Would like to make friends with some showing guru's! :)

[sophiebailey]

Evening all,

My name's Sophie and I brought my first horse (Bailey, 20, Cob x who knows) last March. We did a season of local level in-hand showing last year and won season champ in the in-hand class and reserve in the veteran class.

This year I'd really like to progress onto ridden showing. I'm still a fairly nervous rider (so am bricking it!!) but am desperate to give it a go.

I'm hoping some showing guru's on here will impart their pearls of wisdom and help a newbie to the showing world! If any of you want to add my facebook for a chat that'd be WONDERFUL the link is http://www.facebook.com/sophiebeaver. If you don't have facebook hopefully you can see the pics of my boy in my banner at the bottom!

For those without facebook, I need a guide to showing for dummies!! I know it involves walk, trot & canter on both reins but that's about it.

In terms of show gear I have a brown tweed jacket, creamy jods, black leather boots & a black velvet hat - is this ok?

Bailey currently has a brown leather GP saddle and i'm looking for a hunter bridle to go with it - what numnah/girth should I invest in?

Should I plait his mane? It's currently growing out of a hog but is just starting to fold over so I reckon you could plait it with great patience.

What bits can I use? He's currently ridden in a pee wee however I understand this isn't 'showing legal' so what's close enough to that and accepted?

Any other bits you can think of would be appreciated! Thanks in advance for anyone who can help - I'm very nervous but at the same time just want to get started

Sophie xx

 

[splash30]

A very good showing forum is the show ring forum, you do have to pay a life time fee of £10 that's just to stop any nutters!! And they have fab advice.
Are there any show producers near you as they are normally a very good point of contact to go and have a lesson with then pick their brains.

 

[sophiebailey]

Thanks Splash, how would I go about finding one? Google?

Thankyou

 

[splash30]

A good place to look is the BSHA they have lists of judges which some are producers which are seperated into areas, you might also want to contact the veteran horse society they have a showing series with the final at Olympia

 

[owentm1]

Hi Sophie

You can learn a lot by just watching showing at local shows; what people wear, the horses' way of going etc., which is how we learnt.

There are also lots of showing clinics around at this time of year so its worth looking around to see if there's any being held at your local equestrian centres, clubs etc.

Looking at your lovely boy, I would say he'd look better hogged for showing. It depends how forward cut your saddle is, but would probably be OK for local shows. You need a numnah rather than a saddle pad and definitely brown to match your saddle. Hunter bridle should be fine if it suits him.

Your showing wear sounds OK again for local shows, although black hats are a bit of a "no, no" at higher level and a natural harness looks best. You'll also need a showing cane and don't forget gloves and a hairnet if your hair is long.

I did some research on the internet and found a local showing producer to give us some help to progress further, but suggest you do the basics first at local level to start with. You'll also meet other showing people and pick up some valuable tips that way.

Hope that helps.