Hi, My first post! I will be attending a Hunter Derby next weekend. My first ever!!! so excited. The derby is for $800.00 purse but it is a charity event for junior/adult ams. It is not a rated show. Just not sure what to expect I would hate to show up not braided and see the rest of the competition braided. Any Advice… I am showing two horses. One is mine and the other is my trainers greenie.
Sounds like you should atleast braid the mane, imo.
Braid. It’s a derby. There’s money, it’s for charity. Be turned out to the top. You’re obviously really excited and you’ll cherish the photos more down the road when you think back to this awesome class and you and horses looking your best.
I’m old, so excuse my rant, but about 20 years ago we were still braiding for regular vhsa associate shows, not just finals. I just think it loses something in the hunter ring when a rider’s turned out, but there mane flyin’ everywhere. I dunno… that’s just me, I guess.
puts down coffee, steps away from keyboard, slips on flame-retardant suit
Braid. In my opinion, classes where money is offered in the hunters, you should at least braid mane and if it’s a classic, handy, or derby class, you should absolutely braid tail. Braiding is ALWAYS appropriate, but not braiding can be inappropriate.
Braid.
Braid.
Far better to be the only one braided than the only one not braided.
Thanks thats what I was thinking I should do, just needed a push. Looks like I will be up very late on Saturday braiding… Lol
Thank you!
[QUOTE=BLB Racing Stable;7180236]
Looks like I will be up very late on Saturday braiding… Lol
Thank you![/QUOTE]
It builds character.
Good luck at the show! 
Post back with how you do! We like updates and pictures. 
[QUOTE=Lucy17;7180138]
Braid. It’s a derby. There’s money, it’s for charity. Be turned out to the top. You’re obviously really excited and you’ll cherish the photos more down the road when you think back to this awesome class and you and horses looking your best.
I’m old, so excuse my rant, but about 20 years ago we were still braiding for regular vhsa associate shows, not just finals. I just think it loses something in the hunter ring when a rider’s turned out, but there mane flyin’ everywhere. I dunno… that’s just me, I guess.
puts down coffee, steps away from keyboard, slips on flame-retardant suit[/QUOTE]
No flame here, I completely agree with you. The OP will feel better and probably appreciate the photos a lot better later on. And the bit about always braiding…right there as well. Heck, IF my little TB and I get that right lead canter depart figured out in time to do the farm’s next schooling show, I’ll braid him. Why not? Looks great, and in my opinion if you’re going to get all dressed up, the horse should be as well. But I do my own braiding, so that makes it a lot easier for me to hold that opinion.
I know I’m old, but I’m not that old… I can’t believe this is even a question. Of course you braid.
I also am a little annoyed at classes under 3’6" (with 4 - 4’6" options) being called derbies… the whole point of derbies was to be extra super special classes… like the grand prix class in the jumper ring. Having bitty little baby derbies waters down the whole specialness IMO.
[QUOTE=fourmares;7180355]
I also am a little annoyed at classes under 3’6" (with 4 - 4’6" options) being called derbies… the whole point of derbies was to be extra super special classes… like the grand prix class in the jumper ring. Having bitty little baby derbies waters down the whole specialness IMO.[/QUOTE]
I believe one of the original purposes of the derbies was to spark more interest in the hunters, which they have certainly done. Should people never get the chance to enjoy the format unless they have the ability and horse to show at 3’6"? The USHJA doesn’t seem to think so, since they instituted the National Hunter Derbies at 3’ with options up to 3’5".
In hunters, braids all the way! At least the mane…In a derby the tail should be braided, too (I always do a pinwheel too!). Derbies are formal, and at the upper levels, breaking out your shadbelly shouldn’t be inappropriate. But for what you’re doing, braid the mane and tail.
I don’t have a problem with the derby format at lower heights. The format looks fun… but you don’t see a 3’6" Grand Prix jumper class… why? Because the Grand Prix is special. It’s the class for the top riders and horses. It’s special because not everyone can do it… If they offered a three foot jumper class in the grass ring with a longer than normal course it still wouldn’t be a Grand Prix. They would give it another name.
[QUOTE=fourmares;7180355]
I also am a little annoyed at classes under 3’6" (with 4 - 4’6" options) being called derbies… the whole point of derbies was to be extra super special classes… like the grand prix class in the jumper ring. Having bitty little baby derbies waters down the whole specialness IMO.[/QUOTE]
I agree with MHM and will add that this is no different than Grand Prixes. There are classes called “Grand Prixes” at small and unrated shows that vary anywhere from 1.10m to 1.30m.
The only way to truly understand what someone’s talking about is to refer to height, i.e. “1.60m Grand Prix” or “1.40m Grand Prix.” And I don’t think having smaller ones diminishes the special-ness of the real classes, it just dilutes the meaning when you say that you’ve ridden in a Grand Prix.
Along the same lines, I don’t see why hunter derbies would be any different when you drop below the rated stuff.
OP - I guess my preference would vary depending on the size of the show and whatever it is that makes the horse look best. OTOH, there’s probably not a scenario where you would regret being braided, but there is a very possible one if you are not!
Ok One more question. One of the horses I’m showing is a paint sooooo since its been quit a while since I have braided what color do I use on him Black where its black and white where its white? Becsuse I have seen paints done where the mane is done in one color regardless of the sections of different colors of mane?
It takes 20 minutes, always braid!
[QUOTE=Jealoushe;7180646]
It takes 20 minutes, always braid![/QUOTE]
I can’t put in 30-35 braids in 20 minutes. I can do a dressage mane of 9 braids in 8-12 minutes, depending on how late I am :lol:
[QUOTE=BLB Racing Stable;7180643]
Ok One more question. One of the horses I’m showing is a paint sooooo since its been quit a while since I have braided what color do I use on him Black where its black and white where its white? Becsuse I have seen paints done where the mane is done in one color regardless of the sections of different colors of mane?[/QUOTE]
For me, it depends. I did one horse where the mane pretty much split in half (part black, part white). For her, I used matching colors.
I have another pony I do that has splashes of white in a mostly chestnut mane. For him I just use the chestnut colored yarn as there only ends up being 2-3 white hair braids and I don’t feel like bothering with just 2-3 pieces of white yarn just for them.
Ok thank you! He has a lot of both colors in his mane so looks like I will be cutting both colors of yarn
