This article first appeared in a previous issue of Equestrian Life magazine. For more information or to subscribe, visit our home page here.

© Equine Image Photography

By Jamie Carson

Think you can plait a pony's tail? Get up at 5am and pull a float all over the countryside? Cope with the mud, sweat and tears that is pony show reality? Tread carefully when you take those first steps at the pony club and you and your child will be rewarded.

There is nothing more adorable than watching a tiny child, all big red bows, on a delicate pony performing a foot-perfect workout on a Royal Show arena to the cheers of family and friends who have ridden every step with her. Admittedly, I am biased, having always had an obsession with show horses. From as young as eight I can recall my bedroom walls being plastered with posters of superstar horses such as Pure Caste, Ark Royal, Lord Carrington and Vienna After Dark, and I was reading every article I could on riders I idolised, such as Roy Davis, Caroline Wagner, Vicki Lawrie and Maree Tomkinson. Other than that the pictures on the walls now feature my own horses, nothing much has changed.

What is there not to like about showing? You see the most beautiful horses in the world ridden by the most elegant riders. Showing is the best horse sport of them all and is a brilliant way for young riders to establish careers. Anyone who doubts the benefits of a few years in the show ring need only look to Charlotte Dujardin (winner of four UK HOYS Championships), or our own dressage stars, Lyndal Oatley (Grand National Rider of the Year) and Maree Tomkinson (many times Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout Winner and Royal Show Champion Lady Rider). The show ring teaches ringcraft, competitiveness, sportsmanship, horse management and a resilience that can only be learnt by fronting up to perform week after week.

Usually it begins innocently enough. A free weekend, a show program picked up from the saddlery on a whim, a pact with another mother to share the float ride and sandwich duties. There are the casual reassurances that “it can’t be that hard, it’s just a fun day out”! You circle a few classes in the program, having no idea of the difference between "hunter" and "open" or "novice" and "newcomer" but figure you will work it out. The day before, however, you discover you can't plait, and no matter how many times you bathe Blackie, he still doesn’t shine like the ponies in the magazines.

The alarm goes off at 5am on Saturday, and somehow pony and child are loaded up. Through the showground gates you go and find the grounds taken up by trucks bigger than some houses, ponies so shiny you can see your reflection in their flanks, tiny children barely riding around with ringcraft you didn't think possible, and parents who seem to know how this circus works.  However, a few hours and hopefully a few ribbons later, Missy is hooked and you are thinking it might be fun to be one of those show mothers!

© Equine Image Photography

First up, to be competitive, there is a general standard of presentation to meet. I wouldn’t go overboard on new gear at first, but your pony should always be plaited, unless competing in a breed class that states otherwise, and there are many articles available online to show you how to do this. Your pony should have either a braided or pulled tail, and again there is a wealth of information online. I would suggest the pulling route is less stressful as it is one less task to do on show morning. Finding someone who does this regularly and engaging their services is wise if your pony has an untamed bush of a tail, as it can be quite a big task initially. Ideally, your pony will have a false tail in at shows, but this is not an absolute requirement. If you decide to buy one, simply take a small swatch of hair to your local saddler or contact an online supplier who can colour match it. Your pony will need a chance to get used to the different feeling of having a ''hair extension''.

It seems quarter markers are one of those things that newbies find difficult to get the hang of, along with doing make-up. My suggestion for both is practise, practise, practise! Do both every time your child rides so you develop an eye for what suits your pony.

Your pony ideally should have a show or neat dressage saddle. Beg or borrow one at first to get an idea of what suits your child and pony. A saddle with a straight cut shoulder that sits well back will be flattering, and avoid anything with bulky knee rolls.

 Brown is the preferable colour for tack. A neat sheepskin numnah that fits closely to the edge of the saddle and a simple white or brown girth, such as the Wintec Elastic Girth, completes the picture. Your pony’s bridle should be clean and well fitting. The noseband should fit nicely, not flop down the pony’s face.

If you think your pony is more suited to a hunter class, a plain leather brow band is suitable, however, if you think your pony demonstrates the elegance of an open show pony, a ribbon brow band is required. Stick to a traditional colour combination and avoid turning your pony into a cantering disco ball.

On show day, the judge will usually begin each class by asking all competitors to walk, trot and canter, beginning on the left rein, then to change rein and do the same on the right rein. The judge may choose her winners by judging ''on the circle'', or may ''call in'' competitors to perform a short workout. A workout will generally include walk, trot, lengthened trot, canter and a simple change. In a hunter class, an in-hand gallop is expected; in a rider class, sitting trot will be required.

Often newcomers struggle to understand how a horse that might have made a small mistake in the workout can beat a horse that has been foot perfect. If a horse is clearly of outstanding quality, it may be forgiven for a minor mistake, particularly at a small show where the disparity in quality is likely to vary widely. However, as the quality of the competition increases, such as at a royal show, the chances of being forgiven are much less.

