Hi all,

I'm putting on my brave pants in a few weeks and taking my lovely cobxarab Digby to a local show. He's done a bit of showing in-hand and been placed (even won a few!) but he's not much of a show horse. He was bought because he's the kindest, sweetest lump you could ever ask for, but education wise, he's a bit gappy (lessons are underway!)

I used to show for years with a been there done that mare, single squeeze got her in an outline, she knew how a show day ran.

I've decided to just do the novelty classes with him - local horse/ pony, family suited horse, those kind of nice friendly classes to ease him in - and these can be entered in-hand or ridden.

I think I'd like to try ridden classes with him but this horse does NOT put his head down. He's a giraffe through and through. Other than that he moves well, he tracks up brilliantly, and he has 3 lovely paces.

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What are people's thoughts on me taking a giraffe into a ridden class? Should I just stick to in-hand for now or is it worth taking him in anyway? I'm not actually fussed too much about ending up in the ribbons, I really want him to get some experience being out more and get the cobwebs dusted off for both of us. But also is it ridiculous for me to enter a ridden class on a horse that I know won't be putting its head down for a single step?

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I think it's mostly just nerves from me being out of the showing world for so long that has me questioning this!