In-hand showing

[Maria1986]

I have recently learnt that I am showing Scampi - a 12.2h Welsh pony this summer!

I work part time for my local RSPCA and the lady who owns the horse I share has taken on one of the branches ponies recently to get him re-homable and to be a friend to her colt. She will be taking her youngster out in the summer to some shows and she is planning on getting Scampi out and about too - I assumed that she would be the one doing it but I seem to have been volunteered!

I have never done anything like this before but I am so excited to be doing something new and horsey related! I have no clue what I have let myself in for though - what should I expect?

Scampi and I have a good relationship and have done lots of bonding while he was still at RSPCA centre, I spent a lot of time grooming him and cuddling him but I have never really asked him to work properly although I know he can do it.

This is Scampi
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh320/7227795/DSCN2044.jpg

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

You will all walk round as a group, the steward will stop you all in one place and ask you to trot round to the back individually, you must be on the outside of the horse so the judge has a clear view, when you get to the back of the group nod to the judge. Then you will be pulled into a line up which is normally in rough order of where they think the placings are, sometimes they will just ask you to come in in an order though!!
The steward will ask you to go forward to the judge, stand the horse where asked making sure he is square and stand to the front of the horse. The judge will probably ask you some questions, also make sure you say hello or good morning/afternoon to the judge...it does you no harm to remember your p's and q's ;)
Then when asked walk away from the judge, turn and trot back in a straight line, dont worry if you are heading straight for the judge..they will move!! trot round to the back of the line up but make sure you walk back to your place, nod at the judge again.
Once everyone has been you will normally be asked to walk round again and then be pulled in for the placings, if the steward or judge asks you to come in make sure you nod to acknowledge that you have seen them.

Some pics for good measure :lol:
Trot round to the back:
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs252.snc1/9931_134406476827_511146827_3053096_4107282_n.jpg
Stood up for the judge
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs272.snc1/9931_134406491827_511146827_3053098_3031999_n.jpg
And individual trot up
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs272.snc1/9931_134406501827_511146827_3053100_2530172_n.jpg

:D

[merlyn26]

find out from the rspca centre if he had any registration papers from the wpcs come with him as without them you will be limited to unregistered m+m classes - you wont be able to do pure breed classes or NPS small breed classes if not registered. but have fun all the same - thats the most important thing to remeber when showing!

btw xena - what show was that at?? - where in the country and who was the judge - it looks suspiciously like shirley jones of the maenan stud??? can you confirm this???

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

It was a local show - Twyning, suppose that would be counted as gloucstershire Have just found the schedule and the judge was Mrs S Jones so yes your right :D

[merlyn26]

awwwwwwwww - bless her - she's the most fabulous lady ever - i have 2 ponies now that she bred! :-)

[Lorraine]

Just to add to what has been said above. When you walk around as a group it is done clockwise around the arena with you on the outside. When horse are presented to the judge some judges like to see them stood square, whilst other judges don't like them to be stood square as this "hides" one set of legs when viewed from the side so take a look at how the judge is asking the horses before you to stand (assuming you aren't presented first) and then do the same. For your individual show when you walk away from the judge you should be on the left of the horse, walk in a straight line and then towards the end veer off to the left and semi-circle round to the right (with you on the outside of the horse as you turn) so that you re-join the line you walked on and trot back. Trot straight towards the judge (they will move out your way) and continue to trot straight as you pass the judge as the judge will step back to their previous position once you have passed them and want to see the horse as it continues to trot straight from behind.

[Maria1986]

Thank you all for your replies. I am so excited already!