show report+opinions please

[miniman]

Well miniman has finally grown up and decided that he should behave himself-so took him to his first show ridden on sunday. Unfortunately it bucketed down- so didnt need to bother bathing him on saturday.

(there is a complex story behind miniman aka hero, basically i was given the choice of either i take him or the meat man does- so i ended up with my beautiful ponio- whos daddy is the top show pony oakley roaming free)

We came 3rd in the working hunters
2nd in show hunters- we were first but then judge said he needed more weight on him-its just coming out of winter- course he doesnt want to be fat!!!!!!!!! thats the bad thing about the showing world
3rd in condition

so overall a good day. I know I need a small jockey to take him now- I was test riding him to see what he would do.








so thats my miniman all grown up- he is 7 now so about time.

any comments please about his weight- and if he needs more will be greatly appreciated or just about hero really- as i think he has turned into a fab little pony- but im rather biased.

enjoy

sarah

[silversnaffles]

1st of all....WELL DONE!! That's brilliant
and you don't like that big on him, just a little tall. I think he looks in great condition, the last thing you want is too much weight at this time of year!
I didn't know judges would 'approve' of people to ride in treeless saddles in classes, I've never seen it before.
Only comment I'd make is that his head is a bit upright and he is a bit developed under his neck and maybe could do with some work on bringing the poll and head down to develop topline.
He makes a lovely shape over the fence, he obv thinks it's badminton so better put in a nice big jump!
He's a credit to you, mine are much older and wouldn't behave as well as him, esp when it's raining, they'd say 'no, back to the box!'
x x x

[miniman]

thankyou silversnaffles. He generally does work lower and rounder than this- this is his 'im far too excited mummy' head carriage, and the photographer never got any of us once we had settled a bit more-typical that.

His jumping is something im thrilled about- he has a fab 'pop' in him- has been jumping 3ft recently, but yes he does over jump the small ones-but there was a time when he would put two or three stops in at a new fence so to have him go clear in the workers was a bonus.

I didnt care if the judges commented on the treeless really- and no-one said anything so at local level i dont think they minded. Its the only saddle that would fit both of us. I could probably do with one of the more conventional treelesses on the market that look more 'normal' but money doesnt grow on trees-shame really.

i now look forward to getting him out and about more and possibly qualifying him for some P(UK) in hand classes.

[maislow]

I wouldn't have said he needed more weight, thats the downside of showing, they like them fat which isn't healthy esp for ponies

[cubic]

I don't think he needs any more weight. He could do with some more muscle, particularly over the top of his neck, as he looks like he's still developing a topline at the moment. I'd take 2-3 ins off his tail to balence him up a bit and wearing short boots would imrove the picture 100%

When I'm judging it doesn't bother me whether people are in treeless saddles or treed ones. The main disadvantage of one like yours is that it covers up a lot of the pony, making his front look shorter than it actually is, and making him look very short coupled. Some judges will be able to see through it, some won't.

I think he'll make a fabulous working hunter, especially if you can find a plucky little jockey to do some afilliated classes.

[specialsparkle3]

Isn't this thepony I originally said would make a cracking show hunter pony

Agree with Cubic. He needs strapping to bring his neck up, butI don't agree that you can continue to use that saddle, because some judges will be able to see through it.

It is not a judges job to have to imagine what a pony looks like conformationally, a judge must judge what he can see before him so the whole picture of the pony going round the ring is very important This saddle ruins that picture, as it just doesn't give a bad impression, it covers most of the lines of what is essentially a very nice pony. Get yourself a nice little straightish cut saddle with knee rolls ( a working pony show saddle ) a good little jockey, and you will be away. You won't have to mess about in hand at PUK----------------he could be up there in the ribbons ridden

[miniman]

thankyou cubic and SS3. Yep its the same pony- but with quite a bit more work put into him from a riding into a contact viewpoint.

I ride him in the treeless as I wouldnt fit into a treed that would suit him-he would need a 15" and i need a 16.5" (probably) i would get him a conventional treed if I had a definite small jockey- but last time I tried to ride him in a treed saddle he bronched and I have come too far with him for him to revert back to that behaviour. I think he has memories of a bad treed saddle maybe from his original backing, and he is happy with me in his treeless. My plan was to get him out and about this year with me riding him just so that he could settle his mind and then prepare him properly for next year with a small jockey if he settles and seems to enjoy it.

I did have a small jockey for him, but that was when i was in leeds, now I have moved to bradford, and although there are alot of riding schools around here- he is a very different pony compared to a school pony. How old can his jockey be if he is 13hh?

If not then I will give up the whole showing idea and affiliate him jumping- as he has been popping over 3ft lately and jumping very fast clear rounds.

I appreciate that it spoils the overall look, but my plans for ridden only extend to local this year and maybe some larger in hand classes. Im thinking about the ponies education more than the rosettes and hopefully this will pay off in the long run. He is a very contented little man now and I dont want to jeopardise that by putting a small jockey on him before he has settled into the show atmosphere- his mind is easily blown.

[specialsparkle3]

Novice / Open 13 hh ( 133cms ) Show Hunter ponies and workers, can be ridden by a child who has not attained his/her 14th birthday before1st January of the current year

[miniman]

brill, thanks SS3- oh showing guru, knew I could rely on you.

The YOs daughter is one hell of a good rider and would just be able to show him next year or I have an 11 year old in mind that is gutsy, so will def stick with me riding this year and train the partnership for next year complete with more appropriate saddle.

[jackiedo]

Can I just add that I think the in hand pic is not really that flattering, he seems to be behind you. It could be the angle of the photograph, but his head is up as though he is not being led from the shoulder. That can make them shorten their stride and hollow their back. He needs a bit more practice and exposure I think to make him relax. I like him

[ps]

If he is not over 133 cms he could also do novice nursery stakes and open nursery stakes as well as novice and open 13 hands. Jockey not to have attained 12th birthday on Jan 1st of current year for nursery. He looks like a really good nursery stakes stamp. Novice nursery courses are less technical and smaller than any of the other courses for 13 handers and a good starting ground for a worker career. Many of the BSPS areas have summer shows during the next couple of months and they will be sure to have novice nursery and 13 hand classes. Good luck.