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  Discussion on Going to My First Gaited Show
Author Message
Member:
Gldilox

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 27, 2004 - 7:25 pm:

I have shown my TB mare in dressage but always have wanted to show my TWH gelding (Man of Miracles). Unlike the mare, he practically begs to be shown and lights up when he has an audience. Not having any gaited shows within easy distance, I haven't pursued the idea but this weekend I have entered us in an open show which includes everything from TWH to SSH to Pasos to Rocky Mountain horses in the gaited classes. It could easily be a mess but we're going in there with the idea that it's supposed to be fun.

There's already 20 other horses entered in the gaited classes. I need advice. How do you attach the ribbons to their mane? How long are should they be? I've also entered the versatility class, which I'm told is "egg and spoon" or "water glass." Any tips on how I do those? I've bought all the show clothes so I think we're going to look spiffy if nothing else. Any advice on competition is appreciated. We have to flat walk and running walk, no canter (thank goodness). Manny is a tad canter impaired to the right.
Member:
Lilo

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004 - 1:51 pm:

No advice from me - I have a Rocky Mountain Horse and have not figured out how to keep him in his gait. I am a walk/trot/canter person, and am having trouble to figure out the gaiting part.
Would really love to hear how the show went! Please report back.
Thanks,
Lilo
Member:
Roboski

Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 9:42 am:

How did the show go? I hadn't checked in in ages and saw your post too late to respond. I show my TWH a little and from my experience you should have gotten lots of help from folks at the show. I always need an extra pair of hands to get the forelock and mane braid in and someone has always been helpful. Hope you had fun ...aren't the clothes great?
Sharon
Member:
Gldilox

Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 10:04 am:

What a fun show! There were at least 20 entries in the gaited classes, from TWH to SSH to Pasos to Fox Trotters to Rocky Mountain horses - you get the idea. We placed fifth in the gaited pleasure class (our first try); both that class and the favorite gait class were won by a triple registered horse from GA with HEAVY shoes. All that knee action impressed the judge. Oh well... The winner did tell me I had a good seat, though.

Manny was fantastic and exhibited a RW that I knew he should have but had never seen. We were passing the other horses! Of course, the judge wasn't looking during this display. Ever since, he's very excited to be ridden and his left lead canter issues have disappeared. He wants to show worse than I do. You can tell by the look in his eyes that he's there to win!

I ran into an acquaintance at the show (she showed TWH years ago) and she taught me the secret of the ribbons - bread ties! She even had extra.

We're going to try an official TWH show in June and again in July. We're setting our sites for Celebration 2005!

I can email photos if anyone wants to see us.
Member:
Annes

Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 10:53 am:

Martha, I would love to see your photo's. I have two gaited TWH's that I love to ride but I don't think I have a competitive bone in my body! I love to hear about it though. I think it is wonderful that you and Manny are having so much fun. - Ann
Member:
Gldilox

Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 12:24 pm:

If you'll send me an email to planboss@comcast.net, I'll be happy to send a couple of photos.
Member:
Gldilox

Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 12:27 pm:

We were smoking in the "egg and spoon" until they announced "halt." It's instinctual to do a quick stop but the principle of momentum being what it is, it's best to glide slowly to a halt. Instead of egg on my face I had it on my saddle!
Member:
Lilo

Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 1:31 pm:

Thanks for reporting back. I am glad you and your horse had a great time!
Lilo
Member:
Skeller

Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 8:21 pm:

Ok, I'm dying of curiosity, how did you use the bread ties? I'm always all thumbs braiding my saddlebred. Never braided a walking horse before. But it sure looks like work with all those bow like pieces that are also braided in. You did great, 5th out of 20 is something to be proud of. Sandi
Member:
Gldilox

Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 10:12 am:

I looked through my magazines to see how the braids were done on the horses in the ads. Then I made a regular braid from three pieces of ribbon (royal blue, baby blue and silver) and secured each end with a small rubber band (like you use to braid manes). I clipped the ends of each ribbon into a "V" shape to finish off the ends.

There is one ribbon at the forelock and one at the start of the bridle path. I wrapped the bread tie (aka garbage tie) around the ribbon and a piece of mane: make a few twists with the tie to securely hold. I've noticed that the forelocks of TWH are always out of sight. We just braided Manny's and doubled it back on itself, securing with a rubber band and tucking it under the browband. Then we added the other ribbon and had it lie under the browband and throat latch of the bridle, so that it didn't flap in this face.

It all seemed to work and Manny looked pretty good!
Member:
Mftgirl

Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 10:52 pm:

Congratulations Martha. 5th is excellent for your first show, esp in a class that size. It's always nice to ride a horse in a show that knows when to perform. I was showing once, when, unfortunately, the one time the judge was looking at me was when my mare tripped over the only rock in the arena. What was that doing in there anyway? But she loved to be shown. I'm still looking for my next show horse.
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