Comments on: How to Groom Your Horse for an English Show

on 11/22/2005 As you may already know, horses get very tense and alert at shows. To help soothe them, choose a less severe bit than normal and use looser reins. This has been effective for myself and a few friends who have been riding in shows since they could walk.

on 11/22/2005 You never want to start braiding at 10:00pm the night before the show! You will get tired and frustrated and your horse will pick up on it. Begin braiding your horses mane and tail before dark.

on 11/22/2005 When you are going to a show, you of course clean your tack. And your girth is the worst. First, you get an old toothbrush and some toothpaste, then you scrub the girth. You let the toothpaste set for about 30 minutes, and then you rinse it off. It will work with any type of tack. It will work every time!!

on 11/22/2005 If you have a white horse you understand the frustration of keep stains off his thighs. The only thing I found that works is Cowboy Magic. It really brings out the white! There is also a really good shampoo called White and Bright that works well, too.

on 11/22/2005 To make you horse shine like a star, mix about 1 cup of show sheen, 1/2 cup of baby oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon oil (to remove stains) together. Then taking a damp towel (or rag) dip into the shining substance. Then carefully ring out the towel, so it isn't dripping, and rub it on the horse.
Be very careful around the horse's eyes, nose and mouth. This works best when the horse is well brushed.

on 11/22/2005 Don't feed horses treats before riding in a show - or at home for that matter. Whenever I feed my horse before I ride her, she acts very spoiled and misbehaves with me. She associates treats with good behavior, as she should! :)

on 11/22/2005 If your horse is misbehaving (shying when there's nothing there, bucking, kicking, etc.) look around, for shying there might be something making the light shine in their eye. My horse when she bucked it was because she didn't feel comfortable riding in mud so as soon as we switched surfaces she went great. With kicking and tossing her head was because she was really anoyed with flys. So when your horse does something look around and make sure YOU're not the one making the mistake!

on 11/22/2005 Remember that at a Dressage show you must use a white, square saddle pad. Rounded saddle pads are for Hunter shows. Don't put on show sheen or Pepi spray the night before, do it the morning of the show. Always cover the saddle area before spraying or your saddle area will become too slippery. Cover it with a towel or an old saddle pad.

on 11/22/2005 If you are going to bathe your horse before an event, do not wash his mane and tail more than a week before. If you do, the plaits will fall out before you get to your class!

on 11/22/2005 A candlewick bedspread is a very effective "rug" to help dry your horse off after a bath. Nice and cheap from a car boot sale or ask your Gran!

on 11/22/2005 To make your horse's hooves stay dark and moisturised afetr you wash your horse apply a very small amount of clear hoof oil to your horse's hooves straight after washing. Work it well into the horn with your fingers. The next morning the hooves won't have that dry, whiteish look that you can get after washing and hoof oil will stay on better at the show.

on 11/22/2005 Waterproof mascara is far better than any of the horse make-ups available. It stays put, is easy to blend, doesn't wash off at the first hint of rain and you can get a variety of colours. Fantastic for helping to cover up an old scar or scrape. Always do a skin test first.

on 11/22/2005 If you find it hard to do lots of braids in your horses mane, then just do a running plait. It looks great and you will stand out from the crowd, too. It also takes less time then braiding the whole mane, leaving you with a chance to have more time in bed before the show.

on 11/22/2005 What you'll need is a bottle of horse shampoo (aloe vera horse shampoo is perfect, but ordinary horse shampoo will do), a bucket full of lukewarm water, a sweat-scraper, a cooler or anti-sweat rug, and access to a hose. First of all, make sure you have clean hands. Pour some shampoo into your hand and, starting with the horses legs, rub the shampoo into the horses hair like you would into your own hair. After every area has been done, rinse your hands in the lukewarm water. Hose over the shampooed areas, using your hands to help to get rid of all the suds. Use the sweat-scraper to take off any excess water, and if you are afraid that your horse may catch a chill, put on the cooler or anti-sweat rug. Always bathe your horse on a warm day!

on 11/22/2005 Before you bathe your horse for a horse show, make sure you curry him with a curry mitt. It works well. After you use the mitt, wash your horse the way you normally do and let it dry. When it is dried its coat will look shiny and new. It works every time.