Calling Butkin (and other show people). Your expertise is required...

[Callisto]

Butkin - you always give really good advice about showing, and I have a feeling that I may need to kit DD and pony out properly at some point as she is really keen to have another go at lead rein showing. Pony is registered Section A and I was wondering if you could give me a run down of correct attire for DD and pony and also, correct trimming for an M&M?

We currently use a fulmer with flash and grass reins and a velvet covered browband, and pony wore a black numnah and girth (it is one of those Wintec jobbies) on Monday. He has a bridle piece cut out of his mane, but no trimming apart from that. DD has a blue hacking jacket (I know, it is the wrong colour but it is gorgeous), a black silk (she has a skull cap rather than hat) and black joddie boots. She wore her pony club tie with a white shirt and cream jods and her half chaps. I really want to avoid buying lots of kit this year, but next year she can maybe show first ridden so will probably aim to get everything by then, slowly building up through the year. I will have to get her a different coloured jacket for cubbing/hunting anyway though.

Thanks!

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.

Thanks everyone - and yes! All welcome on this thread.

DD's jacket is navy tweed with a velvet collar. I seem to recall Butkin saying it is not the correct colour for M&M classes, though I could be wrong. LowReg - you will be fine showing in coloured classes I would imagine.

DD actually rides in a hairnet as she finds it more comfortable than having her hair tied back. Is this ok? The half chaps were a mistake, but I only remembered after we were in the ring. She also wears a navy back protector.

Pony also has a suede pad that is fairly straight cut and could be worn without a numnah if necessary - getting numnahs to fit tiny saddles is really difficult. Standard pony size is way too big.

Oh, and I've never heard of (or seen) a Welsh plait. Is this something that only Welsh ponies are allowed? Sounds brilliant.

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.

Thanks again for all of the information. I think this year we will just do low level lead rein showing (I really can't bring myself to wear one of those tweedy outfits with a hat). The class she entered at Mondays show was pony club pony and had a little handy pony style course. DD was placed 5th out of eight and really wants to show again (I'm far more into SJ/eventing - Monday was my first time showing too ). If she is still keen to show next year she can enter first ridden classes and I can watch from the sidelines in my wellies and scruffy hair . The show this weekend has a couple of showing classes she can enter - lead rein working hunter and lead rein M&M.

Pony has two saddles - a brown, quite forward cut GP and a brown suede pad which is straight cut. I think that the pad is probably the way forward and it can be worn without a numnah. I can put a plain browband on, need to dig out a cavesson without the flash attachment. I suppose I could do with a showing bridle for him too, then he can go in an eggbut snaffle rather than his fulmer and I won't be constantly swapping bridle parts.

DD's jacket is navy tweed without a pattern. I would say it is more of a French navy than a show jacket navy. I can plait her hair - i agree that the hairnet makes her seem very grown up. I hadn't even considered that the percieved age of the child could get you marked down.