DD would love to do some shows with our cob next year but I'm clueless. Help please.

[dooit]

We got our lovely 4 year old Welsh section D, Leo, a couple of months ago. He was fairly neglected and barely backed when we got him. Since then he's come on in leaps and bounds. He filling out lovely (he wasn't thin but he's lovely and chunky and getting muscly now) and is such a sweet boy. He has a huge walk and stunning trot and a very wobbly canter to date but bearing in mind he was only backed a few weeks ago we are more than pleased with him.

I've never competed in any discipline and am a happy hacker at heart. DD1(14) is more competitive and would love to enter a few local shows next year with him. He's a very steady neddy but smart with it so I'm pretty sure he do well if only we knew what we were doing.

This is where we come unstuck. I wouldn't even know which classes to enter him in. He does have quite bad sweet-itch in spite of our best efforts. I doubt very much if he will have enough mane or tail to do native classes next summer so how about cob classes? We hogged him when he first arrived so we could get to the root of his sweet-itch and he looked stunning (to me).

Advice needed here please, Would we look foolish showing a 15.1 (or 15.2 if he grows before next summer) sec D in cob classes?

What preparation would we need to do between now and then? What would he be expected to do in his show? What would the turn out be for him and DD??

Any advice very gratefully received my me, DD and Leo. Ta.

No cob lovers then?

I've tried to get on to Hamlets House, a native website but can read any posts. Not sure why so I'll keep trying.

No advice, I had a pony many years ago who spent his life caked in mud so I never even contempated showing, we did the occasional gymkhana! I can recommend a great fancy dress idea for a piebald cob though - with the addition of a pink rubber glove you can turn them into a cow!

Are there any small local shows near you that do a tack & turnout class? That's usually a good relaxed way to get into showing and get the experience (for you, DD and your lovely cob!).

Dd1 & I do a bit of showing but have New Forests & a Fell so not sure about Welsh D's. Certainly test the water with small local shows,although the judging can be a bit hit and miss sometimes!

I was going to suggest Hamlets House . Some of the posts you can only read after you have made 10 posts yourself. They are a very friendly bunch on there and always willing to help.

More advice on showing.

Thanks chaps.

Snoris, that's a brill link. I'll have a god look at it tomorrow with DD and see what she thinks.

I'm really quite excited for them both. I've no desire what-so-ever to be in the limelight myself, just the thought of it makes me shudder but I'm sure DD and Leo will have a blast.

I'll put some up to date pics on my profile when I remember to take some. Just looking at the current ones of him on there make me realise just how much he's changed in the short time we've had him. He looks a real baby on them and oh so grown up in RL now.

Hi Dooit - I've got a heavyweight show cob which I've shown since he was a 4yo and have hunted him every year as well.

I'd suggest you start off by going to a few shows on foot in the Spring and seeing what sort of classes suit you.

Obviously to do cob classes you'd need to build up condition but not fat, hog him out and work on his lightness in the hand (so many cobs can get on the forehand).

15.1 is the height limit for cobs if you are going to affiliate but there are also maxi-cobs classes for over height ones (which I don't really approve of!).

Have a look at your local riding club shows to start with if he is a youngster as you don't want to overface him early on.

If good enough to affiliate join the Show horse association and you'll get more opportunities to compete in novice classes at the better shows.

We've just clipped my boy out completely over the weekend and will hunt him about 6 times until January with another full clip out on Christmas eve. We won't clip him again (ruins their coats) but will keep him neat and we hog about once every 3 weeks or before a show.

We love showing (DD is 5 1/2 and has a Sec A lead rein and a 3yo Sec A she is just backing to be a novice next season) so just aak if you've any questions!

Is it only show classes you are interested in? There would be a range of other stuff - like Working Hunter that would be fun too.

But then I'm biased cos personally I find pure showing to be a bit like watching paint dry...

Hi, Dooit, People keep telling me we should be showing our cob, but I'm like you and don't know anything about it. Our vet likes him very much and thinks he is 'a lovely example of a cob' but keeps asking us when we are going to hog him ("You'll add £500 to his value) so it seems you've done the right thing .

