Wanting to show this year! Need help though!

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Carrots&Mints

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Hi, Im wanting to take my horse to a show this year, but struggling on what to take him in and I have never done a show in my life, apart from a gymkhana years ago!

Hes a 16hh tbxid and will be 17 in April. Hes got allot left him in him so I was wondering what class other than vetran could I do and what I would need to do in these classes.

Also need help on what the wear etc and how to have him. Do I plait and what not.

Please help :)
 
Can you post a photo as its difficult to tell what he would be suited for. Can he jump?
If he's fairly chunky you could do Ridden Hunter or Working Hunter but if he's on the finer side maybe Riding Horse, but its difficult to tell without seeing him.

Always plait for showing, although you could pull his tail. Plain bridle and saddle, no fancy saddlecloths! No boots (for the horse that is) unless its the jumping section of the workers.

For you, tweed jacket would normally be best, beige/cream jodphurs, white shirt with either a smart tie or stock.
 
Again, hard to say without a pic. Most horses can do some sort of riding horse class/ riding club horse (if he jumps) / style and appearance/ Best turned out.
 
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Here he is. Hes lost quite abit of belly weight since the pictures have been took.

Think Im going to have to do abit of shopping!
 
I would take him in hunters, he's too chunky for Riding Horse. You could have a lot of fun doing Ridden Hunters and Working Hunters.

The general rule, as far as I can tell as I've only done a tiny bit myself, would be to ride in a Pelham or double bridle. Having said that though I've been in classes where they have had allsorts of different tack on. I would try and get as much together as possible for very little money and then perhaps invest in something if you need to if you find he's doing fairly well or you're having fun, which of course is the main thing.
 
Thankyou so much for your help Dixie! Will be getting him more in shape and perhaps practising some jumps!

If jumping, are you allowed tendon boots in the class? He doesnt have the best tendons you see.

Will enquire about pelhams and double bridles! and will be looking on preloved for show stuff! Allready got the jods!

Thankyou again :) and happy new year!
 
To start out with go in whatever tack you have already and are both happy in, there's no point spending loads of money if you or horse decide you don't like being in a ring. At local level you see all sorts of tack and most judges would rather see a horse going nicely than one in the 'correct' tack but not working nicely in it. When you're there look around at what people/horses getting placed in the popular classes are wearing.
Just read the schedule for any rules before you go down the first time and phone the secretary if you're not sure.
Most importantly have fun!
 
You can wear tendon boots for the jumping section of a working hunter class, but not for the flat part of the class, nor for any other show class. :)

Good luck! he's a handsome boy.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about his legs at local level. Mine has a very visible windgall and splints behind and he does very well. I've not yet had a judge run their hands down his legs, so they probably don't see the splints but the windgall can be quite visible when he's hot.

Be prepared that at some shows in Hunter classes the judge can ride your horse too, this is where my horse lets me down by being grumpy and not going forward !
 
At local/ riding club shows there are often a whole variety of classes besides your "pure" showing classes that you could do.

e.g. equitation, local horse and rider, riding horse (as in a ridden horse, not as in showing, focusing on the horse not the rider if that makes sense.....), veterans, tack and turnout, family horse, best condition, allsorts!

As long as you are smart and tidy generally what bit you have etc doesn't matter too much at a small show. Unless it specifies in the schedule anything goes (e.g.lead rein classes often stipulate snaffle bridle). If you are investing in a jacket tweed is probably more versatile than navy. As for tack colour I doubt many judges actually notice whether your tack is black or brown. Dark coloured numnahs look better I think, unless you have a grey. Boots are a no-no unless you are jumping.

Have fun!
 
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