In Hand Showing

In Hand Showing

In hand showing is the shop window for future stars. But a word of warning -overshowing and incorrect showing can ruin that future stars career before it starts.

There are a varity of inhand classes - mainly youngstock, broodmare and some stallion classes.

Turnout

Youngstock - All animals should be clean, trimmed (see NPS for breed standards regarding M&Ms and other societies for their in hand requirements i.e. Arabs) Their mane should be plaited and the tail pulled. A suitable bridle either an in hand or simple snaffle with leather lead rein is used. If used, the coupling must be leather.

In riding pony, hack and riding horse classes a coloured browband should be used. In hunter pony, sports horse and hunter classes a plain browband is more suitable. With some societies, colts may be shown in a brass decorated browband. Yearling fillies may be shown in a filly slip ie no bit.

Broodmare Classes - Broodmares are usually shown in a pelham or double but a snaffle is exceptable. Foals are shown in a filly slip and they can be plaited or left natural though plaiting is generally preferred.

A point to note is that riding pony broodmares must be shown with foal at foot or a certificate proving that she has had a foal that year and it is prevented from being shown through illness or death. A hunter pony broodmare can be shown without a foal at foot as long as there is a certificate of service.

Stallion Classes - Stallions and colts must be shown in a suitable in hand bridle ie with a bit.

Mares and geldings four or over - A snaffle, double or pelham bridle is normal.

Way of going

The Walk. As the walk is the first thing the judge sees it must be forward going with a long elegant stride.
The Trot. The trot should be free moving and easy on the eye. Many people make the mistake of trying to influnce the action with to much usage of the bit. This in turn leads to a number of problems the major one being the pony become reluctunt to go forward into his bridle and his action gets stilted and he starts to go up and down and therefore hollowing his back and losing the beautiful elegant rounded shape. This will have reprcussions later and causing a host of problems in his ridden career.

Condition

It is all to easy to over feed the youngster to cut corners but again this will cause problems as the extra weight will put so much pressure on under devoloped joints causing a whole host of faults to occur.

Remember to much travelling and competing is not good for the baby.