New to In Hand M&M Showing, Critique Please!

[lucyj]

Well I've started doing in hand classes with my New Forest as he's not quite ready for working hunters yet. We are not doing particularly well. Comments include "too wide behind" and "trot not big enough" Obviously we suffer a little when there are Big Welsh Cobs with extravagant paces in the class and I am aware a flat halter may be better than a full rope one. I've read the new forest breed societies rules and turn out accordingly, I just wanted some feedback from you chaps! He needs to be fitter, but other than that please can you be as honest as possible with what you think! Thanks!


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[lucyj]

sorry,for some reason the links are not working properly. if you click on the first one on the right hand side it says new photos - just underneath the brown pony in hand is mine, if you click on that it will take you to my album, the latest photos are on page 4.

[seabiscuit]

not sure if I am looking at the right photos, but he looks like a lovely little fellow. I am a showing novice myself and hope to show mine in M&M in hand classes, so I will be interested to hear people's comments. Sorry I can't be of help!

[Native Ponies]

I think your turnout is near enough spot on, youre right about the halter too, flat webbing will look better.

Only thing I would change is your hat. If you want to wear a hard hat use a plain velvet showing hat or beagler. Else you could wear a trilby or cowboy style hat.

As regards to his trot not being 'big enough', a judge will not expect him to have the flash high knee action of a cob but they would expect him to have a free from the shoulder ground-covering trot. Try getting someone to film you trotting him up and see how it looks. A common mistake some people make is to not trot out fast enough, a trot thats too slow may not be showing off his paces well enough.

My sister showing her NF at the breed show:

[lucyj]

i'll invest in a new hat! i'm so not a hat person! your sister looks great! i'm watching a white halter on ebay, the video thing is a good idea - perhaps I'll set up my tripod and trot at different speeds to see when he looks his best! if its too much he looks too wide behind, but not fast enough and he looks naff!

thanks everyone :-)