Conference noted::equitation

    
    Hi Kate,
    
    Showing a young horse is a lot of fun....  I used to show my Morgan
    in both yearling and 2 year old classes some years ago now.  Typically,
    there would be about 12 horses in my class.  The breakout is sucklings/
    weanling, yearlings, and two year olds.  Then the best of the 3 classes
    go back to compete in the championship of which the older horse tends
    to win the class.  I found that presence and behavior were the key. 
    But that usually is up to the judge.  Unfortunately, the judge may sway
    more to a breed they favor.  The judge may also pin a bad actor if
    he/she likes the animals conformation, etc.  It's really hard to tell. 
    If you are really out there competing, it's a good idea to learn more
    about the judge who will be judging your class.  I can remember one
    judge who really liked my horse.  As a result, we always pinned well
    with him.
    
    What do you have for a horse?  Depending on the show, certain breeds
    will be attracted to that show.  If your horse is, for example, a
    Saddlebred then you may want to go to the Saddlebred shows, i.e., Maine
    Saddlebred, Tri-State American Saddlebred Assoc., etc.  In general, the
    classes will consist of mixed breeds.  Your clothing and dress is also
    very important when it comes to appointments.  Having perfection with
    both you and your horse will show the judge you really care and are
    trying hard to do a good job.  There's so much to consider....  It's a
    lot of fun just the same....  Good luck to you!!!
    
    Cathy
    

    Thanks for your reply.  I have a two year old Thorobred colt.  He
    is put together very nicely and I'd like to get him used to the
    show circuit without having to ride in it!  I have seen a few open
    colts and fillies classes and felt that a TB would be very out of
    place, but thought I'd ask.  
    
    He's extermely quiet, and I spent enough years showing in Fitting
    & Showmanship to understand the benefits of good turnout, so perhaps
    I'll just send him along when the barn heads to the South Shore
    Horsemen's Council show in mid-April and see what happens. 
     
    -Kate

    Question for people out there who show in Halter, specifically Open
    Colts and Fillies classes....my friend would like to begin showing
    her 2 yr old colt in hand to get him accustomed to the show
    environment, etc, but is unsure as to how he should be 'stood', and
    although I have shown Fitting/Showmanship, I don't really know how
    to answer her question for her.  
    
    Her colt is a Friesan, well-mannered and nicely put together.  She
    intends his future training to be dressage and driving, perhaps
    eventing.  Can he be stood as hunter, and if so would she be required
    to braid him?  Being an uncommon breed, there are no breed-specifc
    classes available to her, but can she stand him as exactly what he
    is (a Friesan) and leave the mane and tail loose as is the breed
    standard? If she does this, how does SHE dress? And, MY question,
    will the judges not even recognize him for what he is and evaluate
    him as a big Morgan? (which is what most people have guessed him to
    be when seeing him).  Comments, suggestions? 
    

    
    That's a very good question...  I guess I come from a school as an
    exhibitor and judge that I would want to see the horse shown as he
    would be if he were in competition with his own breed.  In the case
    of a Fresian with his mane and tail left naturally.  The only thing
    I would do differently is the dress - in a kurring the handlers
    traditionally wear all white.  This would not be necessary (ie the
    handler could show in jods or clean kakhi slacks with a clean, long
    sleeved shirt, sneekers or boots, gloves... BUT in no way should the
    horse be marked down for the way the handler is dressed.
    
    Open Horse Colts and Fillies is a class to judge the horse on his
    
    breed merits and against the others in the ring.  If people mistake
    this horse for a Morgan then I would encourage the handler to find
    a way that makes them comfortable enough to say to the judge when
    they are approached (something like)
    
    	" Good morning, this is a Fresian colt "...    especially if the
    judge doesn't ask.  Since she is going for the experience she might
    not care quite as much if she got marked down (because he doesn't have
    ideal Morgan traits if the judge thought he was Morgan).. but she would
    want her colt fairly judged and represented.
    
    I know that when my sister shows her mature Fresians that folks are
    always asking - and usually there is someone on the rail who knows, but
    clearly it is in everyones best interest to show him to his advantage!
    
    I hope this helps.... Have a great time!
    
    	holly
    

    When I show my Fjord in Hunter classes (13.3hh pony) I show her as
    I would according to the breed standard.  I don't clip feathers, 
    ears or facial hair.  It can be cleaned up but not removed.  Some
    people do clip their Fjords like they would a Morgan or QH, but they
    don't look quite right.
    
    There is a pamplet going around for judges to explain the breed
    standard, but I've never had to use it and I usually do quite well.
    
