Veterans Showing next summer

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ecrozier

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My older mare will be 16 in april, and now has arthritis in her hock, so although she is sound in walk and trot, if you put her on a tight circle she is a bit unlevel. However, my OH has just bought a new horse and a fairly well respected local horsey professional has told him she'd make a storming Working hunter, so now he is all enthusiastic about showing. So if i've got to go to showing shows (i jump mainly and do dressage a bit, but don't jump on grass too often!) next summer, I'd quite like to take the old girl and have a bash at a few in hand vets classes maybe? Is she too young still? what are they looking for? We are only talking local shows, nothing major.
She is a very well put together and well bred mare, if I am really picky she is slightly pidgeon toed and minutely cow hocked, but otherwise looks v good, and really doesn't look her age. What is the turnout like? Waht do they have to do? Never done in hand showing at all, ever, so really haven't got a clue! Do they split horses/ponies?
Help please!!
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depends on the show - a lot of classes are 15 and over, some 16, some 17, some 18 etc - you get my drift - check the schedule carefully. been showing my boy in veterans classes since he was eligible (21 next year) and he's done better as he's got older - the younger ones often dont do as well, as 15 is hardly old anymore and they really should look much better than a horse in their 20's. still worth having a go though.
 
I started doing veterans with mine the month after he turned 15 - in fact it was the first showing I'd done with him full stop (I find it beyond boring, but I'll try anything once!).

He's a TB x, and looks very TB, I'm not a great judge of confirmation, but I'd say he was pretty pleasing on the eye, and he moves nicely with good manners.
He won his first ridden class by a mile, despite me arguing with the judge, doing less canter than everyone else, and being utterly petrified of cantering in a group of horses (we're not good in company!).

I did feel it was slightly unfair on the others though because they were genuinely veterans (a couple were 30 plus), and didn't have the breeding or the schooling of my boy - but that's showing for you I suppose. He then went on to win a number of non-Veteran classes as well, so I suppose it was a good start! A number of judges have since suggested moving him to a higher level and doing county veterans showing.

I think as long as your girl is nicely put together and moves well, she should be able to hold her own at local level and possibly above. After all, it's all subjective and up to the opinion of a particular judge on a particular day.

The only thing with in hand showing, even veteran, is that the horse has to be pretty 'wow' in the trot ups and standing still. I don't bother with in hand classes because I know my horse sparkles most under saddle when he's got a job to think about. Also, I don't particularly like running!
I've not known them split horses and ponies for veteran classes - they're more likely to split them age-wise.
 
Cool, thanks for advice. I think we will have to go with in hand as her canter is a bit rubbish, she leans like b*ggery and I'm just not strong enough to hold her up. Like your boy though she is well bred, and when all dolled up can look pretty stunning. Better start practicing my plaiting hadn't I
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One of the worst bits about showing is the plaiting! Although trying to remove sewn in plaits is equally bad!

Give it a go, see how you get on, there may even be some indoor stuff near you over the winter to get practising!
 
The shows around here are 15 and over, which bugs me a bit! Most horses that are 15 or 16 look just like they did when they were 10! Chex is usually the oldest in the veteran (he's 24). I only do small local classes, but the judging annoys me, generally the cute kid on the dinky pony does well, even if they're rubbish, ggrrr!
 
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The shows around here are 15 and over, which bugs me a bit! Most horses that are 15 or 16 look just like they did when they were 10! Chex is usually the oldest in the veteran (he's 24). I only do small local classes, but the judging annoys me, generally the cute kid on the dinky pony does well, even if they're rubbish, ggrrr!

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yup, been there and agree with that! my horse has been winning veteran classes since he was 15, but he's also come down the line to the cute kid, despite absolutely horrendous turnout - they just get the cute vote. i'm hoping now he's 21 he'll start to do better against even the cute kids as he looks fantastic for his age, is schooled to Medium level and has good conformation. He did qualifiy for the VHS regionals in the only qualifier we did, so hoping can do that again.

Best of all, he's Welsh so is turned out as an M&M which means no plaiting!
 
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