So what am I going to do with these horses?

I'd like to show.

I know almost nothing about showing: I have only the vaguest notion of what the different classes are, what the judges are looking for and how to have an appropriate turnout.  But I have always wanted to show, so, dang it, I'm going to do it.

So here's the tentative plan for Coriander:

• Halter, just for shits and giggles.  He's a well made boy but he does have a clubbed left forefoot and he's sickle hocked.  I think for our first show or two halter may be all we'll do until I know he's comfortable in that atmosphere and I can trust him to listen to me under saddle.  
• Showmanship at halter, cause why not?  If he can do halter he can do showmanship.  All we have to do is learn how to turn on the hindquarters, trot to a mark, back and square up.  We can do that.
• Hunter under saddle, because I think he might be suited for it.  He's got a long, flat stride and that seems to be what the judges are looking for.  He also naturally holds his neck parallel to the ground, which also seems to be the ideal for that class.  I worry that he may be a bit bulkier than most judges prefer, but we'll have to see.
• Trail, because it seems like fun.  

As of right now I have no plans for showing in western pleasure classes.  For one thing I ride english and for another I refuse to train him the way you have to to do well in that class.  I mean look at this crap: AQHA World Show Western Pleasure 2009.  Once you train a horse for that what else can they do?  Where's the versatility?  Why is it pleasant to ride/watch horses that look lame?  I won't do it.  But apparently change is afoot.  So maybe we'll try western pleasure in a few years when they actually decide they want the horses to go forward.

So hopefully he'll be ready next spring.  Of course I'll have to figure out how to get him to a show since I don't have a trailer, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I saw this halter in an add this morning, I'd like two please.  But seriously, they're $38 each, that's a lot of money for a novelty holiday halter.