    

    > ... And, MY question,
    >will the judges not even recognize him for what he is and evaluate
    >him as a big Morgan? (which is what most people have guessed him to
    >be when seeing him).  Comments, suggestions?
    
    Comments only:
    Anybody who can't tell a Morgan from a Friesan has no business judging
    open classes. The breeds are quite different. Friesians tend to be 
    quite long backed. Morgans don't. Friesians have lots of feather on the 
    legs. Morgans don't. Friesians are always black(allegedly. they frequently
    look brown to me!) Morgans are seldom black. etc and so forth.
    
    Basically, to confuse the breeds shows ignorance of both.

    Thank you all for the tips! I will suggest to her that she dress in
    handler attire similar that worn by the handlers at the Kurings and
    expect him to be judged according to the breed standard.
    
    Re: John, one would certainly HOPE that the judge would recognize
    him and be aware of the breed standards, but she is starting out at
    the local level where the judges are frequently of questionable 
    qualification.  Certainly as she gets out more and moves into the
    larger shows, that won't be an issue.  So far, of the people who
    have seen this horse, the guesses have all been Morgan or
    Morgan-crossed-with-draft (and one person even said Standardbred!)
    and don't forget, he is just barely 2, and not being full grown,
    he is still in his 'ungainly' and not filled out stage...he's
    nicely put together but still rather goofy looking (I have nicknamed
    him Monster Horse). :-)
     

    
    
    	Do they halter Freisans squared, stretched, or ???
    
    	Perhaps that can also be an indicator (Arn't Morgans
    	shown stretched and w/ two handlers - a 2nd to excite?)

    I believe they are shown squared. I hope they don't show with
    2 handlers, cuz I'd end up being the other one and I don't wanna
    show anymore, I just wanna go along and play groom! Im good at it,
    it suits me, and it's more fun than being the nervous competitor! :-)
    

    
    
    	Fresians are shown squared up while they are being looked at
    	by the judge.  From the video I've seen of kurrings that took
    	place in Colorado and in New England last fall it appeared
    	that it was perfectly "ok" to have two persons - a header and
    	trailer.  I saw both.  Quite honestly in the kurrings the
    	judges want to see the horse REALLY trot out on the line and
    	if they are not trained (that REALLY trotting is their job)
    	then a trailer can make a significant difference in the 
    	presentation of the horse.  Remember that the handlers job is
    	to show the horse to his/her best advantage...  so some horses
    	may not need a trailer...
    
    	The purpose of a trailer is to assist with the presentation
    	of the horse on the line.  Not to excite - rather to assist
    	with pushing the horse up into the bridle.. remember that 
    	
    	** they never act the same at the show as they do at home **
    
    	So, your friend will want to practice with a trailer at home and
    	see how he(The horse!)acts. It might be helpful to her just to 
    	have the 
    
    	other person in the ring the first time or two.. remember he's
    	going from experience and you want it to be a positive one.. he
    	is going to learn that he LIKES going to a horse show and that
    	it is fun.
    
    	And if you already know you don't want to be the trailer just say
    	so... you really can put friendships in tough spots when we're
    	doing this stuff with the horses.  Do what you know you do well
    	and that is what you can give for support... I find GREAT support
    	in a friend who was always on the rail for me and would be there
    	getting my horse ready, calming my nerves and making sure I did
    	things like BREATH! and eat *something*!!
    
    	Have fun  -  its really most important.
    
    	smiles - h

    Linda,
    
    I'll second what Holly said about just saying that you don't want to be
    the trailer. Even if your friend wants a trailer, the horse will still
    need a groom. It's kinda difficult to be a groom and stay clean enough
    to present a horse. So, tell your friend to recruit another person to
    be trailer while you stay on as groom.
    
    John

    Thanks for the tips. Im not all THAT opposed to entering the ring with
    her if need be, and will do it, I've just lost all interest in showing
    my own horses and am rather looking forward to the 'backstage' role for
    a change. Still, if being a trailer will help her out it won't do me
    any harm. :-)
    

    
    
    holly- you actually eat when you show.....wow, I'm impressed!
    Best I can do is get cool water down during the day.  Whe we're 
    done that's a different story!
    
    	M

    
    
    	Yea.. After 30 years I can eat when I show.. but it is limited
    	to starting the day with lots of water and usually a banana 
    	(for my potassium fix - my ole joints and muscles demand it!)
    	My husband thinks I don't eat enough (I start slowing down the
    	day before the show - and I almost always knock a few pounds off).
    	
    	And like yourself, I DO eat a LOT after I'm done.  I can't eat
    	much but I found that I actually feel better if I eat something
    	that is bland and not spicy or acid (like orange juice).
    
