Showing Your Native Pony: Essential Tips for Success
Native ponies, also known as Mountain and Moorland breeds, are an excellent choice for those new to showing. These hardy ponies, native to the British Isles, excel in versatility and natural beauty without requiring elaborate grooming techniques like plaiting or clipping.
Top Grooming Tips for Native Ponies
Showing native ponies means embracing their natural appearance. Avoid plaiting or clipping. You may thin a thick mane, but tails should never be banged or trimmed. Most breed societies prohibit trimming whiskers, ears, jawlines, and belly hair. A native pony should be hardy enough to live outdoors comfortably, even during show season.
Bath your pony with suitable horse shampoo, massaging gently in delicate areas and using a rubber curry comb on the topline. Use specialist shampoos designed to enhance shine in manes and tails, but avoid overwashing to preserve natural oils, especially if your pony is kept outside. To keep the tail clean, tuck it inside an old pair of tights and secure with a bandage at the top.
Hooves should be clean and polished with hoof oil or allowed chalk whitening if permitted by your breed's show rules. Keeping hooves neat without excessive products is key. Avoid any make-up on the pony's face; sometimes baby oil is used sparingly around eyes or nostrils to accentuate features. A light show sheen can be applied to the coat but is best avoided in ridden classes as it may cause saddle slipping.
Choosing Appropriate Tack for Inhand and Ridden Classes
Native pony showing splits into inhand and ridden classes. Tack presentation plays a critical role in judging and overall impression.
Inhand classes: Ponies under four years old or mares with a foal may be shown in a white webbing halter. Older ponies require a plain leather bridle with a snaffle bit and a plain cavesson noseband. Leather lead reins with chains linked to the bit are preferred for control and a polished appearance. Avoid coloured browbands to maintain natural elegance. Boots and bandages are not permitted in the show ring.
Ridden classes: Tack should match the inhand style. In open ridden classes, using a pelham or double bridle is acceptable. Saddles should be the same leather colour as the bridle, preferably straight-cut or working hunter styles to highlight the pony’s shoulder and movement. While general-purpose saddles are commonly used in novice classes, advancing to a showing saddle is beneficial for presentation. Discreet numnahs may be used, and girths should be plain leather or webbing in neutral colours.
What to Expect Inside the Show Ring
The show ring experience is structured into five main parts, each essential to demonstrate your pony’s qualities:
- Open order: All competitors enter and walk or trot around the arena in an ordered manner. Maintain your pony’s attention and calmness, even if overtaken. This phase sets the first impression.
- Line up: Ponies are gathered in the centre, standing for a closer side-by-side inspection by the judge, who observes conformation and presence.
- Individual show: When called, perform a brief show. For inhand, walk away and trot back with an extended rein to display the pony's top line. In ridden classes, show walk, trot, canter, and sometimes gallop, usually incorporating a figure of eight to reveal paces and transitions. End with a halt and a salute.
- Pony inspection: The judge will closely examine your pony, including coat condition, legs, eyes, and nose. In ridden classes, the saddle will be removed for inspection. Your pony should be comfortable being handled.
- Final show: All ponies return to the arena for final walking or trotting. The judge indicates placements with a deliberate order of prizes. After this, reward your pony with praise and care.
Appropriate Show Attire
Wear traditional tweed jackets with a shirt and tie. Adults typically wear long boots, though for smaller breeds, short jodhpur boots are acceptable. Jodhpurs should be in light colours like cream or beige. A showing cane or a plain whip may be carried, but spurs are forbidden in native pony classes.
Why Native Ponies Are Great for Beginners
Native ponies are naturally hardy and do not require intricate grooming or tack. Their natural beauty and temperament make them excellent first ponies for newcomers to the showing world. This reduces the pressure of mastering skills like plaiting and elaborate clipping while still enabling you to shine in the ring with a well-prepared pony.
Always check breed-specific showing rules from your native pony’s society to ensure compliance. By respecting their natural features and using the right grooming and presentation techniques, you will enjoy a rewarding showing experience that celebrates the heritage of these remarkable British ponies.
