How to Groom a Horse for a Show

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Keep your horse well-groomed at home.

   Not only does it prevent against infections and sores, but also improves the health and appearance of the coat and skin.
   
   Daily currying and brushing, picking out and conditioning hooves, and occasional baths help keep your horse in top form.
   
   It is a good time to check them over for and cuts/bruises, get their coat shiny and soft and gets their blood moving, bond with your favorite critter, and it's also good exercise for you.
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   Step 2: Remember the key to a healthy

   Some people also put corn oil or flax seed oils in the horse's feed three weeks before the show to add shine to the horse's coat.
   
   Corn oil or rice bran also helps horses gain a little weight. ,, It is best to divide the horse into quarters, and then scrub and rinse each qua moving on to the next. ,,, Make sure you rinse out every bubble, to prevent the skin from itching. , Do not condition the mane if you plan to band or braid.
   
   Leave it in for the next step… , Rinse well. ,,, Hair polish is not ShowSeen.
   
   It is a leave-in, one-time, strong acting polish that adds a layer of lasting shine and dirt protection to the coat.
   
   It is not sticky, and does not wear out easily. (An example is Ultra’s Hair Polish.) If you cannot get hair polish, a product like Show Sheen is an acceptable substitute. , Have someone hold the dock at the angle that your horse carries it in motion, because a tail always looks shorter when it is moving. , Arabians, saddle seat, park and most breed class horses are left with a natural tail. , Look on the sides of the dock, and you will see two half moons where the hair does not grow.
   
   For clipping, you only need to enlarge those half moons and cut off the straggly hair.
   
   Do not cut too much.
   
   It is better to cut too little and still have a tail left to work with! Do not clip the tail if you are going to braid. , Currently, the fad is to trim a Western horse’s mane to about three inches long, but some are breaking the trend and riding with it long and lush.
   
   Reiners, leave the mane natural.
   
   For braiding, trim it to around four inches long.
   
   In Arabian classes, leave the mane natural, but clip a bridle path about a third of the way down the neck.
   
   It is also frowned upon in the show ring if you just cut the mane.
   
   You should always pull it so that it looks natural. , Clip the long hair on his legs and throat, as well.
   
   Some breeds are not shown clipped, so check with your rule book for details about your breed.
   
   If you plan to do a full body clip on your horse, you should do that 2-4 days before show day, so that any of your mistakes can grow out.
   
   Just don't do it too far away from the show, or your horse will look a little straggly. , That will help form a nice surface for the hoof polish to go on. , You should do that the day before if you know that your classes are in the beginning of the show, or get their early, with enough time to braid without being rushed.
   
   Just make sure you cover the mane so that the horse doesn't rub it out. , Do not snug it too tightly, or you will break hairs, cause discomfort to your horse, and have a mane that sticks up straight.
   
   You can use mane mousse to control stray hairs and keep your work neat.
   
   When you are finished, trim the bottom of the mane to about three inches long, as it is the custom currently, or leave it untrimmed, long and lush.
   
   Don’t forget to band the forelock! , Braid it tightly.
   
   About halfway through the braid, start braiding in a length of yarn (about the length from your elbow to your thumb) with the two ends hanging down.
   
   Finish off the braid with a rubber band.
   
   Flip the braid under itself and pull the loose ends of the yarn through.
   
   Separate them and criss-cross over the loop-like braid, and then tie behind the braid in a secure double-knot.
   
   Cut off the loose ends, and continue down the mane.
   
   Braid the forelock in a french braid, and then continue like you did the regular braids. (for more help, check out the braid a horse’s mane page) Dressage riders braid their horses’ manes into button braids, which are thicker and rounder, like little buttons.
   
   These are done by braiding the hair and finishing it off with a band.
   
   Then, with a plastic needle and thread, sew the braid into a neat, round button. , Match the ribbon to your bridle and clothes. , Starting at the very top of the dock, braid the side hairs in a tight, delicate french braid down the tailbone.
   
   Just before the tailbone ends, stop adding hair sections and continue in a regular (not french) braid until you come to the end of the hair you are holding.
   
   Tie it off with a band, and then sew the thin braid into a pinwheel at the bottom of the french braid. , Touch up the bottom with scissors if there are straggly hairs. , Make sure the color is as close to the tail’s original color as possible, and do not spray too thickly.
   
   When done properly, this really makes a thin tail look lush. ,,,, Follow with a soft cloth dampened with a solution of half water, half rubbing alcohol.
   
   The water gets out the fine dust and the alcohol speeds the drying time.
   
   When the horse is dry, spray on a good coat of shining spray, but not in the saddle area.
   
   To apply it to the face, spray some on a piece of chamois and rub in gently. , Dust off any extra. , Do not sand too much – just enough to make the surface a little smoother.
   
   Think of it like buffing your nails. , Use black on black hooves, and clear on any other colors.
   
   If you don’t feel comfortable with using black, just use clear.
   
   It looks good on any horse! ,, Not while you’re warming up, of course. ,,, to the muzzle, eye area, ears and bridle path.
   