    	Practice - Practice - Practice
    
    	smiles - h

    What is the job of the 'trailer' when showing a horse in hand? 
    
    I will be playing this role next Sat at the Cheshire Fair show in
    the Open Colts and Fillies class, and while I have shown halter in
    the past myself, I've never had a second person in the ring with me
    and I'm not sure exactly what my role will be.  My friend would feel
    more comfortable with me in the ring with her, as it's both her and
    her colt's first experience.  I offered to take him in alone myself,
    but she really prefers two handlers the first time out (I think
    she's a bit worried Boaz will act up, which is entirely possible!).
    
    Anyone in here ever played 'trailer' before?
    
    - Linda
    

    Well, I can tell what they do in Morgan classes. Will that help?
    
    The 'trailer' or 'tailer'(I've heard both terms) has 2 basic jobs:
    	1. To run behind the horse and encourage it to move out smartly
    		when asked. Usually the 'trailer' runs off the horse's
    		near side and far enough to the side that the horse can see
    		them clearly. Most carry a driving whip or gaited whip and
    		waive it around.
    	2. To do silly things in front of the horse to get the horse to put
    		its ears up while the judge is looking at it. "Silly
    		things" might include dropping something,
    		rustling/crackling a piece of paper or plastic, whistling,etc
    

    Yes, John, that does help, I'll go with Morgans as an example, why not?
    I'm not sure Boaz'll need any help to move out smartly, he's a bundle of 
    energy, and will probably outrun me. :-)  The silly things part I should 
    be good at, though!  I take it I will need to stand out in front of him 
    in the line up, then, taking care not to obstruct the judges view, and 
    dressed in the same attire as the handler (all white in our case)??
                               

    I haven't seen a Morgan show in 12-15 years but ...
    The handlers' outfits sometimes matched each other and sometimes not...
    
    Yes, one stands in front of the horse to do silly things and far enough
    back that you don't block the judge's view. One "silly thing" that was
    popular was the metal "crickets" we used to play with as kids. Like the
    ones that used to come as the prize in Cracker Jacks boxes. ??? Might
    not be "de rigeur" in open classes though. See if you can get more
    info from your friend or watch a similar class of another age group 
    before you go in the ring.
    
    

�  <<< Note 1412.18 by DECWET::JDADDAMIO "Seattle Rain Festival: 1/1-12/31" >>>
�                        -< Can you do Kermit the frog? >-

�    I haven't seen a Morgan show in 12-15 years but ...
�    The handlers' outfits sometimes matched each other and sometimes not...

Just this weekend saw a weanling class of ASBs.  They did each have two 
handlers.

Don't recall specifically if the handlers were wearing similar clothes (but 
don't think so).  Both handlers had the longer dressage type whip with, in 
all but one case, little paper bag looking things at the end.  The one who 
didn't have the paper bag type device had some of those brite shiney 
plastic shreds (the name of which escapes me at the moment).

One handler "handled" the weanling, the other handler tried to occupy the 
weanling and help it move in a straight (well, sort of :) line and keep it 
occupied, alert, and still while the judge was looking the weanling over.

Each weanling came into the ring one at a time, but remained in the ring
until the class was complete.  It also appeared that the extra handler was
used to help control and occupy the weanling after the individual judging
and before the awards (some of the weanlings looked to be more closely
related to frogs or mexican jumping beans :). 

It also seemed to me that different weanlings had had a different amount of 
training prior to the class - some acted almost like moving in a straight 
line on halter was an alien concept while others stood quietly and moved 
under control.  Even factoring in that these were babies, sure seemed like 
a big difference in behavior to me.

    Some good tips in here! I'd love to go watch a class before
    the show, but it's this coming Sat and there's no time for such a
    luxury.  I will try to think of things, a small bit of crinkly plastic
    for example, to carry into the ring with me to keep him alert.  And
    I will try to stay out the judge's way.  And I will try to keep up as
    he trots out.  I don't really know what to expect from Boaz, he's 
    generally quite well-mannered and not difficult to handle, but this
    will be his first time out in a crowd.  I do expect him to be easier
    to deal with than a weanling would be, though, he'd better be, at his
    size if he starts jumping around the ring he'll squash us all! :-)
    And yes, my friend has been practicing squaring him up and staying put
    as well as trotting in a straight line...he's standing quietly just
    fine at home, but his trot needs to be slowed down a good deal.  Still,
    he's certainly going to catch the eye of everyone in town and if he
    doesn't decide to go bonkers it should be a fun time!