First Open Show; Need Help!

[Kismet_Kisstme]

Hi guys,

After lots of groceries and rehabbing, my old man and I are (hopefully) ready to hit some of the fun open shows in May. Since this is my first time taking him out and showing in saddleseat style we're going to do mostly aged halter and showmanship, and if he's doing okay mentally maybe an eq. class. The problem is that we are at an arabian barn and none of us are quite sure what the proper turn-out is for a saddlebred in a halter class (those arab show halters sure are pretty though). So, if anyone can explain to me how exactly he should be turned-out I would love to learn! Thanks in advance!

[Samigator]

He should be in a full bridle for in-hand classes preferably. Put the snaffle rein around their neck or take it off, and use the curb rein to lead the horse. Here is a photo of what I mean. http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/Samigator/Social/Social%202008/Socialstand1.jpg

At the open shows I go to, the judges don't know, so I used an ASB/TWH show halter like this (http://www.nationalbridle.com/product-p/1-0070.htm) on my horses for showmanship as it was a lot easier to maneuver in this than in a curb)

As for you, you want to be in basically a saddle suit without the coat. So, jods (should be tailored a little shorter than riding jods so you can walk in them), boots, shirt, vest, tie, gloves, hat, and all neatly done. I know you can't see the whole picture here, but this is what I usually wear (something like this). Oh- and don't lean on the rail in a showmanship or halter class obviously, lol, but the judge was looking at one of the 30 some other horses in the class and was nowhere near us. I'll see if I can find some better pictures around to demonstrate if you need something better- let me know.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/Samigator/Social/Social%202007/Socialhalter3.jpg

[vlayne]

Take the bradoon off of his full bridle. You show in just a curb bit. I wouldn't braid him, regardless of his division (at an open show, that might get you in trouble).

Hoof blacking/not blacking is up to you. Obviously don't black white hooves. Dark hooves can be blacked, but regardless make sure they are cleaned well. Of course wash and pick his tail.

Wear a nice pair of dress pants and a dressy jacket/top, hard soled boots you can run in and gloves. I personally do not like the look of jods/vest/derby in a halter class, but others do. I have never worn traditional SS garb for showing in hand and have never had a judge mark me down for it.

[Samigator]

Okay Tiffani, just to add a different perspective to what you've recommended, I usually do braid in a ribbon in the mane and I do wear the saddle seat attire just so that we stand out apart from the crowd and recognize that I'm dressing appropriately to the discipline my horse fits in. Most of the horses I show against are stock horses of some variety, and it's nice to show the judge that you know your horse is a different type and dress to suit that type. Just the way I've done it and usually see it done. I do have a friend who shows a morgan in western attire and a western show halter- the judges are always confused because they can't tell what breed the horse is and it presents a conflicting picture.

Most judges in open shows will tell you that you need to dress according to what kind of bridle/halter you have on your horse. You can't wear western attire and show in a full bridle. An arab halter is usually considered western, so you can wear western clothes with that, but if you're showing an ASB in a full bridle or show halter, you need to be wearing the clothes that would be appropriate for that discipline. I have seen people show in a hunt bridle, and they wear breeches, tall boots, coat, helmet, etc. (usually they only do that if their first riding class is like the next class after the halter classes).

For showmanship- most of the judges I've encountered expect you to do something with the feet other than leave them natural. I usually rub black shoe polish on the feet because it isn't as drying as hoof black and wears nicer (doesn't chip off). For halter classes, the grooming expectations are a lot less rigid than in showmanship.

[snowfool]

If you are anywhere in the southeast, you need to wear saddle seat attire such as Samigator described. Vlayne - I think attire may be a regional thing because you would be underdressed and completely out of place in anything but show attire at any our local open shows. I don't know that it would result in a mark-down by a judge, but it definitely isn't the done thing. I've never shown any horse in halter in anything except show attire (minus the jacket although occasionally I did wear a jacket).

Samigator - I also have used just a nice show halter if I showed a two year old or under - you're right about the judges not really caring about that. If I use a full bridle, I do remove the bradoon.

