently in a riding horse class, which I mistook for a riding club horse class, turned out all wrong. V confusing but we came third and qualified for a champs - that's the randomness of showing I think.

You may also find you go down a whole new path, we ended up at Hickstead sunshine tour champs doing a novice ridden and a hunter class, and had a ball!

Have fun ��
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a lot of horses are very much on the edge of the Riding horse/Lightweight hunter boarder and could go either way. Infact there are numerous horses who have done very well as young horses in the riding horse classes (even at HOYS) and then as they have matured have ended up in the Lightweight hunter classes
 
conniegirl said:
a lot of horses are very much on the edge of the Riding horse/Lightweight hunter boarder and could go either way. Infact there are numerous horses who have done very well as young horses in the riding horse classes (even at HOYS) and then as they have matured have ended up in the Lightweight hunter classes
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Aye, he may not have looked totally out of place in terms of type, as he is on the lighter side and moves nicely, but I was a bit surprised at finding myself amongst frilly red browbands and shiny smart TB types in a flashy hack type class ��
 
Pinkvboots said:
At local level I would turn him out as a hunter then you can basically enter most things without looking out of place, all you need is a tweed jacket shirt and tie and beige jodhpurs that is perfectly acceptable for any local showing class, if you wanted to do a riding horse class they are shown with velvet blingy browband so you could change it but you won't get marked down if not and I see plenty of horses without them at that level, have fun you may even get hooked it can get quite addictive you know:)
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That is super helpful - thank you!

Bidding on a tweed on eBay as we speak :)

Bernster said:
Exciting! Nice to have some parties to go to even if in a slightly different direction to how you'd planned it. I did a few local shows last year. Did hunter type classes but ended up inadvertently in a riding horse class, which I mistook for a riding club horse class, turned out all wrong. V confusing but we came third and qualified for a champs - that's the randomness of showing I think.

You may also find you go down a whole new path, we ended up at Hickstead sunshine tour champs doing a novice ridden and a hunter class, and had a ball!

Have fun ��
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That's good to know, I will continue as a lightweight hunter and hope for the best! :)

Sounds like you were very successful, fingers crossed it goes as well for us!

conniegirl said:
a lot of horses are very much on the edge of the Riding horse/Lightweight hunter boarder and could go either way. Infact there are numerous horses who have done very well as young horses in the riding horse classes (even at HOYS) and then as they have matured have ended up in the Lightweight hunter classes
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That is a very good point, I think he is 'on the edge' especially with a bit of Spring filling! He actually isn't that small, much bigger (in size rather than height - he is actually a bit shorter!) than my ex-racehorse that I did turn out as a riding horse.
 
That is right about Riding Horse/Lightweight Hunter class and mine falls into that divide, so to some extent it depends on what the schedule says and how big the show is.

The real trick is to have your horse beautifully schooled so it always does a good show and practice a good stand/lead up.
That is what can make the difference to being placed or not.

Good luck and have fun.
 
I hope you get the tweed:)

I agree with above with local shows it is really down to how well your horse goes round if you are foot perfect and really show off your horse a lot of the time that's all that matters, just because he may not fit into a certain type criteria local shows are not so strict so it won't matter hugely, I have entered a pure bred Arab into a riding horse class a few times, yes the judge will say his not a riding horse type but I have been placed quite high up on a few occasions, and I have been put right down the line on others that's showing for you!

I only did it as often it is literally the only class I can enter and if your looking to get a horse used to a show ring environment before doing big shows sometimes it's the only choice is enter a small local show just for the experience, I have had some very nice comments from judges saying how nice my horse is even though he sticks out like a sore thumb in a ring with riding horses.
 
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I would say more riding horse but at local level do both and anything else he is eligible for - so riding club horse, sports horse, competition horse, working hunter etc. The only change of tack you would really need between riding horse and hunter is a brownband - so fancy velvet bling for riding horse, plain for hunter. I had a horse who did all the above classes - he was truly a riding horse but at local level he didn't look out of place in the hunter class. Get him used to being ridden by others if you are going to do a class where the judge rides, make sure stirrups are big enough for a man's foot in case male judge and that stirrup leathers go high enough for short judges and long enough for tall judges. He looks lovely and think you should have lots of fun. The essence of a good individual show is to keep it short but show bit of walk, trot both reins, canter both reins, extension/gallop then back to a lovely halt and drop the reins to show how wonderfully your horse stands! Teach him also to stand up properly in hand and trot up for a judge.
 
