Im Considering Showing - Talk to me please!

[aBreeze]

I have a grade 36" filly that I am considering showing in halter and showmanship at the local open shows. I have never had a registered miniature, or shown one, and so dont really know much about how its done "proper" other than what Iv seen in photo's.

If I take to the whole mini thing I may look into getting involved with AMHA and/or AMHR eventually.

Im more familiar with stock breed halter classes, but do not have much experience in it. What is different?

What has other peoples experiences been with showing their little ones against "big horses." Do judges take you seriously? Is there a prejudice? I imagine there is...

Most importantly, is it even worth putting the money/time into this filly? I dont have a clue how she stacks up for miniature conformation.

My two year filly, I wont consider taking her to a show until next spring.

This was her first time being asked to "pose" though I didnt really know what I was asking for...


Starting to get it...


Some other unposed photo's of her...




Just because she has a pretty face.


You can see her front legs.


Thank you!

[BabyMay]

Your mare is very cute. I say go for it. The judges at open shows will take you seriously if you do the work to clean up the horse and teach it some manners before going into the ring. When I showed Dawson this weekend, it was fun. That was the only reason I did it. Your mare looks correct in structure and is fine boned. You have her in the right type halter. She would go into Pony or Mini classes and English horse at halter. If they are built like Dawson, They wear the western type halter and go into Pony or mini and Western type at halter. I think you have a very good chance at shows. Remember to have fun. You are paying for a persons opinion of your horse on that day. You may not like the opinion on certain days, but thats ok.

[Ridekool]

Your mare is nicely built. Hard to tell in the shots but it looks like her front right toes out a bit, looks like she may be a bit cow hocked in the hind (3rd pic) hard to be sure. Nice neck, nice head, great body condition.
Mini's SHOULD be judged like a riding horse but depending on the judge some of them will place the smaller Mini's over a taller one regardless of conformation. A Miniature Horse should look like a horse not a pony. Your mare fits that discription. Most peple set their Mini's up like an Arabian and to some extremems like a Modern Shetland. The top pic of your mare IMO is the best way to set her up, though I have seen people set their horse up like the 2nd pic.
Overall I think your mare will do very well in halter and showmanship.
Looking into hardshipping this mare into the WCMHR or the AMHR would be a good idea (IMO) she's not eligible for the AMHA.

[aBreeze]

Thanks you guys! I think Ill definitely look into doing this! It could be fun... now squeezing her into the trailer with the rest of our horses will be the interesting part.

I looked into hardshipping her into AMHR but the rulebook states "Only animals holding current AMHA or ASPC registration papers can be harshipped into AMHR. So by that rule, my girls out.

Ill go peek into WCMHR.
*edit* WCMHR also states that for hardship either the horse has to be part of another registry, or its parents do.

[kaykay]

As you saw AMHR ONLY allows shetland ponies or horses with AMHA papers to hardship in. Unfortunately you cannot get AMHA because of her height.

These pictures are really hard to critique from as they are taken at odd angles and you cant see the entire horse at once.

I have not shown in open but have a lot of friends that do and they do very well with miniatures. I would tone her up some and for sure do some intense grooming. Go out there and have fun!!

If you decide to try rated registry shows I would suggest getting an amhr show gelding as geldings are so much more fun to show then mares. Most farms give big discounts if you geld and show them so you can get a really nice show horse for not a lot of money.

[Ridekool]

You can register her with the WCMHR according to the paper work...? If you're intersed you could always call them and find out for sure.
Papered or not I still think she'll make a nice halter and cart horse.


WORLD CLASS MINIATURE HORSE REGISTRY, INC. A-34" and under B-over 34"-38" Permanent at 3 yrs.
Current Membership is required to register Photos are Optional except Hardship Applications
Current Year Foal-$15 Yearling-$20 Two –Year Old.-$25 Three Years or Older-$30
Geldings Open Registry-$10 pedigree not required for Geldings Show Pony over 38"-48" $15
Hardship, Mare or Stallion-$75previously unregistered, one orboth parents unregistered or
unknown. Requires Height at any age, and 4 photos, front, back, & both sides.

