Tennessee Walker English Pleasure: hints, tips, tack recommendations and general showing tips?

Question

I'm going to be showing my mare at the end of September, my first show but she's an old pro, and I just need general advice. What kind of tack would you recommend? I have a saddle that I think would work (cutback and close contact), am I right? How should I cut her mane/forelock? What kind of saddle pad? Recommended attire manufacturers or patterns? Any hints and tips from people who've shown Walker versatility before? And do you know how to tie the ribbon thing? I've tried doing that in practice, but it ends up looking like a 2 year old did it. Should my coat compliment the horse's color or the farm's colors? Is it required to use a "walker" bit? She does amazing on a loose ring snaffle, but not so much on a walker.

And just in general, any showing tips for a first timer? From anyone?

Thanks so very much!

Answer 1

Don't cut mane or forelock, maybe bridle path.  Black attire.

Answer 2

I haven't shown Walkers, but do show other gaited horses. My saddle is a cutback and my pad barely shows. I have a solid creme coat with black pants and a brightly colored tie. I also have a teal coat that I wear with the same pants and tie. Do not cut your mare's mane or forelock, just make a bridle path. For some "bling" you can add a rhinestone brow band (or one that has some color or silver/gold designs on it).  Relax and enjoy the experience!!!  Smile and look proud. It's sooooo fun and exciting to be in a show. It has never gotten old for me! Oh, as far as the bit... you should be able to find a copy of the show rules. That will tell you if you need a walking horse bit or not. Maybe the show bill will give a contact phone number you can call to ask questions.

Good luck!! Most of all, enjoy!!!  

Answer 3

If you could go visit a Tenn. Walker show that would help you see what is the trend.  However, you want to use a cutback saddle with pad to match.  

Answer 4

National Bridle has all types of gaited horse equipment for saddleseat.  I personally prefer western pleasure over saddleseat when it coems to TW Hshowing jsut becasue it is cheaper.  Saddleseat you need a saddle seat outfit plus saddle( that you may only use at shows) and ribbons are a must in English TWH showing.  basiccly you take 3 silk ribbons( 2 of one color, 1 of another) and cut 3ft.  Tie a knot 1-2 inches from the tip then do a normal braid till the braid is 1 1/2 ft long then knot it and knot each end with a V.  Yo uthen braid the ribbons into your horses mane.  One at the beggining of the bridle path and one in the fetlock.  

Also when it says Trail Pleasure English enter it not in Performance Amatur becasue you will look funny with all those high steppign walkers.

And lastly you DO NOT need a special bit to show.  That is one of the biggest myths of TWH industry.  Its kind of liek sayign a Reining horse needs a Twisted High Port Shank bit to control them.

I use on my Walkers the Brena Imus Comfort bit which has a copper roller and small shanks.  Instead of pulling on the mouth it plus on the poll.  

If you do happen to do western all you need is a western saddle and western bridle.  and you need either black pants or Khaki and a nice shirt.  No ribbons,  No cuback saddles, No saddleseat attire.  

And if you do versatility practice alot.  And when i mean practice make your horse stay in a runnign walk for 20 minutes at a time. Versatility is not being diverse in man yevents but having alot of endurance.  So i would suggest having all your versatility equipment set up where ever you practice.  Do one event say it is jumping then go straight to barrel raccing,  have a small break then go to pole bending, drivign.  ETC... ALso for versatility you do not have to do all the veraitility events at the show yo ucan do just a few but it is better to do more so yo uget familiarized.  

Since i have shown in both Saddleseat and Western on TWH's Western is much more relaxing Than English.  Jsut a suggestion.  

E-mail if you have anymore questions.