Showing my new Yearling in the Hunter Breeding ring: tips and tricks?

[B_Street_Tango]

I’ve recently purchased a 9 month old Dutch Warmblood that I’m planning to take out and about to some hunter breed shows this Spring. And I’m a total newbie to it!

I’ve searched here and read all I can about the process and looked online at youtube, etc to see some of it in action and have a good idea at what I need to do prep him.

I know we’d probably more successful (if you’re measuring with ribbons) with a professional handler and letting someone else do the prepping but I’m interested in doing as much myself as possible but do also have a couple of trainers that I’ll be working with to help me through sticky times. I’m using this a bonding, growing and rewarding experience for both of us. I currently piddle in the local h/j, BN eventing with the occasional foxhunt with my TB gelding. I’m not sure where I’m aiming yet with my youngster but figure I’ll see how things develop as we go and if he has a special knack for anything in particular.

He’s black and I know the hunter world prefers brown tack, what color bridle for him? I looked at a dark brown the other day but realized once I clean and condition it, it would probably look almost black. Also, what type of bridle? Any fancy stitching or raised brow/nosebands or a simple flat bridle? I need a cob bridle to show him in so figure if I’m buying something I may as well get something conventional. I know a D-ring bit is the most traditional, currently.

I’m sure I’ll have other questions as we get closer but I’m a planner by nature so like to research and think things through well in advance.

Any other crucial tips or suggestions you have would be much appreciated! I’m sure I’m going to feel a bit out of place and awkward but I don’t want to look like a total fool!

[Anne]

Welcome! Zone 3 is very competitive in terms of quality of horses, but it’s a nice group of people.

He needs a dark brown bridle. You can choose padding or no padding, fancy stitched or not, based on how it looks on him. Blingy ones with lots of white on their faces tend to look better in a simpler bridle. A D ring is pretty standard, and don’t be afraid to take him to the ring with a halter and shank over the bridle. Pretty much everyone does that, especially with a yearling. Then just slip the halter off right before you go in the ring. For a yearling, unless he’s enormous, you’ll probably need to start the year in a pony bridle and then go to a cob.

As far as prep, obviously he needs to walk and jog in hand and stand nicely. Depending on when you want to start showing, you may need to clip him. The first shows are at Prince George’s in Maryland the end of March. Then Rose Mount, Lex Spring Premiere and Encore, James River, Keswick, Devon, Upperville, Loudon Benefit, Deep Run, and Warrenton. He will need to be braided, mane and tail, every time. If you can’t do that yourself, make sure you make arrangements ahead of time as not all of the regular horse show braiders will be keen to do a baby, especially a yearling!

Don’t let him get sunbleached - he needs clothes including a fly sheet with a neck if he’s going to be out during the day. Mostly the prep is good feeding, good care, and lots of grooming.

There are fantastic professionals in our area, and you may want to enlist one to help give your youngster a good first experience. We also have a lot of amateur handler classes where you would be more competitive… it’s really difficult to show your own in the regular classes around here. I tried the DIY approach with meeting a pro at the ring, and I couldn’t get the job done at home in a regular boarding environment in terms of feed and turn out. My young horses now live with Laurie Pitts and Junior Johnson, where they get the best of everything in terms of their mental and physical development. I am pretty hands on, but have a lot less mental stress when I don’t have to worry about my horses’ day to day program! Their website is http://www.juniorjohnsontrainingandsales.com and I recommend them very highly.

Good luck with your youngster!

[B_Street_Tango]

Thanks so much for the additional information! It was very helpful (esp the halter over the bridle until entering the ring!)

Unfortunately, even though I’m far from a pro, I’m not an amateur. I help out w books, an occassional up/down lesson, etc, that preclude me from amateur status…So amateur handler classes aren’t an option. I think my youngster is pretty nice but I’m doing this more for experience, to have some fun, and see what it’s all about. If we’re not super competitive, it’s ok. If we get a pretty piece of polyester for our efforts, great.

Now I just need to measure him to see what size bit he needs and order a nice bridle for him!

Thanks again!

[rosebudranch]

Welcome! I’ve been showing my own youngsters on the line for several years now… this year will be my 5th yearling… I have a coming 3 yr old pony gelding that I may bring to one or two, but going to mostly w/t classes at local VHSA shows with him this year, and Ill show my Chaleon filly (a coming 2 yr old) on the line a bit, then I also have my 9 month old Limoncello II colt I’ll be showing (he will be my main shower this year). While I definitely can’t present them as well as Junior and the other Pros, I enjoy doing it myself and cant really afford to pay someone else to do it. I enjoy the process and there is a HUGE difference in how they handle shows when they get older, it is a great experience (even though I only went to 5 shows. or maybe only 4 last year I still got VHSA and MSHA year end awards… three Reserve Champions and One 6th between the two… and my Pony gelding should be getting a Zone award in the mail soon). Its just a fun experience… I’m still learning how to master the whole standing them up thing… my babies will do it at home, but never want to do it at the shows… oh well. For me it is all about the experience NOT the ribbons or place… though I do love those ribbons … I have every ribbon I’ve won since I started riding when I was 12… haha. Can’t wait to meet you! I’m new to the area moved here in Sept of 2012 and would love to meet you!

[Effie1221]

Photos please!

[B_Street_Tango]

Rosebud, I’d love to meet up! I’ll PM you.

