How to Groom a Horse for English Pleasure Classes

Showing Arabian horses in English Pleasure, a glamorous and glitzy class, is not easy. A great deal of preparation and training goes into the showing of these beautiful and sensitive equines. Make your horse look as classy as you can with proper grooming. Here are a few tips on how to groom an Arabian for an English Pleasure Class

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Horse clippers Horse grooming supplies Silicon spray

1. Bathing your horse is the first step. The horse needs to be washed multiple times. The mane and tail need to be cleaned and then have a heavy conditioner applied and rinsed out well.

2. Using number 10 blades, clip around the horse's fetlocks and coronet band. If you have a particularly shaggy horse, clip the horse's whole body. Use a number 40 blade around the horse's nose, ears, eyes and along its bridlepath.

3. The bridlepath needs to be at least 8 inches long and sometimes as long as 10 or more inches. English Pleasure wants to see a hooky and refined neck, so by clipping away the mane, you are emphasizing the length of the horse's neck.

4. Mane and tail should not be braided in this class; it should be long, loose and flowing on the horse. The longer the mane and tail are, the better. Keep your horse's mane and tail in braids whenever the horse is not bring shown so that it will grow as long as possible.

5. Polish the horse's coat with silicon spray and prep it with a soft damp towel before showtime. Make sure your horse's face, ears and under the tail are well greased with a highlight gel. Don't forget your own outfit and the tack; they should both be as spotless as your horse.