Best SHOW-DAY Grooming Tips? What can't YOU Do WITHOUT?

[HollysHobbies]

I'm often impressed by the turnout at hunter shows!

What unique or "tried and true" "tricks of the trade" do you use on show-day?

How do you give your horse that extra-boost of shiny coat on show day?

Make hoof dressing not look "dusty" on feet the second they enter warm-up?

Flow-y, tangle free tail?
Get socks/tails white? And keep them white in warm-up?
Get boots gleaming?
:winkgrin:

All ideas appreciated!

[Pirateer]

I go through ridiculous quantities of rubbing alcohol.

[horsestablereview]

A rag (preferably large towel size) and rubbing alcohol. Get's the green stains out and is great for spot cleaning. Towel is useful for many things: boot rag, spit remover, seat cover...

Hoof oil also a must. Showsheen those white socks (unless you're putting boots on them because the showsheen will cause the boots to fall). Showsheen in the tail as well or another favorite is the Vetrolin Detangler (http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=3497).

[TheOrangeOne]

I've started putting a little coconut oil in the bath water, which I really like. Socks HAVE to be clipped with a 10 blade, I like to do muzzle and ears with a 40, then rub the inside of the ears with a little baby oil to get them really bald looking and get out all that flakey gross skin. Hoof dressing I have more or less given up on, just do it right before you go in the ring. I have also purchased the most offensive rags ever in the history of mankind so that no one will steal them at the gate. Also, a cactus cloth is great for saddle marks before the jog.

[woodhillsmanhattan]

Do a vinegar rinse after you bathe. I just line the bottom of a bucket with vinegar then dilute with warm water and sponge over my horse. Gives them a nice gleem and repels flys :) (doesn't smell the best though). Clip leg markings with a ten blade. Showsheen on white leg markings repels stains. Also if your clipping job wasn't superior, baby powder hides that and brightens the markings (recommend doing this AT the ring though). The big grey I used to ride, I would keep her tail in a bag up until I head up to the ring (braid or tie in a know for warmup). I used brown boot polish for my dark bay to cover scars from pasture mates nipping at him. I brush off feet and put hoof oil on as the first part of my grooming routine. It drys and makes the feet look clean and dark after a simple sweep of the hard brush at the ring. Then you reapply as frequently as you want ringside. Lay a damp rag over their braids or brushed out mane as you groom your horse in the cross ties. It will press down the stray hairs or get the mane to lay flat. Baby oil on a small rag and wipe around nose, ears, and eyes. Some people don't like this (it runs, collects dust, causes sunburn, etc.), but if you only put a small dot on the rag and rub your horses face, rather then just drenching them in it, it is tasteful and doesn't usually collect dust or run. Rubbing them all over with a towel! Although it doesn't seem like much, if you repeat and really put some elbow grease in it then it makes the hairs lay flat and brings out the shine. Some of those disposable shop towels (you find them in the auto section of target, walmart, and the works) are great for anything. Love them ring side to rub and get the sweat marks off for the job. Wintergreen alcohol works for everthing! Stains, cools off your horse, spray in your helmet, use it as a brace for wrapping, spray on yourself before you go to the grand prix dinner ;), anything really.

[cgray0983]

In addition to the above:

Healthy Haircare for shine in the tail AFTER Show Sheen - its like nothing else - plus its moisturizing and won't make the tail brittle. http://www.healthyhaircare.com/hairMoist.php I know it says just a moisturizer, but man, those oils are shiney!

Don't wash mane before braiding or your braids might fall out :-) There's nothing I dislike more than getting to the horses stall at o'dark-thirty and having a shiney-showsheened mane to work with. dirty manes hold the tightest braids. (of course you can rinse the dirt out :D)

A buffer for white feet (to get the brown stains off) then oil... it sounds silly, but I would use those dirt removing blocks to "sand/buff" his hooves. Or the softest sandpaper you can find...just lightly rub the dirt stains off.

I used to carry a tub of Orvus with me to the shows for my horse with sabino type markings on all four legs and wash his legs in the morning before the show. He was a jumper, so he wore boots, this way the boots wouldn't slip as if I put Showsheen on his legs.

I also have a stash of these with me in my grooming kit: http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-10146

[RugBug]

I'm posting this hoping someone will remember:

A spray bottle of Vetrolin cut with XXXX. I forgot the XXXX ingredient. (someone help :winkgrin:) It was a new tip for me and works GREAT. I'm only halfway throught my first bottle and need to figure out what you mix it with before I run out.

It's great for getting sweat marks off a warm-upped horse before you go into the ring. It's also great at getting dusties off. I spray onto a brush or rub rag or directly onto the horse if the marks are large and wet. The alcohol in the vetrolin makes it dry fast. I've also used this trick when it was too cold to bath in the winter.

[dray]

Dippety Doo for braids

Corn starch for socks after they are clean

Vetroline Shine

[Lucassb]

For the most part, the best way to get a shiny coat comes from elbow grease - ie, a curry comb and a rub rag, used in serious quantities every day!

For show days, though, I agree with most of the tips above and would add:

Putting hoof oil on, letting it "absorb" a bit and then rubbing the excess off with a towel will keep the hooves dark & shiny without attracting so much dust and dirt.

