what do you show a NF in?

BSJAlove

BSJAlove

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ive got my pony's first show coming up. its just an inhand M&M then some fun little classes like 'horse the judge would most like to take home'

however, as someone who has not done much showing. what would he and i have to wear?
 
Tweed.

Flat, plain cavesson/double bridle.

Pelham or snaffle (or weymouth for double)

Velvet hat.

So on and so forth.

Sorry, I have just re-read. I was on about ridden, not inhand. Apologies.
 
Well if he's less than 2 then he needs to be in an in-hand halter- this can be white or leather. I prefer leather as it's more tidy. If he's 2 or more this needs to be in a snaffle bridle. Most show in a show bridle but my NF has a wide nose and they look stupid on him so I use a hunter bridle but with a stitched pattern into the brow and noseband. I use a newmarket chain (as small ringed as I can get away with) and leather lead the same colour as the bridle. Hope this helps.
 
For you, tweed jacket with shirt and tie, trousers to contrast with his legs (so light colour if he has dark legs, and dark if he has light), and smart dark footwear you can run in on potentially slippery grass! (So possibly not joddy boots with zero grip). You can wear jods if you like, but I always think people look smarter dressed to show in hand, rather than dressed as if they just forgot to get on the horse :) Only local though, so really doesn't matter too much if you choose jods/breeches etc as you would for ridden.

Plus hat and gloves. A show cane is handy but not essential, but if he is a youngster it can be useful to have it with you.

He as others have said, either white rope halter or in hand bridle, or just a simple snaffle bridle but ideally with a linkage and leather lead rein rather than just the reins over his head. Don't quote me but I'm not all that sure it is essential to have them bitted when they're over 2 as shadowboy said - I've certainly dealt with well over 2 year olds in rope halters still (broodmares for example). I thought the bitting rule was for colts/stallys to go along with the licsencing (sp) rules about what age they can be in the show ring without bits or paperwork.

eta - that said do check the schedule as they might have their own rules about what they do and don't want bitted on their showground, which wouldn't neccessarily match individual breed society rules
 
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My appologies MJ- I forgot to mention Mares mares with foal at foot can continue with a white halter- I however, have never been in a class where geldings over 2 have continued to be in whate halters (welshies do) I'm not an expert though! The NF website allows over 2's in halters from what I could understnad but I just havent seen any- so I just went from my own experiences- but i've only been shoing NF since 2008 so have a lot to learn myself!
 
I think it starts to become personal preference TBH - watching NF classes I don't remember seeing that many geldings out of youngstock classes not in bridles, but then you do see all sorts in the big classes of just geldings over 4 and mares over 4 as it's just people doing the only in hand class they're eligible for - as opposed to broodmares/yeld mares/stallys; and just showing the geldings under saddle. (Not sure that sentence made sense, I know what I'm trying to say - not sure if it said it!)

I also have an immense amount to learn and only a v small brain - reluctant to push out important pin numbers and things for any more showing info ;) lol
 
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