To Show or Not to show, that is the question.

[Ellen]

Many of yuu have seen mt baby, Baxter's Black Conviction. He is our Jr. Stallion, a 2008 black stallion with unique cobwebbing and a neck to die for! Anyway, enough bragging about Vic. LOL!

He has an amazing personality and LOVES to show. He was thin last year. This year he has bloomed and is ready to hit the ring. BUT, he rubbed his mane off last fall. During winter we used MTG, and a braided his mane, he has 6 inches of regrowth. We are continuing the MTG braiding and are now using a mane tamer. It looks good, not great when not braided and the tamer is off.

Would you show him with this mane issue? He deserves to be out there, or would you leave him home, let his mane grow and put him in the ring next season? I hate to lose a whole season, but don't want this to effect him. What do I do?

 

[cowgurl_up]

I'd show, but that's just me! I number one, want to have fun showing! If my horse performs well for me it doesn't matter how I place. But I would think his little bit of missing mane should not affect his conformation or his placings. At least I don't think it should.

I hope you get to show him this year!

 

[Ellen]

To be honest Cowgurl, I probably will have him out there. But when I say a little, I should say MOST of his mane. But I, like you love to show! The more classes, the more horses to show, the better!

 

[cowgurl_up]

The show horses always find a way to get themselves into something!

I hope you decide to take him along.

 

[Mominis]

With 6 of regrowth, you should be able to do something with the mane so that you can show him. I wouldn't let it stop you. It's not a congenital defect.

 

[minih]

I would go ahead and show. The night before your show when you bathe him, be sure and use a very good conditioner to soften his mane up and then put a hoody on him with his mane laying correctly underneath. The hood will iron it down to lay on his neck. If he has a nice neck the short mane will only enhance it.

 

[Carolyn R]

My dear, show him. A mane being a little short is minimal. There may be something that comes up down the road and you will only be able to wish you could have shown him. I so badly wanted to show my new mare this year, but after suffering an eye injury while at the trainers and needing follow up treatment at New Bolton on Monday, that has all been cut short.

 

[Leeana]

Did you see Kittys mane early last season? Back in 2008 she rubbed her mane out while I was at Nationals, I had just turned all the horses out to make it easier for dad to take care of them and it was fall after show season so wasn't doing anything with them...came home and she had rubbed it all out on the fence!!! UGH...the fact that she was as we call it "ghetto hair" doesn't help either..

She has just a couple inches of mane last year the beginning of the season and I was able to make it lay down okay. This year will be testing as she has a pretty thin mane and I need to get the tangles out of it and see what is left...ugh!

With 6" you should be okay...esp if he has a nice tight neck it shouldn't be to bad...

PS - I'm going to drop you an email sometime today Ellen

 

[Ellen]

I think I will show him. I will regret it if I don't. To be honest Leanna, I only saw Kitty, I like her, thought she was sharp and did not notice the mane. I guess that says it all. I do like your term, "ghetto mane", LOL! I have a few of those!

Please send me a message or give me a call, I can't wait to hear from you!

Carolyn, I am so sorry to hear of your mares eye. What a heat break. I would be devastated and I bet the trainer was too. But I appreciate the great advice. You are right, I will wish I had shown him.

Thank you to all of you for giving me the thumbs up. Now I am pumped and can't wait to get him out there!