Showing Weanlings?

[puzzle]

Does anyone show their weanlings?

Any good tips to prepare for it (never been shown before)?

Do you do it for experience or competitively?

What do you do with regards to baby fluff? getting them ready etc

[brindlerainbow]

Showed my Section B weanling 2 weeks ago it was her first show and she behaved perfectly!!!!! She loaded and travelled well, though she had travelled from Fayre Oaks back to Devon so was used to a long journey though show was about 45 mins away. I did it for experience for her and me as I have been out of showing for years was really pleased as we got 2 seconds and a third!!. My foal is rugged and is losing her foal coat though she is still fluffy I just dehair her and groom her every day though you wouldnt know it if you saw her!! Good Luck just go and enjoy yourself because thats what showing should be about!!!

[smokeycott]

i usually show my weanlings at the foal shows, having a year off this year with the little babies and carrying on with my yearling and will do baby next spring.
ita really good education for them.

[poniesrus]

We tend to do just one or two foal shows with any weanlings. I don't like to see them dragged from foal show to foal show, but just one or two for the overall experience.

But it always depends on how much handling they've had and how they look overall - if I don't think they are ready, then I won't upset their routine by taking them.

[puzzle]

Thank you for your replies - only planning to do the one in November! He has never been out before..

The leading is going in the right direction and is trotting straight just worried about his really fluffy coat?

Should i rug him to get it to settle down a bit or take him as he is?

[poniesrus]

Our little section B colt was very woollie last year Puzzle .. well, he had come from deepest Wales to the frozen north of Aberdeenshire, so only to be expected that he put out quite some coat pretty quick LOL.

I only had a normal wee rug on him, purely because of arriving here in late October in the bitter cold. I just smothered him in coat gloss the night before the show and worked on the basis that the judge would either like him and understand why he was a bit woollie, or they wouldn't, either way it was just for my daughter and him to get the ring experience.

The first one was about an hour from home and he was a tired baby after doing one class, so we didn't bother doing the other. The 2nd show a few weeks later the two of them had been practising a bit more and we literally bought him off the lorry and straight in the ring, so he trotted out nicer and had a bit more fuel in the tank.

[vjc]

Puzzle are you going the bnfoy show? i am hoping to take my boy there. As for showing weanlings, i personally think it is a case of access the foal. If the weaning has gone okay and you feel your foal can cope, it does no harm at all, some enjoy the experience of seeing all the other babies ;D As for baby fluff, well they ARE babies!!! i do not believe in overcladding them with all sorts of rugs and hoods at that young age. Lets face it, if a judge cannot see what a foal is under its baby coat, then they should not be judging movement is of the upmost critera, although a lot of judges are very understanding of the odd growth ipedement. I think just have fun, if you win anything thats even better at the end of the day just be proud of your little one. ;D

[puzzle]

Thank you so much for the replies. Yes thats the show the BNFOY

Have been showing for many years but am new to breeding (3rd time) and have never shown one before. Some friends of ours say we should go as it gives you something to aim for over the winter and they say usually if you can do a show with the weanling then showing in the future is alot easier.

Think there will be the foal and then about 8 helpers going with us!!!

We have been practicing the walking, trotting (starts with a big buck) and the standing still. And walking round him running our hands over him and down his legs etc.

Had two feet up on the ramp hopefully master that at the weekend!! Guess the next thing with be bathing - do people bath their youngsters? or just hot towl them?

[cassie30]

would just hot towel him, or you may end up with a curly coat! bit cold too unless you have heat lamps? xx

[jenwalsh]

I had my weanling out at his first show at the weekend, he started to get a wee rug on at night in his stable to calm his coat a wee bit. bathed him on Friday and he spent the weekend stabled at the show and didnt bat an eyelid, his class wasnt untill sunday so just washed his legs off on sunday morning and that was it, he got a 1st, 4th and reserve champion and done his first evening performance and took it all in his stride. go and enjoy it, this was my first time showing a baby and i loved it! hes got another one in two weeks and then that will be him for the winter

[vjc]

Will try and see you there puzzle , although me thinks we will both have our hands full!!! ;D what classes will you be in??? my boy will be in the pba and small hack class. Oh as far as bathing a foal i really think that is a no no! i have never bathed mine, to cold and to much for such a young one. Just a wipe over with a damp cloth and a good show sheen product. judges do not usually pick up feet or mess with the youngsters at foal shows, they just cast an eye over them and ask you to run them out. Good luck ;D might see you there!!!!