Pinkvboots said:
I hope you get the tweed:)

I agree with above with local shows it is really down to how well your horse goes round if you are foot perfect and really show off your horse a lot of the time that's all that matters, just because he may not fit into a certain type criteria local shows are not so strict so it won't matter hugely, I have entered a pure bred Arab into a riding horse class a few times, yes the judge will say his not a riding horse type but I have been placed quite high up on a few occasions, and I have been put right down the line on others that's showing for you!

I only did it as often it is literally the only class I can enter and if your looking to get a horse used to a show ring environment before doing big shows sometimes it's the only choice is enter a small local show just for the experience, I have had some very nice comments from judges saying how nice my horse is even though he sticks out like a sore thumb in a ring with riding horses.
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Thank you, it is only for fun but just interested in others opinions - looking good for the tweed at the moment! :)

humblepie said:
I would say more riding horse but at local level do both and anything else he is eligible for - so riding club horse, sports horse, competition horse, working hunter etc. The only change of tack you would really need between riding horse and hunter is a brownband - so fancy velvet bling for riding horse, plain for hunter. I had a horse who did all the above classes - he was truly a riding horse but at local level he didn't look out of place in the hunter class. Get him used to being ridden by others if you are going to do a class where the judge rides, make sure stirrups are big enough for a man's foot in case male judge and that stirrup leathers go high enough for short judges and long enough for tall judges. He looks lovely and think you should have lots of fun. The essence of a good individual show is to keep it short but show bit of walk, trot both reins, canter both reins, extension/gallop then back to a lovely halt and drop the reins to show how wonderfully your horse stands! Teach him also to stand up properly in hand and trot up for a judge.
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Thank you very much, some really helpful tips re individual show. I really have no idea how he will behave, at events he is quiet warming up and gets a bit of stage freight when he goes into the ring, but I wonder whether being with other horses in the ring will mean he behaves as he would do warming up, and of course spending a bit more time in there so having chance to settle.

However I won't be entering any classes where he is ridden by the judge, my trainer can't even ride him... he is a little quirky, perfectly behaved for me though!

Orangehorse said:
That is right about Riding Horse/Lightweight Hunter class and mine falls into that divide, so to some extent it depends on what the schedule says and how big the show is.

The real trick is to have your horse beautifully schooled so it always does a good show and practice a good stand/lead up.
That is what can make the difference to being placed or not.

Good luck and have fun.
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Thank you, we will try and have lots of fun!
 
The only different turn out you would need for Riding Horse classes rather than hunter is a ribbon browband. Not too expensive and fairly easy to swap on the day. Riding horse ones aren't as loud as for hacks and show ponies, just a velvet Sharks tooth with rosettes on the ends, extra multicolour stuff and crystals is unnecessary. Your jacket, tie, boots and tack stay the same, especially at local level.
 
Be careful with the schedules as usually both working hunter and show hunter the judge will ride :) It's only a basic pattern they generally do but manners (and of course safety) are the key so if he is not safe for others to ride you may have to check with show secs. that the ride judge will not actually ride.
 
Girlracer said:
Thank you, it is only for fun but just interested in others opinions - looking good for the tweed at the moment! :)



Thank you very much, some really helpful tips re individual show. I really have no idea how he will behave, at events he is quiet warming up and gets a bit of stage freight when he goes into the ring, but I wonder whether being with other horses in the ring will mean he behaves as he would do warming up, and of course spending a bit more time in there so having chance to settle.

However I won't be entering any classes where he is ridden by the judge, my trainer can't even ride him... he is a little quirky, perfectly behaved for me though!



Thank you, we will try and have lots of fun!
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you will rarely have judges ride at local level and it will often say on the schedule if they do or not.
 
Guess it depends where you are- we have ride judges at most of our local shows as even unaffiliated everything is a qualifier for something (equifest, sunshine tour, trailblazers etc.) these days! My rising 4yo had a ride judge in a bowler at his first ever show! Fortunately he behaved well and we were not placed due to his physical maturity not his behaviour!
 
rara007 said:
Guess it depends where you are- we have ride judges at most of our local shows as even unaffiliated everything is a qualifier for something (equifest, sunshine tour, trailblazers etc.) these days! My rising 4yo had a ride judge in a bowler at his first ever show! Fortunately he behaved well and we were not placed due to his physical maturity not his behaviour!
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none of the local shows round here ever have ride judges even with the qualifying shows which I think is a shame really I think it just makes it more of a showing class when a judge rides.
 
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