What could I do better?

Shantara

Shantara

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Now I've had one win, I'm determined to try and win in the same class for the rest of the shows this year and then next year, try and qualify for the Chiltern and Thames in the "Best Conditioned Horse or Pony"

"Horse/pony Judge would most like to take home" is the one I'll be entering for the rest of this year.
What do you think I could do better?
Before you say it, I know I need to fix my tie :P It was fine when I left and I hadn't noticed it slip. Also I had to fake most of those plaits in his mane. The first 4 are real, then the others are just mane folded over haha! I'm in the process of learning to plait tails.

Please be kind!!

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How the heck are you tying that tie :eek: There is no way a properly tied tie should ever slip like that? And do your top button up. *cries*

[eta I'm crying because I've turned into the teachers I loathed at school who were obsessed with top buttons and ties!)

For best condition in hand he should be obese, verging on morbidly so. Don't try and "improve" on that though.

Your hat should be velvet, or at least a velvet silk. Shirt / jodhs shouldn't be as startlingly white either. It's also tidier to use a piece of elastic cut to length than the awful string they give you for your number.

Things that leap out at me are the bit, bit rubbers (plain snaffle no rubbers), flash tab on noseband, martingale stops on reins, all of which should be dispensed with. Depends how seriously you want to take it, natch.
 
Hello, I'll reply,

Next time you might want to wear a hair net, and put your hair in a bun to make your hair slightly neater. I would also wear trousers rather than jods and long boots.

What bit do you have Ned in, is it a gag? If it is maybe change it to a snaffle with out bit rings. and could you find a noseband without the flash attachment.

Hope this helps!
 
Well done on winning your class! :D

Don't want to dampen your hopes, but as different shows have different judges, a class such as "Horse or Pony the judge wants to take home" is a matter of opinion, so don't be dissapointed if you're not pulled in 1st every time. I've seen everything from 17hh warmbloods to 11h shetlands winning that class!!

Only CC I would really give would be to make sure your plaiting bands are the same colour as your horses mane - ie black bands for you. And maybe invest in a velvet hat? Always looks smart in the ring!

For best condition, nice shiny coat (strapping helps loads) always catches the eye.

Other than that good luck! :)
 
Depends how seriously you want to take showing...if you want to get into it seriously (please don't be offended here :o ) you need a complete change to what you are wearing :o Black and white have no place in the show ring :o Navy hat with flesh coloured harness, hair tied up properly. Shirt (not white), tie (tied properly), tweed jacket, brown gloves, trousers (not jodhpurs) light coloured because your horse has dark legs. Brown showing cane. Lead from the other side, the judge wants to see the horse not you. Horse's tail should be pulled not plaited, when plaiting mane use dark thread. Plain bridle (without the flash bit on the noseband), lose the gag :)
 
I agree with JTFD on the obeasity front, it's sad but true. Your horse looks a good healthy weight :)

You could pull her tail and maybee sew in the plaits, beige or cream jods, dark brown gloves, hair in a bun, a velevt browband that you could match a tie with would look nice. (Showing folk dont like the normal style of diamante browbands, but they are ok if coupled with velevet lol - boring bunch ;) ) And a normal snaffle or double or pelham with no rubbers would be more correct. If you dont want to use elastic i usually use plating thread.

Well done on your first, i'm sure you will get more!
 
If its in hand get him an in hand bridle with a lead rather than that bridle, NO bit rings and a snaffle not a gag.

DO you top button up!! (sorry cant help it, doesnt cost any thing but makes it look much smarter) and get some one to show you how to tie your tie.

No white jods or gloves and technically shouldnt be jods if your only doing in hand, beige trousers (he has dark legs it will make them stand out) and a tweed jacket or waist coat. Hair in a bun and in a hair net no ribbon, oh and black plaitting bands not white or preferably stitched in though.
 
JFTD said:
How the heck are you tying that tie :eek: There is no way a properly tied tie should ever slip like that? And do your top button up. *cries*

[eta I'm crying because I've turned into the teachers I loathed at school who were obsessed with top buttons and ties!)

For best condition in hand he should be obese, verging on morbidly so. Don't try and "improve" on that though.

Your hat should be velvet, or at least a velvet silk. Shirt / jodhs shouldn't be as startlingly white either. It's also tidier to use a piece of elastic cut to length than the awful string they give you for your number.

Things that leap out at me are the bit, bit rubbers (plain snaffle no rubbers), flash tab on noseband, martingale stops on reins, all of which should be dispensed with. Depends how seriously you want to take it, natch.
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re tie - I don't know XD mother did it for me! I can't do ties :( something else I hope to learn, haha! I could do them when I was 5, but somehow forgot. My top button is done up :O

re fat - Funny thing is, I think I may be against mini's!! There were about 7 of them at this show :O terrified poor Ned.

re things that I need to spend money on - I will try my best, but my funds are limited! I actually bought everything because I thought I'd be jumping. Little did I know I'd wuss out of jumping (far too wet/slippy) and decide I like showing!
Not taking it too seriously, but it would be fab to be placed...against other horses XD
I have cream jods and could probably get my hands on a velvet hat silk.
I refuse to take those rubbers off! I spent ages getting them on D: but I could probably find a different bit.
 
