Show Ring - The Welsh Pony & Cob Society of Australia Inc

WHAT TO WEARThe most important factor when showing a pony or Cob in a led class is to remember that you are showing yourpony or Cob and nothing that you wear should detract from the pony or Cob or your ability to show it to its bestadvantage.Some people wear a riding outfit, which is perfectly acceptable, especially if you have to do quick changes to saddleclasses. If you have more time you could mix this with a pair of moleskin pants that are a good fit & allow you torun, and then, if you have enough time change into jodhpurs or breeches.DO’sYou are handling a pony or Cob and they can weigh in excess of 600kgSafe sensible shoes are a must: Little slip on ballet shoes are not suitable. You need to be able to run andshow your pony or Cob. Ensure that you choose a shoe that allows you to do so. It needs to fit well andlook tidy. There are a lot of neat lace up leather shoes and boots for ladies and men that are ideal forrunning in with suitable grip. Leather soled shoes can sometimes be quite slippery.Look at the colour of your ponies legs and think about the colour of the pants that you wear. If you have ablack pony or Cob avoid wearing black pants. The judge in the centre of the ring wants to clearly see thepony’s legs.Keep things simple; neat, comfortable and suitable for handling the pony or Cob.Neatness, comfort and safety are a priority.A good fitting pair of well made pants, like a moleskin or similar stylelook smart.Pants and a shirt that tuck into one another look neat and stylish.A matching tailored waistcoat shirt & tie , but rememberthat we are in the heat a lot of the time showing, so you do want tominimise layersWear a tie if you choose. In open classes like Part Welsh you cancolour coordinateyour outfit and tie with your browband.A long sleeve shirt not only looks very neat, but provides sunprotection too.Ladies may choose to wear a skirt, either as a suit with matchingjacket, or with a neat well fitted shirt. It is vital that skirts do notrestrict movement, and are an appropriatelength when running to avoid distraction to the judge and others.Again, avoid wearing a skirt which blends with the colour of your ponyor Cob’s legs.If there is cold weather you can wear a jacket (like a riding or similar style that allows movement) over thetop, or a very neat quilted style vest is also suitable. You can adapt this in many ways & a nice stylish shirtwithout a tie & pants orskirts can look very appropriate also for the show ring.Don’t forget the iron! Your entire outfit should be well pressed & not look like something you dragged offthe float floor!Gloves not only protect hands, but finish an outfit.Hats are essential in the Australian Summer for UV protection. However they should be smart, suitable forrunning & not be the eye catching part of your outfit.Seek a stylish small brimmed well fitting hat.A simple cap can provide sun protection, keep hair neat & tidy (another essential part) & finishes an outfit.Try your hat on before the show. Run your pony or Cob wearing the hat. Some ponies can be frightenedby a hat & check that your hat does not fall off as nothing is more distracting in the ring than a hat sailingacross the ring!WP & CS of Australia Inc. Handbook 2013.The Show Ring 6 | P a g e