How should they stand in the ring??

[Manx Cat]

Hoping to squeeze more advice out from you showing guys out there.

Ive shown my highland mare for many years. This year its Mac Lir's turn.

He has had the experience of just one show so far and he was very well behaved. Now, I am entered into another show at teh end of June.

can anyone give me advice how exactly to show them? The judge at the last show was a Fell judge and Mac was the only pony shown that day where she picked up his front feet. I assume this is something the judges look at normally with dales is it? Mac was a bit fidgety and lowered his elbow when this was done, if its a common thing at a show, I shalll practice it with him.

When he is stood up for the judge, how should he stand? The welshes stand with their front legs stretched sort of forward I notice.... Is there a particular way the Dales should be stood out?

The Run Up....

Should the pony be allowed to really trot up fast and strong? Walk is the highlands best pace, Im assuming trot is the Dales??

Should the handler be at the head, or the shoulder when running up? I thought I was at Macs shoulder the last time, but some photos have shown I was just behind his head, and my legs were infront of his..... What is correct? What would show him at his best.?

I am intending to practise all of this once I know what is required. he is in a dales class, a mixed M&M class and the youngstock M&M.

thanks everyone.

Mary

[harleydales]

I'm not great for showing, but yes, Harley's feet were always checked, I trotted him up at the shoulder, and trotted him in medium trot! Too slow doesn't show it off, and too fast is well, too fast! And unstoppable.....
I was told to get him to stand square, but not too stretched out.

Don't know if this is right or not!!

[admin]

Part of the Dales breed description is around how the hoof and sole should look - so yes they will often look at the feet.

As to running up, I can't be much help. The only thing to say is, when I judge young handler, I like to see a pony who moves off into trot smoothly and swiftly (but only once you're straight again - don't try turning and trotting at the same time - it always looks a mess) and that the handler has a fairly loose contact on the lead rein. It is hard to see how the pony moves properly if they are on a realy tight contact to stop them galloping off into the distance!!

Good luck

Olivia

[lancslass]

less and less judges are picking their feet up now OR actually physically touching them as apparently its an health and safety issue. if judges are running their hands over ponies and over the heads especially, disease.......coughs etc can be spread like wild fire. also theres the safety aspect of the judge getting clattered with flying feet. yes, i have still seen them doing this at the breed shows, but not so much at other shows.
you should stand your pony up "square", no legs left stuck out at the back or the front......tall and proud.
if you trot him too fst on your run up to the judge you will flatten his outine.......he will flatten his neck and poke his nose. you need him going in a nice, active forward trot, showing himself off.
you should always be at his shoulder whether at walk or trot.........the judge doesn't want to see you! ;D

[acorn]

I think it is a real shame that some judges are not touching the legs and inspecting feet properly.

I can see the health and safety issues and agree that touching heads and noses might spread disease and should be avoided. It is hard to assess hairy Dales and Fell pony legs by inspection alone. All that feather can conceal faults as well as enhance overall appearance. Sometimes it seems as if sheer quantity of hair (sometimes coarse and curly) is being chosen over well put together quality legs and feather.

[anna85]

To be honest, I still find alot of the judges do touch legs and its almost the exception when they don't, imo its the newer ones coming through Puk and BSPS and their new rules etc that aren't rather than the more well known/regular/traditional/'older' judges we seem to have.

I can never really get the disease thing to be honest whilst most show animals are still ridden by the judges it just doesn't seem a valid reason etc but i do understand the health and safety especially in todays climate of suing the heck out of anything.

Just to add when you stand up, make sure you are out of the way. Normally i stand in front of the pony and then just move slightly when the judge moves round the head in order to allow a clear look at the front.

[lancslass]

it may also be to do with the actual shows insurance too anna! how does a judge "go on", lets say for instance.......my colt or your stalion just happens to let a peg go and breaks the judges nose? it was the judges choice to examine the back legs or lift the tail, you didn't request..........so does the judge think......"hey ho, part of the job" or, try claming from the show organisers or even ourselves. in all cases they wouldn't get anywhere legally, but can you see where im coming from. like someone said, the big bad world of sueing has reared its ugly head in all aspects of life now.

[anna85]

Oh exactly, thats what i was getting at by the 'Health and Safety aspect' of it all, and 'suing the heck out of everything' so I definatly see where you are coming from .

Its the world we sadly live in and its just a shame it has to reflect on the traditions of the showring and hamper simple things like judging Dales classes.

[lancslass]

i agree fully anna. we have to have the ponies insured to the hilts for public liability........just incase one of them clips a car and causes a tiny scratch!!!
i do agree that to judge a dales the judge DOES need to see the good round foot and the open heel, which is IMPOSSIBLE to do without lifting the feet up.................saying all that LOL.......was at a show the other week and the numpty that was judgeing dropped a quality dales pony after lifting its tail and saying it stood too close behind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i do wish they would study the breed before making ridiculous comments like that and having a quality pony go down for absolutely nothing!

[hannahjsheldon]

Does anyone have any tips for me to teach Rocky to stand square!! He was a bit jiggly at our last show! Help would be appreciated!

[DalesLady]

We have done a lot of inhand classes and it is amazing how many times it is only my ponies in somtimes quite big classes who have their tails moved to one side so the hocks can be studied and the front legs felt and feet lifted. I have sometimes wondered if because she's a Dales they feel they can trust the temperament, or whether they have ever seen one before and its curiosity? LOL

[vjjjebony]

This topic makes my blood boil!

Dales judges are told that the feet/limbs are first priority.

talking to claire today she assures me that both N.P.S and P.U.K rule books state that no judge should touch any animal full stop for health and saftey reasons! Also most county show also state the same.

picking up a foot/ means feeling the limb. / the bone
all f which makes the bred of pony.
Valerie.

[DalesLady]

It happens to me often that judges do touch legs and look at feet and move the tail; often only my ponies or sometimes its the Dales and Fell ponies, but none of the others.

I can understand not wanting to spread diseases etc., and the H&S issue all round, but surely all judging should be standardised? It's one of those controversial subjects again isn't it?

Oh and Karen - I think I know the Dales pony you were talking about - would have been funny had it not been so sad the numpty judge knew so little! What on earth would the ploughed furrow look like if all our ponies stood wider?