[puzzle]

Fab sounds good not bathing - was really not looking forward to that bit!

I will be the one dragging along a piebald colt in the coloured class! His withers are up to my neck already so you probably wont even be able to see me showing him!!!

Really looking forward to it though just hope it all goes ok!!!

[vjc]

;D love it!!! i will be the one whizzing past, eddie`s got no brakes at the moment i am sure we will have a great day!!!

[sarah00000]

lets see some piccies of these foals with their wee coats on or/and at the shows please!

[aly04]

We are taking our foal out to her first show on the 8th and as with you guys this is our first time showing a foal but cant wait!!!

[smee]

my foal has her first show coming up.
Got her unhandled 3 weeks ago and she has amazed me how quick she has come round, didnt think she would be ready to go anywhere but have reviewed my plans.
She is leading out and trotting nicely, a little hairy but with some judiscious trimming should look the part.
I love taking the babies out for the first time

[vjc]

Ahhh Smee she sounds a real sweetie lovepimk here is the boy i will be taking along wearing his turnout rug. blue for a boy

[paulal]

good luck to you all

vjc your boy is gorgeous

[puzzle]

Oh wow he is lovely!! Really look at me isnt he!!!! ;D ;D Will look out or you!!!

Havent got any recent pics will take some at the weekend... This was him in August, Trust me he doesnt look like this now a right hairy monster!!!

Am excited and nervous - god help me still got another 3 weeks to go!!!

[beckylock]

O I am so glad I have Filly hehe Dont want to be in your class. xx

[vjc]

puzzle he is lovely, he looks so mature!!! will defo look out for you! if it makes you feel better i am also ecited and nervous
paulal thanks for your kind comments, must admit i like him too, but then i am bias

[smee]

took our little lady to her first show on Saturday,she got a creditable 3rd in a strong mixed M&M foal class behind 2 colts. I was so pleased with her behaviour, travelling and how she showed

[puzzle]

Wow, lovely - well done you!!!

[Pem]

oh i am glad i am not the only one worried about hairy foal coats lol i am taking my boy out for the 1st time next Sunday , he is rugged at the min so the coat is flatish haha but i am worried about bathing him and it going curly any advice? i thought about bathing the friday night instead but he coloured so will be filthy again by next day, also although he a colt he so laid back i have a feeling i will have to drag him round. Suppose it will be a good laugh for evry1 else haha.

[vjc]

omlette i think that is definately the answer, just keep a rug on to flatten the coat, most foals by this time of year will be hairy. Best of luck for sunday!
smee what a fab foal!!!! love the sit up and look at me! what a natural! oh are`nt foals such fun!

[paulal]

all this talk about showing weanlings is making me think about taking our little chap out - would only want to take him to one or two - but it would be exciting. Ah they are so trusting - love them!

[storr]

The photos are all lovely. I have a show with my weanling on sun and have been practicing the leading and standing. Hes finding it all very exciting and dragging me around. Should be fun!

[vjc]

Hope all of you that went to the bnfoy show had a great time, we had a fabulous day with eddie (elmdale eduardo) who coped amazingly and took it all in his stride! He won two classes, came second in a third, taking one championship and three reserve championships including reserve supreme of the show! I am so pleased for his new owner who is really looking forward to the new showing season!

[smee]

vjc, saw your pics on the other thread, lovely foal

[vjc]

Thanks smee and did you see the lovely welsh that won the supreme real wow factor!!! I am eagerly awaiting eddie`s full brother or sister due in may and secretly hoping for a filly to keep Eddie`s head was so big the following morning he could hardly get through his stable doorway ;D ;D ;D