Who know about first ridden showing at County level?

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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Hi y'all.

Does anyone here know about first ridden showing. Pref at County level?

A friend of mine has just bought a VERY smart little pony (and i mean VERY smart!) with the intention of her daughter making the step up from lead rein classes. last year she won everything she entered (almost accidentally, she was only doing it for a bit of fun) and so they've got 'the showing bug'...

anyway, new pony is 12.1hh, and very pleasing on the eye.

Now, for first ridden... what tack should he be in? he's bay. i thought he'd be okay in a little smart working hunter saddle but upon seeing how highly competitive/strict/crazy the pony showing world is... i'm worried that she'll be expected to have one of those 'proper' show saddles that are cut SO far back that i don't think her daughter (age 7) would be comfy in to ride.

She can't afford (yet) to have more than one saddle, so whatever she has to show in, she has to ride in on a daily basis... has anyone got experience of the show saddles? are they ride-able in everyday?
or would a smart little WH one be okay?


hmmm.... thoughts muchly appreciated... :)... i know about the WHs but have NO experience of the diddy little show saddles... :o
 
I have a friend who was just placed at HOYS in the m and m first ridden, now, all her ponies have proper show saddles (fylde ones), but I can't see why a working hunter saddle would harm, after all, I struggle to ride in a straight cut show saddle, should imagine she'd need something with a bit of a knee roll. I have a working hunter saddle which has been perfect for me for doing flat ridden show classes as well as show jumping and XC.
Nearlly all the ponies in the class at hoys went in a wilkie snaffle too, which suprised me, should have thought first riddens should be in a plain snaffle. Good luck to her!
 
mil1212 said:
I have a friend who was just placed at HOYS in the m and m first ridden, now, all her ponies have proper show saddles (fylde ones), but I can't see why a working hunter saddle would harm, after all, I struggle to ride in a straight cut show saddle, should imagine she'd need something with a bit of a knee roll. I have a working hunter saddle which has been perfect for me for doing flat ridden show classes as well as show jumping and XC.
Nearlly all the ponies in the class at hoys went in a wilkie snaffle too, which suprised me, should have thought first riddens should be in a plain snaffle. Good luck to her!
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thank you!

do you know if they're ridden 'everyday' in the show saddles? i worry about her, cos she's only really learning to ride. she's literally coming off lead rein. so i think she needs a saddle that's rideable in... :)

but, at the same time, i don't want to recommend a WH saddle to her, for her then to be at a disadvantage at a show... :o
 
clipcloppop said:
thank you!

do you know if they're ridden 'everyday' in the show saddles? i worry about her, cos she's only really learning to ride. she's literally coming off lead rein. so i think she needs a saddle that's rideable in... :)
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Yes, most show ponies are ridden daily in show saddles - jockeys need to develop a good seat to ride in those. If she is really that novicey give her another year or two in LR, as long as she isn't getting too old - putting a child up into FR too soon can really frighten them - they are scary classes - go and watch 20 seven year olds vying to catch the judges attention with little knowledge of ringcraft and safety - quite often whizzing around 5 deep!
 
fleabittengrey said:
Sorry to put a downer on the post... pony is too big!

Height limit for FR is 122cm - 12hh - unless he is an M&M in which case its 128/12.2hh.

So I'd either change plan, or keep that quiet and get him measured in!
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he's section b so m&m?

he's only just 4, and it's thought he might go up to nearer 12.2... but owner thinks that's the top height, so therefore i presume she was thinking about m&m stuff? i hope... i know NOTHING about this world... ;)
 
fleabittengrey said:
Yes, most show ponies are ridden daily in show saddles - jockeys need to develop a good seat to ride in those. If she is really that novicey give her another year or two in LR, as long as she isn't getting too old - putting a child up into FR too soon can really frighten them - they are scary classes - go and watch 20 seven year olds vying to catch the judges attention with little knowledge of ringcraft and safety - quite often whizzing around 5 deep!
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okay, i'll tell my friend. she probably should be getting a show saddle then... eek!
 
Maybe I read this wrong - but did you say the pony has just risen 4? Does that mean it was out showing in FR as a 3 year old last year????

If your friend has a novice child then I think they would be mad to stick them together in a ring at this stage. Do at least a season LR so that they can be 100% confident with the pony before moving on. Not worth the risk.
 
clipcloppop said:
he's section b so m&m?

he's only just 4, and it's thought he might go up to nearer 12.2... but owner thinks that's the top height, so therefore i presume she was thinking about m&m stuff? i hope... i know NOTHING about this world... ;)
Click to expand...

If shown in M&M classes (au naturel!) then he will be fine as the maximum for first riddens is 128cm. However if a plaited then he would be too big.

If jockey is very new, I really would recommend putting her back in LR classes to really learn her trade, get an older, more established FR rider (again if M&M classes its different from plaiteds, rider can be up to 12 yo) to get the pony going well in these classes.

Failing that - go and watch at BSPS heritage champs (weekend coming) or similar to see what you are letting yourself in for - its very, very different to your average riding club with half a dozen kids on very quiet PC ponies!
 
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