What age can I show my youngster

[Aleshiaburtx]

Hi, I have a little Connemara foal who is getting castrated as soon as he’s dropped. He will turn one end of June and was just wondering what age can I in hand him.
I know this could change when at a new place but he is generally got such a good temperemnt.
He ties, feet picks, never pulls on leadrope. He’s seen traffic and grazed by the road. Been through walks in the woods next to my stables. He doesn’t kick or bite. Has ground manners and doesn’t barge.
He has seen some new places such as coming from the breeders to a field while he was awaiting his strangled test in a trailer and was so calm. Then went in a wagon to his forever home. He was completely fine and he has only spooked 2 times. One was at a bird flying past and the other was a filler that was in the arena. He has seen bikes and dogs. Never feared or bucked on lead.
Therefore I know seeing horses trot around will be exciting for him but he sees that at home too. (I’m aware it’s always different somewhere new)
Therefore now summer is aproaching I’m really working on desensitising.
so what age would I show him, is it 2?
also if he can be showed younger as I’m not sure, does he have to be bitted as I’m not looking to bit him just yet and if that’s the case I will wait

 

[conniegirl]

Technically you can show ponies as foals at foot after they are 8 weeks old.
You will need to make sure he leads nicely and will trot on command. Please wear a hard hat in the ring because no matter how quiet you think they are the atmosphere at a show is unlike anything they will have encountered before and it can all get a little too exciting. My last youngster managed to hold it together for the prep and class and then lost the plot on the way out of the ring.

I would only put your lad in the yearling or youngstock class. As a gelding he does not have to be bitted until he is 4, a colt is normally bitted at 2.

 

[Leandy]

You can show him in youngstock classes so long as he is the right age for the class. So at 1 he would go in a yearling class, at 2 he can go in 2 and 3 year old classes. It all depends on the classification at the show.