Showing Your Canadian

[Tori Wisell]

for those of us just getting into this wonderful breed,I was wondering where do you show your Canadian in New England,breed/type specific classes,such as in-hand classes?? has anyone on here shown their Canadian at NEDA,in-hand and/or under saddle? Looking for suggestions in the area - not ready to drive to Canada yet for a horse show ! I seem to remember some mention of Topsfield here a few months back....any feedback on there,and anywhere else?

[Karl Shelin]

Hi Tori.

One of the things I hope we'll do here is organize show presentations. See if we can organize our own show(s) or at least arrange for several of our Canadians to make a showing in open classes.

We've shown our horses at open shows and 4H shows and of course the Classic. The Northeast Friesian Horse Club has the Northeast Classic every year and 3 years ago Sue Heath (if I recall correctly) persuaded them to introduce Canadian Horse classes. The Canadians were well received and they've had Canadian Horse classes ever since. They're the only ones I know of that actually feature the Canadian Horse.

I met Christine Sharp 4 years ago at a South Shore Horseman's Council open show.

We've done a couple of clinics and I can recall one occasion where a show organizer thanked us for bringing Canadian Horses - she'd heard of them but never seen one and they were all thrilled to see them. We've always been well received and had lots of people asking about our horses.

Any member of the group can create an event on the event page. It would be a good idea I think if anyone is going to show they create an entry on our events page and we can either organize attendance or at least go visit.

We didn't show much this last year. The cost of gas was a real problem. We only did the Classic in Topsfield. We had a lot of fun in Topsfield.

EquineSIte probably has the best listing of shows I know of.

Great idea to create this discussion.

Karl

[Dream Horse Canadians]

We are working towards an all breed show. That is going to take time.
I took Playboy to Canada as a yearling. He was very well received by Malcom Wheeler (the judge) and the many people I met while I was there( a good deal of them are members here now) It was a wonderful experience and I can't wait to do it again. I also showed him in hand at South Shore Horseman's like Karl said. The problem was the judges kept telling me " he just doesn't move like a friesian and I had to keep telling them " that is because he is not a friesian , he is a canadian" but that was four years ago and people are starting to know the breed. Last year we went to the warmblood inspection. We also attended the Topsfield show the past three years. I wanted to do the neda sport horse breeders series but did not have the money. Money is the biggest set back for not doing more. I would like to start showing Playboy in dressage this year but I have lots of things happening.
Sue from NH who owns Duke does the neda shows. She can add to this conversation.
I think we all definitely need to support the Topsfield show this year and make the show bigger for canadians. I am not aware of any other show in New England that offers classes for canadians. Hopefully that will start changing.
Christine

[Tori Wisell]

Thanks for the info so far - I've tried to look up info about the Classic,but so far,all I've come across was a sample class list.I think I read somewhere(here on NECC?) that sponsors were really needed for classes for them to continue.Anyone know who to contact about that?I looked briefly at the Northeast Fresian Horse Club website,but didn't find anything,or anyone to contact about that.Maybe I just overlooked it.But I would be interested in sponsoring a class or two - would this prevent me from being able to show in a class though? I also would love to talk to anyone that shows their young horses in hand - do horses show in halters,or bridles? how do handlers dress for classes?do you have to belong to all sorts of other horse show associations,just to show in a class or two? I'm a fish out of water here - eventing is my game - 'horse shows' are a bit differant.Any and all advice is welcome.Thanks!

[Dream Horse Canadians]

Hi Tori
I will get in touch with the show manager from last year. If possible I will have sponsorship forms available from this site. If we get a head start in preparing for the Topsfield show, we can knock their socks off with all of our canadiens this coming year.
You can absolutelty show in a class that you have sponsored. You can refer to specific class descriptions when you show and it will usually specify whether you show in a halter or bridle. The classes at topsfield did not specify. Weanlings and yearlings are shown in halters. I believe two year olds should be in a bridle but it depends on where you are showing and what the class is.
As far as dress goes it also depends on the class. Western horse in hand you would wear your western attire, english horse in hand, english attire-saddleseat if that is your horses style. When I showed my tb in hand he was a hunter type I wore breeches,boots,show coat,shirt,gloves and a hunt cap. The horse was in his bridle and his mane and tail were always braided. Friesian in hand, I wore lon

[Dream Horse Canadians]

Sorry,I don't know what happened but half my post is missing. If you have any more questions you can email me directly. Christine

[Karl Shelin]

Showing really isn't my passion so I'm hardly expert but I think basic showmanship should be part of a horse's training and showing in hand can be a lot of fun. And I just love seeing the Canadians out there.

The class list for most shows will have something about how the horse should be tacked for the class if it's not obvious. Western horse in hand, for example, you'll always show in a (western, show) halter and you have a lot of latitude. English horse in hand can go either way so they'll probably comment on it in the class description. It's worthwhile though to be prepared for either. You can always ask the show steward if it isn't clear. English horse in hand typically the handler is attired as appropriate for English - breaches and a jacket. Lidia and I show western. Starched jeans, white shirt and polished boots is about as dressed up as I'm gonna get and with a cowboy hat I'm "western".

Usually for 2 year olds and under (3 for Canadians) it's in a halter and if you're "not western" you just wear some "dressy" attire.

It would be a good idea to attend a show or two and just see how it unfolds. The ringmaster will generally say how you should line up, and the judge will tell you how they want you to move.

You'd probably want to bring your horse to a couple of schooling shows. They're most forgiving - the whole idea is to give a young horse or a new horse their first experience(s). And until you're comfortable with how it all goes you might not want to be first in line. Although it's been my experience that they can be forgiving if you miss a cue.

Then there are open shows with classes for any breed. Those are good for more practice in a less forgiving environment.

You might also want to get some pointers from a trainer and practice. The whole idea of the in hand classes is to show off your horse. You want your horse to be presented as best they possibly can, you never want to get between your horse and the judge and you don't want your appearance or handling to be a distraction. If you don't even know I'm there I got it just right. Of course like anything else it looks easy once you know how.

I do it just for fun and I don't take it too seriously. You want your horse clean, fluffy, and meticulously groomed. I leave Lidia's feathers intact - they're in the breed standard and I like them. I have my farrier touch up her feet just before a show and I sand them smooth and make sure they're nice and clean. I don't polish them - but most people do.

We'll be more organized this year for the Classic - it's a fun show and if they're gonna "feature" Canadians the least we can do is have plenty of Canadians for people to see!

I also think it would be a good thing to see more Canadians at the open shows and I'd like to know when people are going to be showing their Canadian Horses so we can either bring more horses or at least get out there and see them and get acquainted.

Lids and I don't show under saddle at all. She has a dysfunctional TMJ and I don't use a bit with her.