LOL at the replies, but you have picked two of the most difficult to work towards winning.

They totally depend on the judge on the day. Some do like obese horses, some might not, who knows.

Same goes for the "judge wanting to take home" depends on what the judge likes, they might breed miniatures or shire horses for all you know :D

If you want to just improve your turnout. Tweed jacket, brown gloves, light trousers (not jods) brown gloves, show cane. If you are wearing a hard hat then blue velvet.

And for gods sake lead on the other side :D
 
TelH said:
Depends how seriously you want to take showing...if you want to get into it seriously (please don't be offended here :o ) you need a complete change to what you are wearing :o Black and white have no place in the show ring :o Navy hat with flesh coloured harness, hair tied up properly. Shirt (not white), tie (tied properly), tweed jacket, brown gloves, trousers (not jodhpurs) light coloured because your horse has dark legs. Brown showing cane. Lead from the other side, the judge wants to see the horse not you. Horse's tail should be pulled not plaited, when plaiting mane use dark thread. Plain bridle (without the flash bit on the noseband), lose the gag :)
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All of this :)

Congratulations on doing well :)
 
Id still show him in a proper hunter style bridle, not an inhand.

eBay is good for second hand stuff cheaply, you dont need to buy new.

Get someone to tie your tie for you properly then when you take it off only loosen it and pull it over your head ratehr that undoing it, if you cant tie one yourself.

And a length of plaiting thread or thin elastic for your number is much nicer than that hideous plastic stuff they hand out.
 
EsSea said:
And a normal snaffle or double or pelham with no rubbers would be more correct
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NOT a pelham or a double for in hand.

Nah said:
re tie - I don't know XD mother did it for me! I can't do ties :( something else I hope to learn, haha! I could do them when I was 5, but somehow forgot. My top button is done up :O
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for heaven's sake, what sort of school did you go to :eek:

[youtube]mBiP5kNTbMs[/youtube]

if your top button is done up, there's something very wrong with your shirt ;)


re things that I need to spend money on - I will try my best, but my funds are limited!
...
I refuse to take those rubbers off! I spent ages getting them on D: but I could probably find a different bit.
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Hence why I didn't recommend an in hand bridle, full in hand gear (trousers etc). You can wash a white shirt with a yellow cloth to make it showing yellow colour. You can get flash tabs removed from nosebands by saddlers which shouldn't be expensive.

As for the rein stops, if you really won't take the things off, you can get cheap reins for around a tenner. A worthwhile investment as spares without stops on for showing, and not a great cost at some point over the next year.


eta - showing is expensive. It's the only discipline where you can buy your way to the top. Mostly in feed bills, though ;) *ducks and runs away*
 
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I'm kinda wishing I hadn't asked :P this is starting to sound very very expensive!!

Rockysmum - leading from the other side was something the judges picked up on. I've not done it for 10 years and I had no pointers before I went in :P Ned has also never ever been in a in-hand show in his life. It was literally a "Oh my I can't jump! What else could I do?" as I was tacking him up XD

I should also point out that my first was default, I was the only one who entered, haha!
 
Can you manage a small jump. If so I would go for the ridden classes like Riding Club horse, usually only one small jump.

Or what about the family horse, he looks as though he is the right type.
 
Ok here goes!! Complete overhaul needed for In hand classes!!

Lose the white shirt - far too stark, go for a nice lemon, that would go with the tie! The tie!! OMG where do I start??! Oh yes - TIE IT PROPERLY AND DO IT UP!! As a judge I would have put you down the line for that.

Your jacket is fine for local, but if you could get hold of a nice, dark green tweed, this would look wonderful!

Get shot of the jods - white is for showjumpers not showing - and get a nice pair of beige trousers - pick them up in matalan or new look for about a tenner, Jods in In hand classes look out of place. A pair of sturdy jodphur boots or walking boots that are comfy and you can run in would be perfect.

The white gloves need to go too - brown is correct.

Your hat is fine, although if you could get a navy, velvet one with a flesh strap - that would be the icing on your turnout cake!! And make sure you have a hairnet.

Use black cotton or elastic to tie your number on and trim around the edges to make it into an oval shape.

Now horsey...

Get a better bridle - the flash strap looks untidy and the buckles are not much better - you can get a cheapie hunter cavesson bridle from ebay for about £20 - I have some of these and they are not bad for local stuff!

Those bit rings MUST GO!!! Again as a judge I would have marked you down, sorry.

Learn to sew your plaits if possible - or use the correct colour bands, not white in a black mane!

Walk on the left hand side of your horse and enter the ring and turn left!! - that way the judge has a full view of your horse!

Good luck and enjoy yourselves!!
 
JFTD said:
eta - showing is expensive. It's the only discipline where you can buy your way to the top. Mostly in feed bills, though ;) *ducks and runs away*
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I was going to put that he could do with a bit more condition.

