My First Inspection: Need lots of advice!

[Philliab]

I will be taking my first foal to her GOV inspection August 8th, and I have little idea of what to expect. I'll be completing the required GOV forms and sending in my money within this coming week, but after that I don't really know where to start. I need to contact the host farm for information about a stall, braider, handler, and photographer, right? What else am I missing?

What should I be working on with the mare and foal before then? I've just been "working" on leading and standing along with a good curry and grooming every day to help her shed and bring out a beautiful, healthy coat. Is there anything else that will help prepare her for a good inspection? The mare was approved before I bought her and is easy to handle at home or away. This will be the foal's first time away from home so I really have no idea of what to expect. Please tell me that no inspector expect a foal to behave 100%; I worry that she will be nervous and not want to stand still, and I don't want to look out of place.

As far as tack goes, which Quillin halter do you use? How do I pick the correct size? Can I use a brown bridle on the mare? What color halter for the foal? Nameplate?

Sorry for all the questions! I just want to make sure that I do everything to give Alice a chance to receive the score she deserves. Thank you for any advice and help you can give me!

And since I know how this forum is, here's a picture of my little girl 3 weeks ago when she'd just turned 6 weeks old. Time really flies!

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2764631980064993156CzZJkA

[avezan]

Contact the host farm to reserve a stall and let them know if you want a handler or braider. You may need to talk to the photographer or videographer on site. They don't automatically photograph everyone! I found that out the hard way. You should definitely braid the mare, and have her groomed in show condition, even though she isn't being scored. For the foal, if she is still young, you don't need to braid if her mane is still standing up, but they do look really nice braided. I strongly recommend hiring someone to do this so you can just relax. A brown bridle is fine for the mare. She can be lead with reins. A nice leather halter for the foal. I wouldn't put a nameplate on. You will probably take the halter off to let the foal move at liberty while the mare is being led. The only thing you really want to make sure the foal can do is be caught and allow the halter to be put back on. She doesn't need to stand still or even behave well. The inspectors expect the foals to behave like foals, and this could include running, bucking, rearing and even striking! Many, if not most, of the foals will be off the farm for the first time. The inspectors won't mark them down for bad behavior and won't mark them up for good behavior either. The only thing that could affect her score is if she won't trot. But even if she trots a few steps they can score her. A professional handler should be able to get a trot out of her.

Things to bring: Bridle for mare, halter and leather lead for foal. Grooming stuff. First aid stuff (if you bring it, you won't have any problems. If you don't...) rags, camera, video. Feed, manure fork, depending on how long you are staying. Clothes for you to wear in the ring - even if you hire a handler, you will need to lead the mare in while the handler leads the foal. The handler will try to stand up the foal for the conformation inspection. Then you switch off and the handler takes the mare and you take the halter off the foal for the walk and trot triangle. You may need a second handler if there is a call back where they bring lots of mares and foals back in the ring. The handler can only take one of their clients to the call back. I don't know exactly how GOV does their inspections. Clothes for you would include light colored slacks, a nice polo shirt and comfortable shoes.

Mostly, have fun and relax. Your filly is beautiful, and I'm sure she will score very well.

[Philliab]

Thanks, avezan, for your detailed information! And for your nice compliment of Alice. :) How much should I expect to spend on a handler and braider? I live about 2 hours from the inspection and just assumed that I should go up the night before. Is that what everyone normally does?

[Foxtrot's]

I would go up the night before. We live an hour from the inspection site so I drove in on the day. Baby got tired and wanted to nap, got shavings in his brainds, did not have much zip compared to the smarter owners who had their mares and babies all raring to go because they had been boxed up all night.

[akrogirl]

I think we paid in the region of $30 for the braider and $45 for the handler. It was well worth the money to get an experienced handler.

We were approx. an hour away from the inspection site and trailered in that day, as did one owner from approx. three hours away. Again, the best thing is to check with the host farm as soon as possible to see what their policy is - some may have limited over night stall availability and/or a restriction on how early you can arrive the day before.

If you definitely want professional photos, keep an eye open for the photgrapher when your mare and foal are getting ready to go in. I learned this the hard way - I had spoken to the photographer when I arrived, and even given her a check for the photos, but she still forgot to photograph my mare. She offered to photograph her later on but didn't show up for that session either! I was able to get my check back but I would much rather have had the photos.

[avezan]

I always go the night before. I'm also 2 hours from the inspection. You just never know how the loading is going to go. Lots of mares and foals get weaned on inspection day because only one or the other will get on the trailer! ;) For braiding I usually end up spending $30-$35 per horse/foal. If you are a good braider, you can braid the mare, but let the pro braid the foal! The braids don't have to be fancy hunter braids. Button braids are fine. Handlers will be between $50-$100. Whatever the cost, if it is a professional handler, do it. They can really show the mare and foal off to their best advantage and give you the best score you can get.

[Mamare]

Thank you all so much for posting and all the advice! I'm in the same situation and have been worrying about it. Tell me about trailering the mare and foal. I have a two horse tag along and can remove all the partitions to make it a box stall. Do I do it this way? Should I tie the mare and leave the foal free? This trailering part has me so scared.

[Sunnydays]

re trailering - I always leave the mare and foal free. If the mare is tied, the foal could get caught up. Usually the mare will turn around - can't do that if tied. Also, easier for mare to keep track of the foal if she is free. Both settle after you start moving.
I leave the halter off the foal, lest (s)he get caught on something - just my personal paranoia. Have fun.:)

[Home Again Farm]

re trailering - I always leave the mare and foal free. If the mare is tied, the foal could get caught up. Usually the mare will turn around - can't do that if tied. Also, easier for mare to keep track of the foal if she is free. Both settle after you start moving.
I leave the halter off the foal, lest (s)he get caught on something - just my personal paranoia. Have fun.:)

Ditto. :yes:

[Whitfield Farm Hanoverians]

Unfortunately I have to tie the mare in my trailer as it is to narrow for her to turn around in comfortably. Otherwise I also leave them free. Anyone want to give me a loan for a new trailer???