Sorry - more questions, showing

[tigger]

I did post the other day about this but all the answers I was wanting were in Eskimo's post but now I can't find that!

So, sorry to be annoying but just to clarify (I'm stressing!) In M&M In-hand if I wear a tweed jacket with shirt and tie, cream trousers and short boots is this ok? Or can I wear jodphurs and long leather boots as I will be hacking there?

For my NF mare, I don't have an in hand bridle, is it acceptable to use my normal plain cavesson bridle - should I have a fancy brow band?

What is actually involved - does the whole class literally just walk and trot in a line in front of the judge and then they are placed?

Sorry for being thick - I'm quite nervous!

[cubic]

You're not thick at all, none of us knows what happens until we learn about it!

tigger said:

So, sorry to be annoying but just to clarify (I'm stressing!) In M&M In-hand if I wear a tweed jacket with shirt and tie, cream trousers and short boots is this ok? Or can I wear jodphurs and long leather boots as I will be hacking there?

Your outfit sounds perfect. Some people may be in jods and long or short boots - it's not as professional, but still acceptable at local level. Do you have a hat?

tigger said:

For my NF mare, I don't have an in hand bridle, is it acceptable to use my normal plain cavesson bridle - should I have a fancy brow band?
[

If she's 4 years old or over (which it sounds like if you're hacking her there) a ridden bridle (or rope halter) is correct. She should always be in a plain leather browband (because she's an m&m)

tigger said:

What is actually involved - does the whole class literally just walk and trot in a line in front of the judge and then they are placed?

You'll walk round on the right rein one behind the other (you should be on the left of the pony), you may have to walk round once or as much as 10 or so times, depending on the judge, how big the ring is and how many there are of you in the class. The steward will stop you in one corner and you line up. In turn you trot around the arena to the back of the line. When everyone has done that you'll all walk round again and be called in to line.

Each person then comes out individually (the steward will tell you when). You should stand your pony up at right angles to the rest of the line, get them standing comfortably (ie no resting legs/crossed legs etc) and stand infront of your pony while the judge looks round her. You'll then be asked to walk away from the judge, turn (to the right) and come directly back at the judge who should move out of the way as you pass. You then go back in to line.

When everyone has been out individually you'll be asked to walk round again and the final placings chosen.

Good luck at the show! Can you watch the class before you to get an idea of what's expeted?

[tigger]

Cubic - thank you so much, you've been SO helpful and I have a much better idea now!

[sallyandruby]

Cubic - i did a m&m class in a browband? is that not right?

[KoLaTo]

sally - all M&M's pure or partbred should be shown in plain browbands unless you are entering show pony or hack or riding pony classes.

[cubic]

sallyandruby said:

Cubic - i did a m&m class in a browband? is that not right?

Like PP says, I'm afraid you should do m&m classes in a plain browband. Everything is kept plain and simple for these classes - understated almost. So no plain bridle, "natural" (within the breed standard) mane, tail and feathers etc, tweed jacket and so on.

[KoLaTo]

Just hijacking a moment...........

Cubic - how have you found Welsh B's shown with full mane, totally unpulled? Only i have had a few comments to trim my little lads mane which is probably 2ft long. It is fine and manageable and hangs one side and all the same length aside from his 'missing' chunk which disappears every summer just in front of his withers.

I am loathe to trim him at all to be honest, i tidy feathers and level tails but his mane is just glorious to look at but i am sure thats why we have been dropped down a couple of places recently as the B's tend to be pulled somewhat and shown as show ponies etc.......

Do you feel there may be prejudice against totally natural at all ?

[cubic]

I'm not a welsh expert, but welsh Bs are the most trimmed of all m&m breeds. Almost all those showing at affiliated level have shortened manes (maybe 8-12inches ish), and tidied tails. There's a description here of what's acceptable (although many push the limits) www.nativeponiesonline.co.uk/welsh/sectionb_showing.html

This is the reining Olympia champion - a section B www.wpcs.uk.com/society/images/prince_web.jpg

I doubt that your pony is unkempt at all, but there has always been a distinction between "natural" and "untouched", and it's finding where along that line to fit. "Natural" to some people could mean unbrushed and unwashed, for others it could mean no additions like make up etc. A long mane can make it more difficult for the judge to see the shape of the neck and jawline from the off side. Shaping the mane correctly can really enhance the shape of the neck. TBH the only reasons I think it would affect your placings at local level would be either that your pony's conformation isn't shown to it's best advantage with a long mane, or the judge things its a poor example of a different breed (because of the long mane). I'm not sure why you'd be dropped (ie placed down after your individual) for having a long mane, the judge would've been able to see that from the moment you walked in!

The thing with welsh Bs is that they are a more riding pony type (it even says it in the breed standard), so lots of them do m&m and hunter pony (or sometimes show pony) classes too, so their manes are short enough to plait, but still on the long side.

Do you go on saddlesoap forum? There are lots of "Welsh" people there who could give you much more thorough answers than me!

[emily99]

Many of the little welshs have their manes thinned and shortened quite a bit to show off their head and neck. Although they're maned are thinned quite a bit to keep them looking 'natural'. Tails can feathered at the end a bit to keep them off the floor too.