Showing a youngster in hand

[sammy]

Help, advice greatly appreciated, as this is all new!
I am thinking about showing a 2yr old and would like to know what is expected of her and me.
Ok walk and trot in hand, stand, pick up feet and tail inspected, rope halter, tail ribbons? colours? number of? My clothes, tweed jacket, beige (light coloured) trousers, shirt, tie.
What about mid summer? On a hot day, jacket???
What if she misbehaves!!!!!! OMG
How do I prepare her, expose her to everything beforehand?
loads of people, children running around, barking dogs, loads of horses etc etc etc.
Ok go to other shows and let her walk around expose her to it all
except I don't have loads of time to do this working 7 days a week.
Might have to wait until spring 2007, not sure yet but any advice welcome

[jakesmum]

showed last year in a white traditional halter but ended up with showing cane rammed up nose and elbow in shoulder not a good look. So jake is 2 now and bitted but can still be prone to hysterics if the mood suits. I show him in a straightbar nylon bit with a chain. Not sure what the answer is probably a case of getting out there and doing it hanging on tight and smiling lots
As for dress tweed jacket toning shirt with tie pale trousers for dark legs narrow elastic for number hat of some sort ie wide brimmed jackaroo type or felt showing hat dark brown gloves plain brown cane. Don1t always use tail ribbons depends on how big the show is
ooh forgot to say try and have a good time

[mabel]

I assume she's a Dales? You're right about the walk, trot etc. When you trot up, practice as you want to be running at her shoulder and if poss in time with her front legs. Youngsters take a while sometimes to learn this as they'd rather follow behind. Trouble is when they get the hang of this, like my Josie, she always likes to keep you at her shoulder when you're leading her anywhere LOL.

Tail ribbons - I normally use 3 colours of quite narrow ribbon on a youngster. If it's a mixed breed class then I use red, white and blue, and if it's just a Dales class then whatever takes my fancy. Last year I used burnt orange, yellow and green which went lovely with the jackets.

Jacket - I personally feel you should always wear a jacket, even in the summer. But if it's a fairly relaxed show see what everyone else is doing. Don't forget to wear a hat, gloves and showing cane.

If she misbehaves don't worry, judges are used to youngsters having the odd fruitloop. If it gets too bad and you don't want to carry on then ask the steward if it's OK to leave the class.

It is ideal if you could take her to a show beforehand to get her used to the sights and sounds, but if you can't then I wouldn't be too concerned. She'll probably have eyes on stalks when you get there but take your time and walk her around letting her take it all in, and if you can take a pony friend with her then that'll help too. She may surprise you and take it all in her stride.

The main thing is to enjoy it and if you get a rosette, brilliant, and if not there's always another day.

[Biggerside Benwell]

Im looking forward to finding a show to take my 3yr old to this summer but there isn't much in my area.

Im trying to get him used to traffic etc and the yard owners children are helping also by just doing their general antics.

[sammy]

Thanks for the replies so far.
Mabel, yes she is a Dales
jakesmum, showing cane must of been painfull.
What sort of hat is expected then?
What lenght ribbons?
Must it be a showing cane? I did go to the spring show and seem to remember most people had longish whips, although the rules said (no long whips)
What colour tie?
Sounds like it's going to cost a fortune just to get kitted out!

[shirlnjazz]

just asked aload of questions and they are answered here, thats what I get for posting first then reading threads lol

[jakesmum]

no not painful didn`t make that very clear did I LOL cane up jakes nose!!

[sammy]

Whoops, Poor lad!!!