I don’t have a lot of pics yet but here are a few:

Here he is first day home and his first snow
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/two2tango/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_4048_zps91f7a18a.jpg

Looking for sweet kisses
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/two2tango/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_4066_zpscc48ebd1.jpg

Breed show this past summer with his breeder
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/two2tango/Mobile%20Uploads/3pice6196_zpsdd80f279.jpg

Pretty face
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/two2tango/Mobile%20Uploads/3picb6196_1_zps0cd3e4f6.jpg

[bluedapple]

he is GORGEOUS! What is his breeding?

[kookicat]

Stunning boy! I’d look for a bridle a little bit wider than the one in the photo of his pretty head. The noseband looks a bit lost on him.

[B_Street_Tango]

Thanks for the compliments, I’m madly in love with him. He’s by Idocus out of Versailles, an Olympic Ferro daughter.

Good tip on the bridle, I just ordered a couple to try out and I agreed, he could use a slightly wider nose band. I was afraid it might overwhelm him since he has a bit of a dishy, feminine head, I might have to experiment to find the right balance.

[kookicat]

I think you’ll be fine as long as you don’t go too thick. He does have a lovely face.

[darkhorsecj]

What a pretty boy! It will be fun to see him and you in the ring.

[lb2005]

Give it a try!

My partner and I have done exactly two hunter breeding shows, both times at the Kentucky Horse Park and both times showing yearlings that were being prepared for breed show competition. We had a blast. In 2012, our yearling was reserve best young horse after placing second in his yearling class (out of 7), and in 2013, we were third out of three in the yearling class (and rightly so).

We are not newcomers to showing hunters, so all the grooming is the same, and ours knew how to stand. So, really, it was an easy day for us and the yearlings.

I encourage you to give it a try!

{I was going to try to attach a photo, but I might need to have an alternate membership to do that.}

[Rissa515]

I saw him for sale on FB, I was so sad when they said he was sold…now i’m super jealous of you…lol! Just wanted to say I love your new baby!

[BaysofourLives]

Smartpak sells great, inexpensive bridles. I had an edgewood for my yearling colt last year, but this year have more than 1 horse showing on the line and wasn’t about to spend that kind of money again so ordered a smartpak and it’ll work just fine after some oiling.

If you get a pony or cob bridle, get LONGER normal length reins! Gives you more room if your yearling spooks or tries to run off at the show. Cob bridle should work just fine and give plenty of room for them to grow. More than likely you’ll need a 4 1/2 inch bit.

Most importantly, keep in mind hunter breeding is SUPER political. I always have my own goals set for the babies, and as long as those goals are met the ribbons don’t matter. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to be rewarded for your hard work and a quality horse, but at the end of the day it’s supposed to be for experience and fun

[eaconlee]

I am usually in the H/J world for my daughter to show, but we have a jumper bred foal (coming yearling) that just is not ever going to move like a hunter. Was thinking to do the dressage in hand (forgive me if that’s not right term), but haven’t been able to find much useful online. Advice? Thanks in advance

[rosebudranch]

[QUOTE=eaconlee;7371319]
I am usually in the H/J world for my daughter to show, but we have a jumper bred foal (coming yearling) that just is not ever going to move like a hunter. Was thinking to do the dressage in hand (forgive me if that’s not right term), but haven’t been able to find much useful online. Advice? Thanks in advance[/QUOTE]

Mine is jumper bred too… but I’ll still be showing him in the hunter breeding. I have a few Dressage Breed shows in my calender… but not sure if I will go. I enjoy them because I feel it is less political… the braids are easier to do… BUT… you need to practice a lot and ensure that you can get him really trotting forward without him playing and jumping on you. The dressage guys want you to move forward and show lots of movement… and you have to do so on the triangle. It is easy and enjoyable… and fun! Just practice… it is more than just jogging a striaght line like int he HB ring! I do it all for experience… so I enjoy both and as I like to get mine exposure to more markets (as they are sale babies)… I take them wherever I can!

[eaconlee]

So for the dressage, you do a traditional black dressage bridle with loose ring snaffle? No flash I’d assume? I know how to do the braids as we’ve gone to a few USDF shows. The moving out well without deciding to rear and play will be a challenge. The world is an exciting place at this age.

[B_Street_Tango]

Thanks everyone for the additional well wishes and tips. We tried a couple of bridles on over the weekend and he’s definitely a cob, the pony-size is already too short. Although I’ll have to punch a hole in the noseband but that’s no big deal.

He’s really more dressage bred than hunter, so I’m thinking we’ll do the breed shows, too. It’s all about getting him out, exposed and having some fun!

[rosebudranch]

[QUOTE=eaconlee;7372229]
So for the dressage, you do a traditional black dressage bridle with loose ring snaffle? No flash I’d assume? I know how to do the braids as we’ve gone to a few USDF shows. The moving out well without deciding to rear and play will be a challenge. The world is an exciting place at this age.[/QUOTE]

I just use the same bridle I show the babies in in hunter breeding… those that do the dressage use the black bridles etc… but I’m not going to go buy yet another bridle they are just going to grow out of… agian… its about the experience… not playing any political game to win… a horse that has the movement will place wether its a brown bridle or a black one… as long as it looks good on the horse that is. I’m not saying just put any bridle on that doesnt fit your horse … you get the drift ;-).

And yes, just button braids…

[BaysofourLives]

Yearlings do not need to wear bit bridles at USDF or breed shows, only a halter.