Working/Show Hunter.. help!!

T

telfs

Active Member
Joined
22 July 2012
Messages
45
Visit site
My first love when it comes to riding is showing classes and working and show hunters.

I'm looking into buying a new youngster and I've found one that I think is perfect in every way apart from one.. I really don't want to buy him to only find out he can't do the job I'm wanting him to.

He's rising 3 and is ID cross appaloosa and his tail is a mess. I've never had any experience of showing appaloosa type horses before so I need some help.

His tail is the shortest and thinnest one I've ever seen and I know it's a well known breed characteristic but I don't know how it would affect him when being shown.

He's pretty good conformation wise but I was wondering, would he get marked down on his tail if I tried to show him?

Thanks! :)
 
Depends how bad it is?

If it's just a bit sparse at the ends, and needs a bit of volume. I'd consider a tail extension maybe?

I've been told that judges look for the tail to suit the confirmation if that makes sense? In that, the length and fullness needs to be thought about in comparason to legs and such?

Not much help sorry! :/
 
Currently it looks like a foals tail so it's pretty bad!

And because he looks like an ID build wise with spots the tail really doesn't match.

I'm pretty gutted as I love him and he's perfect in every way but I can't help wonder if I'd regret getting him if it meant I couldn't show him :(
 
IMO it depends on the level of showing you want to do.
There would be nothing at all to stop you entering local shows. If the horse jumps well he could do very well in WH, although tbh, I would expect his spots to be a greater hindrance than his tail. Unfortunately it is still the case that most judges don't like loud-cloured horses except in their breed/colour classes. If he is registerable you could show him in Appaloosa WH classes.
 
I may be corrected by someone, but I've never seen an Appaloosa with a good tail. They've always been short, thin & untidy, seems like part of their breeding. Also you may well find that many judges expect a hunter to be one colour so that may count against you.
 
False plaits and tail extensions are purchasable, google it and a few companies will come up.

Locally you will be fine with a non solid coloured horse, but at county level there are very few coloured horses in flat classes. We have seen one in the MW classes we did over a 3 year period in the south and midlands areas.

Before registering him and spending a small fortune it would be worth having him looked at by an experienced show horse producer to gain an insight into what he can or cannot achieve.

Good luck with whatever you do with him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top