Show/Competition help what can I do?

[webble]

I have recently become the proud owner of a black and white 14.2 mare and am thinking in a few months we might like to get out and about to some shows.

I am an adult and have only ever competed driven not ridden and she hasnt competed before. We do some jumping but only small 2ft 6 max. So my question is what can we do? I know nothing about ridden competition so be gentle with me

[fruity]

There's plenty of people with more experience than me! - but I;d look at ridden coloureds, ridden novice and if you really enjoy the jumping, watch a few working hunters and then have a go at those in the nursery/novice classes
Maybe go and watch a few shows locally too to get an idea of turnout and what goes on in the ring?
Good luck

[snowflake]

Hi! Do you have any pics of your mare?

I'd start with riding clubs they are the best way to get started - try looking around in local horse magazines, & ask around, etc for your best local RC. Watch a few classes, get the jist of how they run (flat showing classes are very simple, a walk, trot & canter round with each other on both reins, & then an individual show), & how they turnout, etc. There are also in-hand classes, where they judge your pony's type, which may be good, if your horse has never been shown before & you want to get a feel at how she's going to behave!

So go along to a local RC take a schedule & try & watch the classes you think that you would enter your mare in. If you think that the class you origionally thought suited her, doesn't, then look around at similar types & see what classes they're entering.

There could be loads of classes for you, start off with maybe Best Turned Out? You walk in, stand in the middle & the judge judges you on clean you & your pony are! Then there's ridden coloured, novice ridden, some shows have newcomer to showing classes...them jumping there's novice jumping, jumping under 15hands etc! There's loads!

RCs often have shows every month, or have about 6/7 shows a year, & you can become a member!

Best of luck, have a look around go & watch, & then join in! ;D