But after the arguments on here over the last few days I daren't :D :D
 
rockysmum said:
Can you manage a small jump. If so I would go for the ridden classes like Riding Club horse, usually only one small jump.

Or what about the family horse, he looks as though he is the right type.
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I probably could manage it, but it would not be graceful and I certainly wouldn't win any prizes :P

I'd prefer not to do a ridden class, as he gets so wound up, having me leading him seems to be the only thing that keeps him calm. I was actually shocked at how well he lead :O
 
How come not a double or a pelham inhand? I'll admit that as far as inhand goes i'v not done it lol, i'v only ever done it as the confo part at county level and i guess the double is allready there haha :)
 
OK, lets divvy this up into things that cost money and things that don't! I appreciate that to do everything might be a bit pricy!

So things to do straight off for free :D:

Practise plaiting and make sure his mane is properly plaited (preferably with thread but black bands will be fine at local level)

Either get someone to help you pull his tail or teach you to plait it. Technically for showing a pulled tail is correct but again, at local level you'll get away with a plait.

Do your top button up, get your tie tied properly and plait your pony tail or put your hair in a hairnet and a bun.

Get on the right side of the horse :D

Some relatively cheap things you could do:

Get some dark gloves (even thin wool pimple palms in black from the pound shop will be a good start)

Get some dark thick elastic to tie your number on with so you don't have to use the string the show give you.

In an in-hand class trousers are more appropriate than jods - look on ebay or local charity shops for a cream pair of trousers (technically you should wear cream as Ned's legs are dark). Team the trousers with dark shoes / boots - you can just use the jod boots you usually ride in if they're black, any flat black or brown shoes or boots (provided they're under your trousers you wont see much of them) - don't forget to clean them.

For your bridle - I'd have a look on ebay and buy a cheap plain snaffle as it'll look much neater than the gag - think plain and uncluttered - you're aiming to show off his pretty face!

If you're on a budget the one thing I would try and do (but not essential) would be to try and find (beg, borrow, buy from ebay) a new noseband - preferable a plain flat noseband with no tab for a flash.

Finally - a velvet hat cover would be better, I got a black one off ebay for about £4 so you might find one. If not, just straighten the one you have!

If you're really going to push the boat out:

Technically you should be in a navy or tweed jacket, have brown leather gloves, a navy velvet hat with flesh coloured harness, a brown show care and Ned would have a plain bridle with no bling.

However, as you're doing local level personally I don't think you need to go crazy - small changes will make a big difference and the main thing is to smile and have fun!
 
rockysmum said:
I was going to put that he could do with a bit more condition.

But after the arguments on here over the last few days I daren't :D :D
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:D:D What were you thinking?

I think he needs more muscle on his neck and quarters and to tone up elsewhere, so would accept "more condition" in the sense of muscle, but if you mean fat I will hunt you down and force feed you burgers :D:D
 
To give you an idea on bridles - I bought this from ebay for £20 ish and oiled it like mad - this is my girl at a large show in 2010 just before she was retired, excuse me being a bit tubby!! But gives you an idea!! It doesn't have to be expensive - and I only paid £200 for the pony too!!

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JFTD said:
:D:D What were you thinking?

I think he needs more muscle on his neck and quarters and to tone up elsewhere, so would accept "more condition" in the sense of muscle, but if you mean fat I will hunt you down and force feed you burgers :D:D
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LMFAO!!!!! You can force feed me some burgers if you want - I am starving!!
 
JFTD said:
:D:D What were you thinking?

I think he needs more muscle on his neck and quarters and to tone up elsewhere, so would accept "more condition" in the sense of muscle, but if you mean fat I will hunt you down and force feed you burgers :D:D
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No need to, I already have the fat, unfortunately it is fat not condition. :D

Feel free as long as they are veggie burgers and not cooked on the same griddle as the dead animal ones (always happens at shows :eek::eek: )

But yes I did mean more muscle, its only the M&Ms which suit fat :p :p
 
I'm going to try and get him super fit soon :D I can't really go faster than a walk at the moment, as I have to walk out with my mum if I want to get out. I'm going to see if he'll follow her on a bike and if so, plenty of work ahead of us ^^

Thanks for all the advice guys :) I really do appreciate it! I know I won't be able to get much of it before the next show, but I will try my hardest :P

And my top button is done up!!!
 
maisie06 said:
LMFAO!!!!! You can force feed me some burgers if you want - I am starving!!
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You'd be lucky. If I get up to cook anything tonight, I'm having it :D also starving, but very, very lazy ;)

rockysmum said:
No need to, I already have the fat, unfortunately it is fat not condition. :D

Feel free as long as they are veggie burgers and not cooked on the same griddle as the dead animal ones (always happens at shows :eek::eek: )

But yes I did mean more muscle, its only the M&Ms which suit fat :p :p
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Hehe, me too :o TBH, you'd be lucky if I'd bothered to cook them at all. I am not known for my culinary skill :cool:

Should I buy Fergie a fat suit for in hand classes, then? :D

horsey shaped one of these?

images
 
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