Working hunter and plaiting...

[exracemad]

Well my last show i was planning to do working hunter was cancelled, so got another in just over a week.

Do i really need to plait? My horse hates having his mane plaited and took over 2 hours last time

Thoroughbreds! lol


I've got a brown tweed with red/yellow in it, a yellowy shirt and stock, cream jods and black boots and chaps (both leather)

Is that ok for me?

Thank you.

 

[zigzag]

You have to plait

 

[exracemad]

Oh dear!

He is so awful, almost had my friend pinned against the wall last time

Although he is better with me, but my plaits don't go to well! lol. He's not in the slightest a vicous horse... Infact the total opposite. Apparently he wasn't like it before he went over to Ireland I think it was..

Oh well, think lots of playing with the mane this week is in order

 

[birchave0]

shirt and tie for working hunter not stock and yes sadly you do have to plait

Plait the night before and put a hood on, that's what I do

 

[saskia295]

Yes, that sounds fine, although you'll need a tie, not stock.

You will have to plait. I know it's tough at the start of the season but the more you do it, the better (and quicker) you will get. I promise!! Good luck!

 

[exracemad]

Hmm... Just looked through my wardrobe and have 4 shirts, all stock ones! Typical.

ok... i guess he'll get better (and me) with plaiting as i do it more often.

 

[wizzi901]

yes to plaiting and ideally with thread

(I know its a pain!). Definately a tie, not stock, nice smart tie pin if poss, long black boots, and dont forget your show cane or similar and gloves.

 

[Kenzo]

At local level showing you don't have to plait for working hunter, but do for ridden hunter.

However most people do, ideally you should go the full stretch to make your horse look as best he can, so if this means plaiting then really you should. You should not get marked down though for not plaiting at local level but again if you and another competitor both did well in your jumping and individual show and it only came down to presentation then this is where you will loose out.

Good luck

 

[exracemad]

ok.. thank you

I'm only going in it for fun and don't expect to win, just want to try something new.

 

[Kenzo]

As long as the main is short and neatly pulled then that will be fine, however don't plait the tail if the main is not plaited, pull it or cheat and use some clippers round the back of the dock, to smarten the tail up.

Make sure all tack is workman like an clean, no fancy brow bands or any colours, no square saddle cloths, make sure your numnar is the same colour as your tack, if using a martingale then please make sure its one that is not too big, too many people use martingales that hang too low or just plonk them on just because its a WH class despite if their horse needs one or not.

Hacking jacket, cream jods, cream shirt and tie, long boots, black or brown gloves (depending on colour of hat/whip/velvet collar on tweed hacking jacket if you have one) hair in net and in a bun if you can, and a velvet had cover on a jockey scull or normal velvet hat, boots are permitted on your horse for the jumping phase, again brown or black.

No change of tack between your jumping and showing apart from removing the horses boots.

One more thing, I know you said your just doing it for fun, but I've come across a lot of people that have said 'oh its our first time and its just a bit of fun' and perhaps have not bothered to make an effort, but if you've got the potential and your horse goes extremely well, don't risk taking any short cuts or be too relaxed in the way you look, because at the end of the day, you and your horse may actually go a hell of a lot better than your rival who may of been at it years and if you look the part, then your a wining team and catch the judges eye straight away.

But yes, most important thing is ...having fun!

 

[conniegirl]

Kenzo never black gloves!

I personaly would not be seen in a workers class with an unplaited horse unless it was an M&M workers class. It looks so showjumpery and just like you havent bothered.

 

[Kenzo]

Nothing wrong with personal preference I know, but there is nothing wrong with black leather gloves if it co-ordinates with your jacket,hat and boots. And at local level a judge should not knock you for not wearing brown ones!

There are various colours of tweed jackets around these days, some which are a dark grey and black tweed for example so you wear what goes with the rest of your outfit.

I was giving guide line advice because at some shows where I have judged there have been odd occasions where people have either not worn gloves or put white/bright yellow ones on.

 

[exracemad]

Thank you very much

 

[YorksG]

You can get away with a running plait in the mane, and a coloured stock is acceptable for adults.