Chalk is good for touching up white markings, and easier to use without getting it on everything/everyone else as can happen with powder.

The Lucky Braids salve is very good for calming irritation from braids, bugs etc and can really soothe manes & tails that show some wear and tear from braiding. Solves the itchies, too!

The leather wipes that come in small packets are great for last minute boot shining, and are easy to stick in a grooming box. Combine with a sheepskin mitt and you are all set (and the mitt can be used with a little Healthy Hair moisturizer to go over the horse's coat one last time to remove any dust/pollen etc that has accumulated during schooling, too.)

[Pirateer]

For the most part, the best way to get a shiny coat comes from elbow grease - ie, a curry comb and a rub rag, used in serious quantities every day!

Yepp, this is why I love a bay. I spent hours grooming daily, and then at shows my horses look fabulous. Can't do that with a grey... (current horse is, indeed, grey...blech!)

[luvs2ridewbs]

I don't know about the dirty mane thing. The pro braiders where we are have always requested a shampooed mane but no conditioner or show sheen of course. I hate the look of a dirty mane braided. You can see the dirt!

[cgray0983]

I don't know about the dirty mane thing. The pro braiders where we are have always requested a shampooed mane but no conditioner or show sheen of course. I hate the look of a dirty mane braided. You can see the dirt!

Yeah, that is true, I guess dirty is overboard. But, please no detangler, conditioner, etc.

[dray]

Not just washed might be the operative phrase? LOL

I've never used the chalk...hmmmmm...thanks for the tip.

[gasrgoose]

After we the pick the feet we put on the hoof polish and let it dry before we leave the grooming stall.

We also really like the cowboy magic detangler and shine on our ponies with dark tails. Just to clarify we put this on after the tail is braided (our braider would kill us if we did it before) We still don't have the magic formula for the grey pony tails.

Definatley baby oil in the nose, muzzle and ears. Using the same rag with a little baby oil also helps shine the boots ring side.

[Moocow]

I have also purchased the most offensive rags ever in the history of mankind so that no one will steal them at the gate.

:lol: This made me laugh, as just yesterday I decided to take the most hideous towel from the barn for the show. I was just doing it for a laugh, but I guess it won't likely get stolen either! :D

Depending on the footing at the show I usually clean up the horses' hooves up really nice the night before the show and put on the (I think it's Absorbine?) Super Shine polish on their feet. Let it dry, put them in their stalls and in the morning they're still super shiny! Saves me from doing just one more little thing at the show.

[ybiaw]

Ok, it's totally weird.

Endust (yes, ok, it's a furniture polish).
Sprayed on a rag.
Wiped on the horse.

Especially when it's dry and windy out - keeps the horse from getting "dusty" when the arena dirt blows around.

Seriously!

[Anyplace Farm]

Tails
I love a pretty tail at the shows so I keep them nice year round. I had always heard that it isn't a good idea to Show Sheen them on a regular basis, that it caused their hair to break. I now know this is a wive's tale. I now Show Sheen, Abracadabra, Vetrolin Shine - what have you, before every ride as part of my regular grooming program. I also regularly condition with baths, then, after half-heartedly rinsing the conditioner out, I spray again w/my detangler of choice. However, if I know I am going to be at a show where we need to braid, use of any conditioner needs to be ceased long enough in advance for the tail to no longer be slick. A vinegar rinse will help cut the conditioner prior to the show.

Poo Stains
If I'm riding one that has white on him, I bring a spot remover to the ring like "Wow" or something like that. I also used to train a grey pony that got the squirts at the in gate which meant he had a nice green slimey trail down both back legs and in his very thick tail. For a guy like that, I kept a bucket of suds and several towels on hand and wiped the pony clean before and after he went into the ring.

Finishing Touches
Everyone else has pretty much covered everything I think most of us like to do. One routine I followed every single time, every round, before every single girl went into the ring was - I took my rag and went over the horse's coat and legs, wiped out their eyes and nostrils. I dipped a corner of the rag into our bucket of water that we kept at the ring and wiped their mouths then the bit. I dusted off the girl's boots and lifted up the horse's tail to make sure everything was ship shape back there. Of course, hoof oil and a spritz of fly spray went on too.

And yes, I am always the person that everyone else is mooching grooming tools off of at the ring. Grrr.....

[CatchMeIfUCan]

I am an eventer, but I am KNOWN for the way I do my tails. My trainer won't let anyone else touch his horse's tail before he goes into the dressage ring.

The key is to use products that are designed for African-American hair. It is really cheap and you can find them at walgreens, walmart, etc..

I use the Pink hair care products. Every day I put http://www.lusterproducts.com/products/Pink/hairlotions/original.html in their tail while I am grooming. For shows, first I wash and condition with http://www.lusterproducts.com/products/Pink/09.htm. Next, I apply the same every day conditioning lotion and brush the tail out. Then, before the horse goes into the ring, I apply http://www.lusterproducts.com/products/Pink/08.htm throughout the entire tail. It literally makes the horses tail shine and flow with ever step. I guess if you are braiding you might not want to use the shampoo/conditioner before because it might make the tail slippery, but I use it once a week at home and it keeps tails nice and soft.

