Ranch Horse Show Turnout?

[Fletch617]

So I’m joining the (apparently rather large) group of eventers/dressage riders trying out ranch horse classes. I’m basically YouTube educated on all of this lol, but I’ve been having so much fun with my mare learning to do all the movements for the pattern class and am very much looking forward to our first show on September 7-8.
I just had a few questions that I can’t really find answers to elsewhere. My hair is long. Down to my belt when it’s loose and a few inches shorter when in its usual braid. Is a braid ok for this, or should I put it up somehow?
I ordered a hat that has the “correct” shape to it but its a little too large and shaped weird for my noggin. I’m debating about stuffing some newspaper in the band or just using my palm hat. The palm hat has a flat brim currently, although I could reshape it if needed? Just not sure how much hat shape matters. It also has stampede strings on it, should I remove those or are they ok to stay on?

2 part question for this, I’m showing my 8 yo Connemara/TB mare in the performance halter class. Her mane is currently long; should I leave it down? Or do a french braid? Her other classes I imagine I’ll leave it down.
Second part is the yearling Connemara filly I’m showing for my mom. She’s just doing in hand classes and the 2 & under showmanship for exposure. She has the typical unruly Connemara mane. Should I french braid that or let it do its thing? I’m not very inclined to shorten either mare’s mane for this.
Side note on the yearling - do I need to worry a bunch about clipping her legs and face for some baby classes? Or can I just bathe her and tidy up her chin hairs and bridle path?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this! I just can’t find a lot on these turnout aspects online. I’m open to any ideas on this discipline as well
Here’s the girls for mane reference
https://postimg.cc/gallery/grJy0zH

[Montanas_Girl]

Welcome to the Ranch Horse world! You won’t find a kinder, more supportive show atmosphere anywhere, I promise.

For your hair, a braid is fine. Do get your hat shaped if you can; it doesn’t technically matter much, but it will show you cared enough to try. Personally, I show everything except halter/in hand classes in a helmet, so that is also an option. I would remove the stampede strings and pad your hat to make it fit.

Minimal (if any) clipping. No braids, face grease/baby oil, or hoof polish allowed. Here are some photos of my mare and I at a recent Ranch Horse show, if it helps you get a visual of the overall style:

[Fletch617]

Perfect, that makes it much easier! Thanks so much!

[NaturallyHappy]

Lovely horse!

[Fletch617]

Thank you!

[Montanas_Girl]

@NaturallyHappy

Lovely horse!

Thank you! I purchased this little mare in 2019 as a broodmare (I already owned a daughter out of her at the time). I’ve had trouble getting/keeping her pregnant these last couple of years, but it turns out she’s a super little reining/horsemanship horse! Now we’re having a blast in the show ring together while I keep trying to get at least another foal or two out of her. I now have two daughters - one purebred and one Half Arabian - but I’d really like to have another purebred daughter if possible. She’s 17 this year and hadn’t been ridden in about 4 or 5 years until this time last year.

[Aces_N_Eights]

A braid is fine. I too have very long hair, and if I show ranch horse I put it in a neat single braid.

As far as your hat- A flat brimmed palm leaf would be completely acceptable in my region(west coast, great basin) not sure if others would judge it differently in other places not familiar with the style. I’m no judge but I’d think at the very least I’d rather see a flat brim that fits and shaped well over a store bought hat out of the box that doesn’t fit or isn’t shaped to suit you. Hopefully you can send the hat back or go to a store with someone who actually knows how to shape hats to shape it to your head and face shape.

I wouldn’t clip or braid your horses, keep it simple, just clean and tidy.

In my area the ranch horse shows are the inexpensive, lower key, reined cow horse gateway for those wanting to try it out without much commitment. Or depending on what the shows offer, legitimate ranch horses get to “go to town” along with the kiddos. So many youth classes.
It’s a lot of fun, I hope you like it and have a good time

[Fletch617]

Thanks so much! Yeah I just bought the straw hat online and don’t really know anything about them except that this one doesn’t fit well xD I’ll probably end up playing around with reshaping my palm hat.

I think that’s the way this show is going to be, originally I wanted to go because it’s very local (30 minute drive) and a bonus of being cheap to enter and good young horse exposure. After doing more research and working with miss Liberty, I think we may be switching over to this entirely. Eventing has just gotten so expensive and all the shows are 5+ hours from where we are near the Oregon/California border; this seems like it will be super fun and lowkey.

[Aces_N_Eights]

The good thing about your hat being a palm leaf, you can soak in it the bath tub, creek, and shape and re-shape. If it doesn’t have that plastic coating on it that straw hats have on it, you’ll be fine, they are pretty forgiving. You generally dont need a steamer and starch. And you have plenty of time to figure it out before your show.

I understand the travel time, let alone entries, trainer, etc. I’ve spent a fortune this year in the RCH.
I hope the ranch horse is a fun switch for you.

[beau159]

@Fletch617

So I’m joining the (apparently rather large) group of eventers/dressage riders trying out ranch horse classes.

Welcome!! You will have a blast.

@Fletch617

My hair is long. Down to my belt when it’s loose and a few inches shorter when in its usual braid. Is a braid ok for this, or should I put it up somehow?

Single braid down your back is just fine.

@Fletch617

I ordered a hat that has the “correct” shape to it but its a little too large and shaped weird for my noggin. I’m debating about stuffing some newspaper in the band or just using my palm hat. The palm hat has a flat brim currently, although I could reshape it if needed? Just not sure how much hat shape matters. It also has stampede strings on it, should I remove those or are they ok to stay on?

Honestly, your score is going to come more from your performance than your hat, so don’t worry if it isn’t perfect (this isn’t the World competition!).

I wear a helmet when I ride horse 100% of the time, including when I show AQHA ranch horse. If you want to talk about standing out in the crowd, it’s wearing a helmet in the western events, especially at a breed show.

But the judges really haven’t cared. I’ve won some larger sized classes on two different horses in different years, all while wearing my helmet. Again, it’s your performance that counts.

@Fletch617

2 part question for this, I’m showing my 8 yo Connemara/TB mare in the performance halter class. Her mane is currently long; should I leave it down? Or do a french braid? Her other classes I imagine I’ll leave it down.

Leave it down and natural. No braids.

@Fletch617

Second part is the yearling Connemara filly I’m showing for my mom. She’s just doing in hand classes and the 2 & under showmanship for exposure. She has the typical unruly Connemara mane. Should I french braid that or let it do its thing? I’m not very inclined to shorten either mare’s mane for this.

Same answer as above: leave it down and natural. This is ranch horse.

@Fletch617

Side note on the yearling - do I need to worry a bunch about clipping her legs and face for some baby classes? Or can I just bathe her and tidy up her chin hairs and bridle path?

You do NOT have to have your horse clipped like you would if you were in showmanship or western pleasure. I do not fully clip my horses but I do make them look tidy. I’ll trim whiskers, neaten the hair around their ears, and neaten their legs.

[Fletch617]

Thanks! I think I’ll definitely be trimming the yearling’s chin, she’s got some serious goat hairs going on down there xD But I’m glad that we only have to deal with our first bath and not her first clipper job lol

[Fletch617]

One other question, for the turn in this I’ve been practicing it as a right turn at the trot. Is it actually a stop and turn? It doesn’t say anything about stopping but the figure they drew for it makes me question it lol. If all else fails I’ll just watch other people who go before me

[Montanas_Girl]

“90 degree turn to the right” means a pivot to the right, so, yes, you will need to stop, pivot, then pick up the lope.

[Fletch617]

Ok thanks so much! We’ll be practicing that a bit today then lol