Dooit - the chestnut in the picture is a handsome chap but I suggest he'll never make a "cob" - far too long in the leg. Hopefully you'll be able to do Welsh classes with him or perhaps you could jump him in working hunter?

Butkin, could I hijack for a mo? (sorry Dooit) Ours is more of a gypsy cob type, is the height limit the same for them too? I can see him exceeding 15.1 easily as he will keep growing! Also, I assume we'd have to keep him in full mane and feather if we wanted to show him? (and teach him some manners, he's in my bad books atm ).

Look for Mountain and Moorland classes for your Sec D. Cob classes are for hogged, no feathers kind of horses and usually under 15.1hh from what I can remember. Could try best turned out, family horse, best condition. Just send off for some schedules and see what classes may suit.

Pixel I think you can take your 'gypsy cob' in cob classes if they count 'traditional' cobs as well. Some shows put them all in together and others have 2 seperate classes. My coloured cob was hogged and defeathered but I vaguely remember competing against traditionals but that might have been in the coloured classes.

That said I could be completely wrong as I sold my cob 5 years ago.

why not try family pony/best rider classes to start with, -tend to be at smaller loca\l shows, whilst he gets used to the atmosphere before venturing to the bigger shows which are more likely to have breed classes

how are you treating the sweetitch? you're likely to find the tail is more of a problem to look good, assuming you can hog the mane

Not sure exactly what your DD wants to do - is it just showing? Local shows will have working hunter classes, small jumping classes, some classes like best rider, tack and turnout, faimly horse/pony. Also you can go to hunter trials, the ones I have been to were like mini XC and great fun. I am so !

Found a schedule which may give you some idea of what classes may possibly be available for your daughter to do.

www.freewebs.com/rdacharityshow/wintershow2008.htm

Dooit, I went to a local show on foot in the summer (first one for about 20 yrs!) just to be nosey. They had classes for prettiest mare and most handsome gelding, which could be right up Leo's street .
In the distant past we used to go in 'the horse the judge would most like to take home' but I don't know if they still do that sort of thing. It was good fun and not too 'serious' for us showing novices.

He's lovely dooit ! DD (6 and horse mad!) has just seen him and is in love !

Pixel, what you are describing is a traditional cob with full mane and feathers. They have their own classes at some shows and you should consider doing coloured classes with him because this is where you'll be most at home.

Cob classes (certainly at affiliated shows) are for 15.1 or less (I know they have maxi cob classes as well now) and are divided into heavyweight and lightweight - these are categorised by the amount of bone the horse has. They will always be hogged, defeathered and their tails banged (roughily to just below the hock).

You ride them at walk, trot, canter (ideally on both reins) and gallop (or at least show an extension).

The judge should then ride them but at local shows you may have to do a short individual show (like for hacks).

Coloured horses - such as So Smart - can do very well in cob classes but you'd need to decide if you are going to cut his flowing locks!

Thanks Butkin, that settles it then, no way am I cutting his tail that short. It is absolutely beautiful, thick and shiny with lots of lovely auburn and blonde streaks. It would cost me a fortune to have my hair that colour . I must admit I was hoping to start off with some in-hand classes until I feel a bit braver. Also we've only got a Wintec and I'm not sure if that's acceptable.
Dooit, you should keep an eye open at your feed merchant or tack shop as there will still be shows going on this time of year. They often have free magazines that advertise local stuff. Just the other day I saw a show that said 'hairy horses welcome' which sounded like a nice relaxed event! If you and dd could pop along to a couple you could make some notes on what to wear etc and see what sort of classes you would like to aim for next summer. If there were any close by you could even take Leo for a look so he could get used to the hustle and bustle.

At local level you can try the Yellow free ads for details of shows. In the East we have a great website - horsedates.co.uk - which has all the shows and you can link to schedules. Obviously moving into a quiet time of year though - although lots of shows as this time of year are happy to take hairies!