PREPARING FOR SHOWING CLASSES

Guideline and Showing Tips:

Packing for Show:

Have a grooming kit just for shows.

Include the following: Cotton, elastic for numbers. Cotton for plaiting. Needles. Hairbrush, comb. Gloves. Safety pins. Scissors. Hairspray. Dusters, rags etc. Sponges. Hairgrips.

Preparing Pony for Show:

FEET CARE: Either the night before or in the morning if your pony is out wash and clean hooves and rub with fine sandpaper then put several coats of hoof oil on. Add more at show. When dry for really shiny hooves spay some oil on just before entering ring.

BODY CARE: Use human colour enharncer shampoo. Use a kitchen fork for quarter marks.

Use the blade of scissors to smooth the chestnuts, cover with a little black and condition with baby oil when dry.

Clip white face markings for a more definite facial features. Clip white markings on legs. Don't cut too large a bridle path.

Plait mane to hide or enhance your ponies good/bad points.

PULLING MANES: Don't wash mane before pulling. Thin mane at the same time. Remember that everytime you take plaits out especially if you use rubberbands you will loose some of the mane so take this into consideration when pulling the mane. Don't get scissor happy.

TRIMMING: Trim with small clippers if possible. Follow the line of the hair. Trim the ears a little while before the show as some ponies don't suit a close trim making their ears look too big. Trim round the chestnuts.

(A little oil or spray can be added to the mane and tail to add shine. But remember nothing can replace natural shine which comes from good feeding and a happy horse)

TACK: Clean show tack in advance and cover velvet browbands to keep clean. Keep a spare pair of reins, stirrups, girth and headcollar and lead rein in lorry.

EXTRAS: Take a feed and spare haynet, bucket and a container of water. Don't forget schedule, passports, directions, numbers and money.

The Turnout Class

is very much a traditional event where the complete picture of horse, rider, saddlery and clothing is judged. There is a long accepted standard as to what is traditional and expected as correct Turnout.

The horse is judged as in a hack class, the rider as in a rider class, with the horse and rider fastidiously groomed, clothing and saddlery correct, clean and well fitted, with all presenting an overall pleasing picture. In judging Turnout Classes, points are usually allotted for the following categories:

 Conformation and Soundness

 Manners and Paces

 Riding Ability

 Costume of Rider

 Saddlery

 Overall General Appearance of Horse and Rider At major shows, (ie Royals etc) the Turnout Classes are usually judged by more than one Judge, with each officiating in one or a combination of the above categories.

In recent times, points of view may differ regarding some minor Costume and Saddlery deviations from tradition. This depends on the Judge’s personal opinion of what he/she considers is acceptable, without the competitor being penalized. However, both Judge and competitor should keep in mind the comfort of the horse and rider, along with tradition, when considering Turnout Classes.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

 The horse should be well presented as for a Hack class, well conditioned, clean and well groomed. A clipped coat is not recommended.

 The mane and forelock should be neatly plaited and stitched and the mane plaits an uneven number. The tail should be either pulled or plaited. (SEE PONY CLUB PLAITING GUIDE)

 The horse’s makeup should be minimal; quarter marks such as checks or sharks teeth are NOT to be applied in Turnout events.

 False tails are optional - some Judges allow them and some do not.

 As well as presenting an overall correct, tidy and well groomed picture, the horse and rider should suit each other in relation to size and display a unified picture when in motion. In summing up, the judging of and competing in Turnout Classes requires considerable expertise as there are many fine points to be considered. The smallest of detail can win or lose a Turnout Class, however, the challenge of presenting a traditionally correct horse and rider combination in todays modern world makes the Turnout Class a prestigious and interesting event.

SADDLERY FOR TURNOUT

 All saddlery must be clean, well cared for and in good condition.

 The saddle - quality supple leather, hacking or dressage style. All “D”s and studs covered. The stirrup leathers and girth should match the colour of the saddle.

 It must be a suitable size for the rider and fit the horse, sitting level and close to the horse whilst allowing the centre channel to be clear with no pressure over the horse’s wither. The fit should be assessed with the rider mounted.

 Traditionally the turnout saddle should have three short girth points, however, in recent times, long points with a two buckle girth may be acceptable to some Judges.

 The saddle should be secured with a Fitzwilliam girth, buckling evenly on both sides, with sufficient holes to allow the girth to be loosened or tightened.

 Stirrup leathers must be supple with the end of the leather passing through the saddle flap keeper without extending beyond the saddle flap.

 The stirrup irons should be stainless steel, English style, with the stirrup bars roughened (no rubber treads). 36

 A sheepskin saddle cloth (numnah) is optional and should match the colour and shape of the saddle (brown or black), being unobtrusive as possible.

 The bridle - quality plain supple leather, finely stitched and matching the colour of the saddle. The width of the bridle straps may vary to suit the horse’s head, however, the fit must be correct. The buckles attaching the head piece should be level with each other, sitting comfortably around or just above the horse’s eye. All connections to the bits should be by stud billets.

 The bit, preferably a bit and bradoon, should fit the horse’s mouth with the curb chain having adequate adjustment sitting flat in a block leather cover with lip strap.

 It is generally considered that the bridle should be of flat leather, however in Junior Turnout Classes a raised brow and nose band may be acceptable on a pony. Coloured or metal brow bands are not acceptable.

#Showing #horse #pony #turnout