It is important to understand the general breakdown of judging criteria should favour the overall quality of the horse, movement and general appearance according to the Equestrian Australia Show Horse Rules & Guidelines. These guidelines state: “A show horse should be well mannered and obedient, but never mechanical. Exuberance may be forgiven but not bad manners, biting, rearing or bolting … show horses are judged on conformation and soundness and also for manners, paces and education. It should be noted that first and foremost, a show horse is a quality animal … exuberance and tension should be forgiven to a degree”. These guidelines reinforce that a show horse class should never be judged like a best-educated mount class. The only exception is when judging show hunters, as the guidelines are very clear that “manners are extremely important and small misdemeanors, which may be overlooked in a show horse, should be penalised in the show hunter.” It goes without saying that a Child’s, First Ridden or Leading Rein class will take into consideration the pony’s manners to a much greater degree.

Kaia Price gets some advice from the Judge on the Leading Rein Workout.

© Derek O’Leary

It is important to understand that success or failure in the show ring essentially comes down to one person's opinion on the day. It is always a good idea to look up the line and see what the competitors who placed ahead of your pony did differently. If there is something you are struggling with, just ask someone you look up to for help. Showies have a terrible reputation for snobbery, but most are happy to help as long as you don't bother them when they are busy.

If you have reached a point where you think you would like to explore showing on a more competitive level, you first need to decide how ambitious you are going to be. This should be dictated largely by your child, as there is nothing worse than seeing a child forced to ride at a big competition where they are overwhelmed or simply not interested and are there only to appease the demands of the parent. Showing at the top level, like any competitive sport, is challenging, time-consuming and can be expensive. You will be competing against professionals, the wealthy who can afford the best tuition and ponies, and those lucky enough to have been born into families who've been competing at this level for years and know the show scene inside out.

 Before you get disheartened, this absolutely does not mean that the average child on a nice, well-schooled and beautifully presented pony (none of these things cost money!) can’t be competitive at the top level. It happens regularly. It does mean that you need to have realistic expectations of the time needed to dedicate to the qualifying shows and the standard of presentation and attention to detail necessary at this level.

Start small and build up your confidence and experience. There are more and more children-only events such as the recent Show Horse Council of Victoria Junior Equestrian Showdown that provide a great introduction to top-level competition on a more level playing field. Almost all the major shows now offer amateur and children-only classes, such as those at SHCV Masters and Barastoc Horse of the Year Show. There is nothing wrong with spending 12 months competing in the pony club ring while you and your child perfect your roles. Again, pony club classes are on offer up to royal show level and are a great introduction to competing at this level without the stress of competing against professionals.

If you do aim high, I suggest you find a mentor – either a professional or another parent who has been there, as it will make the learning process much easier. Almost all the top show horse producers offer a tuition service, which is generally no more expensive than that of a local instructor. Be upfront about your goals, your time and budget, and be prepared for honest feedback, in particular when it comes to the suitability of your child’s mount or your standard of turnout. Remember that showing is based largely around the overall picture and showies are generally borderline OCD when it comes to things normal horse people wouldn’t even notice. When was the last time you had an hour-long debate over the merits of carnations versus rosettes? Exactly! As the saying goes – there is no business like show business!

TAKE A TIP FROM THESE SHOW MUMS

No one knows better than mothers who have already been down the show pony path, and overwhelmingly their advice is to take time selecting the right pony and to make the most of the fun times and friendships. Penelope Cobbold, mother of Martha Ulm, who has had extraordinary success riding her pony Kolbeach Chanting (Bally) to win major awards such as NSW SHC Pony of the Year and Reserve Champion Open Pony at Sydney Royal, says winning isn't everything. "The most fun we ever had was when we owned this really plain Galloway we nicknamed Donkey, because she had the longest ears. Every time she won a ribbon it was a real achievement and we had so many good times and laughs showing that mare. Have fun, and if you're not having fun, don't do it.”

Danielle Murray says her favourite memory was watching her daughter Zoe Murray win the Novice, Child's and the Open Show Hunter on a pony called Nattai Gwyn at Adelaide Royal after they had been riding together for seven years facing a lot of ups and downs. "It brought tears to my eyes.” Zoe is now a catch rider on ponies such as Libby Greshner’s Beauparc Exquisite.

On selecting the right mount for a child, Penelope highlights safety.  “Take your time to find a pony that your kid can actually ride. It doesn't matter how old the first pony or hack is, you buy for safety and fun, not for prettiness and what it can win.”

Katie-Sutton Kouros, mother of Phoebe Kouros who has been having great success with her pony, Radford Lodge Sweet Dreams, says:  “Take lots of time when buying the right pony. The right pony will change your life.”

Fiona Mardling, mother of twins Emily and Holly Murray, who are no strangers to Horse of the Year and Royal Show Championships, agrees: “Always buy the best pony that you can – not necessarily the most expensive, just the best that suits what you need and always the safest.'' As for her best experience as a show mum, Fiona says: “Letting go of your little five-year-old out onto a royal show arena off the lead and on her own …(but then) the smile that graces your daughter's face as she returns with whatever ribbon and the joy that pony brought to both you and her – priceless.”

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