   Baby oil works well too. ,,,,,,
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   Step 3: shiny coat is through a well-balanced diet.

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   Step 4: The day before the show

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   Step 5: give your horse a bath with warm or tepid water

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   Step 6: or regular temperature water if it's above 65 degrees outside.

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   Step 7: Scrub a moisturizing shampoo deep into the coat with a rubber currycomb

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   Step 8: lifting out the scurf (dead skin) and dirt.

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   Step 9: Wash out the feet

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    Step 10: between the legs

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    Step 11: and any ‘hidden’ body parts that may not usually get washed.

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    Step 12: Wash any white markings with a brightening shampoo

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    Step 13: and get every stain out.

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    Step 14: Gently shampoo the mane and tail with a shampoo meant for that purpose.

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    Step 15: Finger through the tail and apply a generous amount of conditioner.

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    Step 16: Apply a conditioner to the body hair

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    Step 17: but not to the saddle area if you are riding.

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    Step 18: Rinse out the mane and tail.

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    Step 19: Apply a leave-in detangler to the tail (and mane

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    Step 20: only if you are leaving it natural).

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    Step 21: Apply a good dose of hair polish to every part of the coat (except the saddle area).

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    Step 22: When your horse’s tail is just dry trim it to the correct length for your discipline.

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    Step 23: Cut the bottom straight across at the appropriate length: just above the fetlocks for dressage

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    Step 24: and mid-cannon height for jumpers and hunters.

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    Step 25: Clip the long

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    Step 26: straggly hairs on the sides of the dock to form smoother lines when the tail is raised.

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    Step 27: Trim the mane to the correct length for banding or braiding.

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    Step 28: With a pair of sharp

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    Step 29: well-oiled clippers

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    Step 30: clip your horse’s muzzle

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    Step 31: bridle path

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    Step 32: eye area and ears as close as you can.

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    Step 33: When your horse has dried

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    Step 34: cover him with a sheet to protect your work

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    Step 35: and paint his hooves with a conditioner.

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    Step 36: When you arrive at the show band or braid your horse’s mane.

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    Step 37: For banding

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    Step 38: take a small section of hair

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    Step 39: about half to three-quarters of an inch wide

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    Step 40: and wrap a band tightly around it

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    Step 41: close to the crest.

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    Step 42: If you are braiding

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    Step 43: take a small section of hair

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    Step 44: about an inch wide

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    Step 45: and hold the rest of the mane back with a big hair clip.

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    Step 46: If you are showing in saddle seat or park classes

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    Step 47: braid a thin

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    Step 48: colored ribbon into your horse’s forelock

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    Step 49: and another one into the first lock of hair.

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    Step 50: After doing the mane

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    Step 51: braid the tail if you are showing in hunter or jumper classes.

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    Step 52: Brush out the tail

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    Step 53: and apply a spray detangler if you did not braid.

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    Step 54: To add a thick appearance to the tail

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    Step 55: hold it out and lightly spray it with a coloring spray (like Shapely’s Show Touch-Up).

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    Step 56: Spray a shining spray (like Absorbine Show Sheen or Ultra’s Finishing Spray) onto the tail once the color spray dries to add a show-ring shine.

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    Step 57: Go over your horse’s face

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    Step 58: muzzle

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    Step 59: bridle path and legs again

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    Step 60: to get all the stubble that may have grown during the night.

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    Step 61: Wipe off the face with a damp cloth.

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    Step 62: Brush the horse with a soft body brush to lift off all the fine dirt.

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    Step 63: Touch-up any white markings with a color spray

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    Step 64: chalk or cornstarch.

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    Step 65: Wipe off the hooves and sand the surface smooth with sandpaper.

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    Step 66: Wipe off any hoof dust and apply at least two coats of high-quality hoof polish (Absorbine’s Super Shine

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    Step 67: Ultra’s Hoof Polish

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    Step 68: etc.).

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    Step 69: Spray the hooves with a hoof polish enhancer (Ultra Hoof Polish Enhancer

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    Step 70: or a shining hair spray) to add extra shine.

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    Step 71: Slide a pair of pantyhose over your horse’s legs to protect them from dust.

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    Step 72: Get all your tack on

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    Step 73: and get yourself changed

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    Step 74: and right before you go in the ring

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    Step 75: you need to do a few more things.

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    Step 76: Wipe off the coat with a slightly damp piece of chamois to collect all the dust.

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    Step 77: Apply a generous amount of highlighter (Silverado Face Glo

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    Step 78: World Champion Shine On

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    Step 79: Ultra Highlighter

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    Step 80: Apply a thin coat of fly spray

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    Step 81: and re-apply the shining spray.

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    Step 82: Brush out the tail.

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    Step 83: Touch up any white markings and the tail with another coat of color spray.

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    Step 84: Dust off the hooves

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    Step 85: and re-apply the enhancer.

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    Step 86: Smooth down the bands or braids with a little mousse to control the frizzies.

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    Step 87: Now enter the ring with confidence

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    Step 88: for you own the best-groomed horse on the grounds!

Detailed Guide

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