Oh - and I've always put a mane braid in and blacked dark feet.

[Renae]

Definatly practice your showmanship moves! If it is going to mostly be western type hosrse that you are showing aganist and a western judge they usually set the patterns up very small, so being able to pivot neatly and pick up the trot immediatly when asked in hand will help a lot. Sometimes the paterns are so tight that a big strided horse like a Saddlebred can hardly do them and the little strided Quarter Horses shuffle through them and do 10-15 strides where the Saddlebred did 5 :) Read the rules for the organization that you will be showing under, one biggie is whips in halter and showmanship classes, some do not allow them at all, some only if a seperate "English" class is offered, and some do not care. For halter you may stand in front of the horse and set it up and show it as Saddlebred and Arab people usually do, but for showmanship you will need to do the Quarter Method if you want to place well. But definatly, definatly find out exactly what the rules are for the organization that you will be showing under and follow them first and foremost. For instance in Minnesota 4-H when you show a saddle seat horse in hand you must wear your full riding suit unless coats have been excused.

[sdlbredfan]

You do not need to remove the bradoon hanger and bit, just take the rein off or put over the horse's withers as shown in the picture. You do, however, lead by the curb, with the rein pulled over the horse's head and you hold the rein the way you would a lead rope.
If your horse is shod like a country pleasure horse (no pads) you can skip the ribbons in the mane braid. If your horse would normally show in show pleasure, or is shod like one with pads (whether therapeutic or action enhancing), then you may add the ribbon braids that are normally seen in the Show Pleasure, 5 gaited and fine harness divisions.

[vlayne]

I wear in-hand attire. I do not wear riding attire. I think it looks very "4-H" but when in Rome...

I would never be caught dead in riding clothes in an in-hand class. But that's JMHO.

Leaving the bradoon hanger and reins on the horse looks very sloppy. Take them off - don't loop the rein over the neck. Blech. They're easy enough to put on and it leaves a MUCH nicer picture with them off.

[Samigator]

Leaving the bradoon hanger and reins on the horse looks very sloppy. Take them off - don't loop the rein over the neck. Blech. They're easy enough to put on and it leaves a MUCH nicer picture with them off.

Yes, it does, but when your first riding class is one of the few classes right after your halter class, you don't always have time to monkey with that. ;)

I'm sure you know this, but halter and showmanship are totally different animals- you will show both in essentially the same way as the arabian folks at your barn (except you will set your horse up parked with the back legs even in halter, and you should set up your horse square- meaning QH square- in showmanship- no parking allowed). We're not going to teach you showmanship on the computer, but you will do it pretty much the same as your arab counterparts. Oh, and btw, in halter you want the horse to look very typey- head up, etc, but in showmanship, just do your pattern as presicely as possible, don't worry about showing your horse off in the way you do in halter classes. The judge is grading your overall appearance, precision and straightness of movements through the pattern, and checking to see that you did your homework (ie. grooming, clipping, etc).

[vlayne]

Yes, it does, but when your first riding class is one of the few classes right after your halter class, you don't always have time to monkey with that. ;)

Yea, that's the only time I'd leave it on.

[Smarter Than U Think]

If you can't remove the bradoon rein for some reason, take a small piece of yarn (as close to the mane's color) and braid it into the mane and then tie the end of the braid through the buckle in the reins. This will prevent it from flopping all over when you trot. It is easy to remove for a riding class immediately after an in-hand class

[horseshwbrat]

up here it is alright to wear jods and a nice shirt instead of your jods-shirt-vest. I usually wear my suit sans jacket because I'm often in a riding class a few classes down the schedule. timing also affects whether or not I take the snaffle off - if I think I have enough time I do, if I only have a few classes I don't.

[Kismet_Kisstme]

Thanks for all the help guys. We did show this past weekend, and we did pretty well considering he decided to rub the top of his tail raw a few days before the show :o

It was a great learning experience though and I feel better prepared for next time; hopefully we'll have a tail by then too.