Correct dress for handler?

[kofihorse]

Can anyone tell me the correct dress for handler for an in-hand class? The show schedule doesn't specify anything. It's an Arab class and although I realise it's fashionable to wear certain things, I would like to know the "correct" dress so I can make up my mind what would be best. Not that I have a lot of choice in my wardrobe!

Am I right in thinking that, if you are going on to do a ridden class later, it is permissable to show in-hand in your riding gear? Or would that be a real "fox's paw"?

[D owner]

historicalfact.com/~es/horses/showing/index.html

I hope you find your help on the above site, I have found it a good help in the past. Failing that go to theshowring.proboards88.com/ as that is a good site for showing people and far more active than this site regarding showing. all the best.

[specialsparkle3]

Correct wear would be laceup shoes with decent treads you can stay upright on slippy ground, but still run like hell in. ---not trainers. Shirt , tie, lightweight smart hacking jacket, and a felt trilby, straw trilby, or if you may be reared at, Beagler, which I learned from Jo is what they now call an old fashioned Show Riding hat without chin straps!!!! You may wear brown or tan leather gloves, but if you have a leather lead rein and it rains----toooooooo slippy, so I always showed without gloves. and you should carry a leather covered cane. ;D

[specialsparkle3]

Sorry, no breeches, cos no one can run in long boots, and it looks very amateurish ;D

[D owner]

Many people do run in trainers though especially with D's. Comfortable shoes are hard to come by.

[specialsparkle3]

I agree D owner, section C and Ds are often shown by people in trainers, but they don't look good in other classes I used to wear comfy boring lace ups by Ecco or Rohide -----they were boring but looked smart and you could run in them. I would wait for shoe sales to buy them, cos they weren't cheap ;D

[kofihorse]

Thanks for all the help, peeps! I have decided on an outift, dictated by what's in the wardrobe and what isn't in the bank LOL. I have a decent pair of black trousers, a white shirt and a dark brown waistcoat, well polished pair of black lace-ups for my feet and a brown/gold/black tie, so that'll have to do. Khan has 4 whites and is a golden chestnut so think the colours will look OK. I do not have an acceptable hat (I wear an endurance one and nobody has one to lend me that fits!) so wonder if I can wear a scrunchie that matches the tie? With VERY tidy short ponytail? Would gloves look silly (I have brown ones)? Haven't got a showing cane either..............what do you think?

[heidi]

Sounds fine to me! Most Arabs are shown with a schooling whip rather than a show cane, if that's any help!

[kofihorse]

Thanks, heidi! I'm doing groundwork with Khan and he's learning to respond to hand signals/finger pressure so hopefully,he'll show himself well. And now that I've sorted my self out, I can concentrate on what HE looks like.

[specialsparkle3]

That sounds fine if it's warm enough! You could wear a small head scarf tied at the back of your neck if you know what I mean. You really should have something on your head, even at a local show, it would look better, and shows respect for the judge.
At major shows, even the grooms in ridden classes are not allowed in the ring without a hat!! Good luck ;D

[kofihorse]

sparkle - I would wear something on my head if I had anything! Honest! Everyone I know is either showing in the same class or has a smaller head so I can't even borrow anything. The only hats on offer are fleecy,baseball caps or floral wedding hats - not a riding hat, trilby or Aussie one to be had. I even tried a couple of charity shops today as a last resort but nothing doing.

Do you mean a small headscarf tied like a bow around ponytail? You don't mean like the Queen, do you, for heaven's sake? I'd rather not go!! I am having to scrape and gel it for a ponytail as it is, just to be tidy - there is only a tiny little stump

I take your point about respect for the judge - aaarrgghhh............I just feel like staying at home now. And it took soooooo long to wash his stockings, mane and tail and I've still to do the Cowboy Magic thing..........

............give me endurance anyday, where nobody cares what you wear as long as your hat's up to current standard and your horse has a saddle! And I'm gonna get me a FUSCHIA Troxel when I replace the silver one!!

[jor]

just to add please refrain from carrying a schooling whip...it seems to be in fashion to wave these about the horses head to make them stand like giraffes. If you can find something for your head then thats great but dont panic too much if you cant. If id been paying attention I would have offered to send you a hat...bit late now methinks...sorry!
Do have a good time though, dont worry if you arent perfect, just have a wonderful day and remember we want piccies!!!

[kofihorse]

Khan and I haven't found Kelly's chapter on giraffe posing yet..........ROFLMAO. Thanks for the good wishes, Jo,haven't got such a thing as a schooling whip either so no worries there. Have just finished his mane and tail and now wishing I had washed his body, it looked beautiful about two hours ago but dust is apparently seeping from his pores "sigh" I think I'll just pretend he has flown in from the desert specially and there was a sandstorm just before the plane took off. Think they'd believe me???

[specialsparkle3]

;D No---I don't mean like the Queen you wally!! ;D

[kofihorse]

Well, Khan was second!! He was such a good boy, loaded first time there and back. We were pulled in first but put down to second after his individual "show" - entirely due to my inexperience, I'm sure, I couldn't manage to get him to stand square for the judge. We lost out to a son of Psynergy who is very, very similar in looks - judge obviously likes chestnuts with four whites!

So I'm very, very pleased with him, he's such a good boy. Haven't seen the photos yet but will post one when I get it.

But I don't think I want to do it again...............