What do I need to know about Pony Shows ?

[CMOTdibbler]

Ds's friends mum has invited us to go to a pony show with them and their hairy shetlands - it's a local one with fancy dress, handy pony, teeny tiny jumping etc (as well as bigger pony classes).
She was supposed to tell me all about what DS will need at the weekend, but they were having a bit of a crisis, so only saw her during the childrens riding lesson.

It's in two weeks time, so if I need to order things (and DS is 4, so not easy to get riding stuff in the nearby shops), I really need to do it this week.

So, what do we need ? As leader for me, and rider for him ?

Thanks for any thoughts !

(they do stealthy bit of mane pulling and illicit trimming on the m&m show ponies at our place, even the fells etc. but is fine art to making it look natural)

Obv only talc or chalk on White bits BTW!

Obv only talc or chalk on White bits BTW!

Oops!

Agree with mitchy, used to work on welsh a stud, is definitely more To it than meets the eye. If mane is very uneven you can pull it to level it. There is trimming , and singeing as well, but I wouldn't try it If I was you! The showing definition of 'au natural' is a bit warped!

And don't forget the Show Shine!

and I'm not even going to tell you what the show people do with Ginger!

All good advice above. If doing things with Shetlands then tweed is correct rather than blue (show ponies) with a blue or brown hat cover (if you get keen there are Charles Owen show hats made with blue velvet and discreet chin straps.)

Specialist pony shops (or Ebay) will sell childrens ties which are much smaller and neater than adult ones.

Better to get jods that are slightly yellow in colour, rather than just cream, if buying some and brown joddy clips are necessary together with clean jodphur boots - brown or oxblood if you're taking it seriously.

Brown leather gloves also good if you're going for it. DD (7)shows Section As and Bs and carries a plain leather show cane in in-hand classes and a plain leather (thin as possible) whip in ridden classes. If your DD is on the lead rein though you should just cary the show cane (not a whip).

The show will provide you with tape for your number but if you have some thin black elastic this looks nicer.

Ideally you'd wear a tweed jacket to match your DS with a plain (usually blue) long skirt or cullottes and boots or flat shoes depending on weather and a sensible plain hat.

Of course you may not want to get this all in one go but something to think about for the future - particularly if you see stuff in 2nd hand shops, Ebay etc.

We do pull our ponies manes to look level but should be done carefully so to look natural and never bang their tails (although judicious snipping to keep of the ground is OK).

I'm not sure what sort of saddle you'd have on a Shetland - not easy to find a good fit. We have suede show saddles on ours and a plain bridle with snaffle is the order of the day - definitely no coloured browbands etc.

If you are leading DS then try and purchase, or borrow a leather lein rein - 100 percent better than using a normal lead rope.

Above all have fun and fingers crossed for some nice rosettes (everybody should win one in classes for little ones).

Dd got an undeserved 3rd in the open showing on Sunday because she discovered a sweet paper in her pocket and rustled it at the crucial moment so the pony's head went up and her ears shot forward and she looked alert and interested!

My dd got a third a couple of years ago, when she took her pony in the family pony class at a local show. They had to do a small show and jump a little jump. In the initial line up she was fifth. When it came to her turn, the pony did a nice trot, she asked for canter, got 6 HUGE bucks (back feet over her ears!) went flat out at the jump, jumped the 12 inch pole by about 2ft 6 and skidded to a stop with dd still on but in front of the saddle! My usual jibbering wreck child was laughing fit to bust and the crowd gave her a round of applause! The judge was so impressed she stayed on an laughed that she bumped her up the line 2 places for being brave!
I have never been so mortified in my life!
(pony has never done it before or since!)

I'm also causing confusion here as my original question was about DS and shetlands, and now I've landed myself in the (just the riding school show) ring with my 17hh black cob who is a mess, and DS on a grey Welsh sec A who is a lot tidier as the little girls groom him.

So now I have till Sunday to wash a lot of horse (for the first time), buy some smart clothes for me, and come up with a knights outfit for DS and Dante, and decide if I'm going to dress up too....

Thank you soo much for the advice !

Crikey! Good luck!