Sorry to butt in but could I ask what is wrong with a blue hacking jacket? You do mean the tweed type? I am kitting out too and have a blue tweed for our blue and white mare (well dd really) but I am now worried I have slipped up :(

Plain leather brow band for m&m, wouldn't have bothered with the bridle cut for an m&m it's only useful really for plaiteds but it doesn't matter. I'd also use a blue velvet hat colour to go with the tweed (navy is not incorrect btw just not commonly seen!!) you need tweed. The rest sounds ok. Usually would like to see plain snaffle, no flash or grass reins but would also rather see you dd safe :) have fun keep smiling!!

I think it depends on the level you want to do TBH. At riding club level things are quite relaxed IME but we've made the step-up to affiliated/county level this year and it's a lot more serious.

Dpony has a havana saddle and bridle (saddle straight cut to show off shoulder) from Fylde, a brown sheepskin numnah and white girth (he's grey). We also put in the welsh plait behind his ear with a ribbon through it to match DD's tie (this isn't compulsory though). His browband is plain leather but plaited ones seem quite popular too.

DD has a navy velvet hat with flesh coloured straps for showing (a cheap one though) but at local level just wore a navy velvet cover on her skull cap. Her jacket is green tweed with a navy collar and she wears corn jodhpurs and brown boots. No half-chaps but always elastics or jod clips. Her shirt is yellow and she has a matching tie and scrunchie, although I guess your DD is probably at the age for matching bows. She carries a brown stick.

We keep dpony's mane relatively short as DD does plaited workers too but trim whiskers and tidy up ears and jaw. We leave his tail alone except for taking the ends off when it gets a bit long.

Have fun, DD enjoys showing and laughs at the beauty pageant element.

As per Maria Luisa...

A blue jacket wouldn't be right for showing M&Ms unless it is a tweed where blue is just the predominate colour. The colour really depends on the colour of your pony. We go for mainly brown on our palomino (see photo) and a sort of dark creamy colour with big pale blue checks on the grey. They should have plain plastic buttons - or those with foxes heads. Plain blue jackets are for show ponies and no gold buttons.

Definitely nothing black. Numnah, boots, whip etc should all be brown. Like Maria Luisa we use Fylde saddles and bridles. We have had their numnahs and they are great but we've changed to Courtlea now. Girths should be brown or white.

Most keen show people will buy a Charles Owen (or similar hat) for showing which has the velvet as part of the hat with a subtle flesh chin strap. We have blue to go with the grey's outfit and brown to go with the Brown jacket.

If you've got a crash hat that is fine to start with but I'd recommend a blue velvet cover rather than black which a definite no.

For the Palomino which does just M&M FRs we don't trim him at this time of year - he has a chest and tummy clip in the Winter - except we keep his ears and chin neat. We don't do his tail but would do if it was dragging. However we wouldn't bang it - we'd shorten it a bit but keeping it natural.

The bridle should be brown and simple. Just a regular noseband without flash (don't even have a flash attachment on it) and a snaffle bit. In FRs some children use a Wilkie but if your pony goes well enough without it then you'll be better thought of by the judge. We have plaited brown bands now because they are the current fashion but plain ones are fine. Definitely no velvet on an M&M browband!

Cream jods are fine but more yellow ones are popular. Definitely no half chaps and make sure the jods are held down by elastic or clips.

For leading you need to get a leather lead rein which attaches to the noseband - not the bit. Obviously you'll need to kit yourself out as well. Nothing fancy - should be sombre colours with probably a hat which matches the jacket. You can wear shoes or "Dubarry style" boots these days.

Get Horse and Hound - it'll have lots of photos to get you going or look at photographers sites who cover the shows such as Equinational etc they will have dozens of photos for your to copy.

Most of all I'm pleased that your DD is having fun and wants to give it a go!

Showing numnahs usually start at 14 inch saddles. Have a look at these people's website for good ideas:

www.fyldesaddleryltd.co.uk/ You'll find that most county level showing people get most of their gear from them. The numnah descriptions are to fit their different show saddles. The Hayden is a very straight cut saddle for LR showing. We've always gone with Samanthas which are good for showing LR/FR and also for hacking.

Welsh plait is a single plait behind the ear to emphasize the jaw line (nice photo of one in the showing special pages in this month's Pony mag!) . We think it looks cute but definitely not compulsory.

Weird hairstyles with big bows seem to be popular in LR/FR classes. Plaits looped back up and stitched in place, (sort of pretzel-style) and enormous ribbons. DD has shorter hair and wears a hairnet twisted into a bun, does add to the overall impression that she's older than she is though.

When DD was doing LR on her M&M we went for the pretzel style! It is to try and make the children look cute and young. Easy if they have long hair and you plait and pin and add matching ribbons.

Now she is 9 we just have a neat pony tail with matching ribbons. When she starts doing the 122 Show Hunter Pony classes (off the lead) we'll put her hair in a false donut bun with a scrunchy. We've tried before doing the SHP LR and it made her look too grown up!

Callisto what is it your planning on doing (before you fork out for a new saddle lol) flyde are superb for saddles and numners but there are equally good ones about. I show m&ms and a riding horse, my m&m has a one saddle for all (workers, hunting showing etc) my riding horse has two, but my recently purchased saddle will hopefully do everything!! I'm not jumping her ATM as pregnant and shes not very reliable!! Agree with everything said!! I wouldn't do the plait if you've cut a bridle path personally the mane should fall correctly to emphaise the jaw. I have never put one in any of mine and they don't have a bridle path.