[Lil Bits]

Even if registered in WCMHR the mare still can't show in AMHR but it doesn't close you out from the open shows spoken of unless they ask for registration papers.
You said you wanted to do showmanship. That class is judged largely on you so conformation is not a major issue with that class. In that class since you are showing against big horses I believe they show the quater system (as far as where you stand during class).
I believe anymore that minis can hold their own in a halter class as well. I am lucky where I live as our mini division is so big at our open show that we have classes for minis only-about 20 of them.
Go and try it out. It can't hurt and I always have fun at shows whether my horses do well or not.

Oh, and I'd also have them stand square like a quater horse when going against big horses and not slightly stretched ou in back like you see alot of minis doind anymore.

[Ridekool]

Originally Posted by Lil Bits

Even if registered in WCMHR the mare still can't show in AMHR but it doesn't close you out from the open shows spoken of unless they ask for registration papers.

Oh, and I'd also have them stand square like a quater horse when going against big horses and not slightly stretched ou in back like you see alot of minis doind anymore.

Right.


Good point. Showing can be fun if you don't get sucked into the fads and politics.

Good luck!!

[kaykay]

I would be leery of wcmhr i have heard they are taking peoples money but they never get the papers.

[aBreeze]

I dont think Im going to do the WCMHR thing. Im not interested in getting papers on her unless they really mean something, with show opportunirty's etc.

The reason Im asking is that I wont drag her to shows just for showmanship. If she's suitable for halter, then that changes things a bit... Making her hang out at the trailer all day for one class seems rediculious... two works. At least in my reasoning.

I dont have a ton of photo's of her... heres the album of her latest photoshoot. http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...lle06/June708/


Thanks everyone for taking the time to give me your opinions!

[Ridekool]

I never had a problem with the WCMHR...?

If she was mine I'd have her in all the open shows possible, halter, showmanship, cart.

I used to take my Mini stallion for one class and make him stay the day He loved being out and about.

[aBreeze]

lol I did drag her along to a show when she was still on her mothers side. She was a big hit.

My biggest problem is trailer space... This next year things will be changing... but I have 4 big horses and 2 little ones (including Tulah) that should be getting out and about... with a 3.5 horse trailer.


Why are geldings easier to show in AMHA and AMHR? Im a mare person myself... I gave away my last gelding a year ago.

[Ridekool]

I haven't shown a Mini mare yet but I prefer to show a stallion then a gelding
I prefer mares too but a stallion is the next best thing I love my llittle gelding, don't get me wrong but he's lacking the...attitude I like about mares and to an extent stallions.

[pasopony]

We take our minis to open shows too It's lots of fun to let them compete with the big horses. In our area, we can go in Grooming and Conditioning, Halter, Showmanship, and In-hand trail class.

Grooming is very important. You want your horse to be clean, clipped, shined, hooves polished. Thin the mane enough that it lays down good or use a mane tamer. At the registered shows, horses are no longer allowed to be stretched out for halter, they have to stand square. One warning and then you're DQed.

You also should be dressed appropriately with boots, either showmanship pants or at least black jeans, tunic or western shirt/vest, and hat.

You have a pretty little mare, so go and have fun with her

[Skylight]

I show AMHR its fun but i can only afford about one show a year. Theres lots of stuff you can do with your girl in the open shows. Some of them also have costume and driving classes. Theres Driving dressage and CDE classes. You mare looks very nice and would be a great contender. Good luck and have lots of fun.

[kaykay]

I do think geldings are easier to show especially if you have never shown in rated shows before. Theres a lot to learn and take in and with a gelding there are no hormone issues like a mare or stallion. I showed 2 yearling fillies this year and invariably they come in heat every time you take them to a show. Not at all impossible but definitely makes it trickier. I have also shown many stallions and I love stallions. But again due to hormone issues they are tricky to handle at a show. We show aspc/amhr and do about 6 shows per year.