For white socks, http://www.discountbeautycenter.com/Hair-Products/Shampoo-Conditioner/Clairol-Shimmer-Lights-Shampoo-4878.htm is the absolute best thing ever. It works so much better than QuicSilver and actually makes the white markings shine!

[Tiffany01]

I use white shapleys show touch up for the socks and black show touch up for the body.

[lauriep]

I don't know about the dirty mane thing. The pro braiders where we are have always requested a shampooed mane but no conditioner or show sheen of course. I hate the look of a dirty mane braided. You can see the dirt!

ABSOLUTELY! I would refuse to braid a dirty mane. If my fingers are filthy after I braid, the mane is too dirty.

[Pirateer]

ABSOLUTELY! I would refuse to braid a dirty mane. If my fingers are filthy after I braid, the mane is too dirty.

Plus trying to pull a dirty mane always gives worse blisters. Ouch. Hurts just thinkin' about it.

[Maya01]

I used Vaseline for nose (doesn't allow it to burn as easily)
Baby wipes. They work like magic and for virtually everything (just not your tall boots - dulls them a bit), but you can use them on bridles, the horse, and the all time favourite goober stains on the rider. You could also wipe the horses nose off with it before entering the ring if you don't want to use vaseline
Clear boot polish works really well before you are going in and leaves no margin for black polish stains.
Corn Starch works well for white markings and isn't overly messy. *thinks for more tips*
Use that polish (only if necessary as it is hard on their feet), making sure you really scrub the foot clean before applying it. Bring a medium hard bristled brush and brush the feet off quickly before entering the ring.
Hand mirrors are always important for the rider..
A good, strong hair gel to put on braids is helpful.
And a sheepskin mitt to shin up the leather :D
And...thats about all I can think of...:yes:

[Hunter Mom]

Clear boot polish works really well before you are going in and leaves no margin for black polish stains.
Corn Starch works well for white markings and isn't overly messy. *thinks for more tips*


I love the instant shine sponge-things for last minute shines for boots. There is always one in our ring bucket.

Cornstarch is also great if you start to get heat rash or chafing yourself.

I picked up a bundle of bright neon green microfiber towels at the auto section at WalMart, and those are a saving grace ringside, too, cleaning everything from teh goobers to the bit to the horse to the rider.

[mypaintwattie]

My show grooming tote includes:
Plenty of rags- come in handy for so many tasks
Cowboy Magic Green Spot Remover- love this stuff!
Absorbine Super Shine Hoof Polish- clear and black, depends on the show French grooming chalk and Shapley's touch-up spray
Laser Sheen- for the tail to detangle and shine
Pepi Coat Conditioner- brings up an amazing shine and smells good!
Goat Hair Brush, horse hair brush, comb
Sand paper- for hooves, helps hoof polish stay on
Extra bands, gel, scissors
Fly spray- with added sunscreen to keep away the flies and no-see-ums
Silverado face glo- for eyes, nose, ears, smells great and has sunscreen

[Kenike]

rubbing alcohol for quick touches at the gate.

Spray n wash for stain removal and whitening properties (esp tails and legs!), followed by a touch of Cowboy Magic in the tail. Sparkly clean, super-soft, and VERY flowy tail.

Baby wipes, hoof dressing (not oil!), two towels (one for horse, one for rider), a bottle of water and a neck cooler (both for the rider). All at the gate.

[Paint Hunter/Jumper]

I'm often impressed by the turnout at hunter shows!

What unique or "tried and true" "tricks of the trade" do you use on show-day?

How do you give your horse that extra-boost of shiny coat on show day?

Make hoof dressing not look "dusty" on feet the second they enter warm-up?

Flow-y, tangle free tail?
Get socks/tails white? And keep them white in warm-up?
Get boots gleaming?
:winkgrin:

All ideas appreciated!

My horse is white and black and at home, pretty yellow :mad:, but when we go to shows he is blindingly white and his black is very shiny. The night before a show I give him a bath with Quik Silver and make him super white and this generally makes his coat very shiny. And make sure you have greenspot remover, water, and whitening shampoo at the show just in case a little accident happens ;).

NEVER use conditioner or any type of showsheen product on their coats, makes a greasy look and can make a saddle slip. You should use them in the tail to make it tangle free and flowy.

As far as hoof dressing, just apply it at home, after you get your horse out of the trailer, and then before everytime you go in the ring.

The boots just needs lots of buffing and cleaning, but don't use cleaning product on the inside of the boot. Unless you want to slide off!

Hope this helps. It's good that you want to put effort into turning out your horse for a show, at some of the smaller shows it looks like some people just pull the horses out of the field without even brushing them!

[til' next time]

I second CatchMeIfUCan those pink products work wonderfully especially on a horse with a dark points. Definitely baby oil on muzzle and ears and of course rags rags rags galore!!!!!

[AppendixQHLover]

I use baby wipes for everything at shows. I use it on myself and the horse. I can freshen up after I ride. I also wipe my horse down.

[theroanypony]

My only show grooming tip, that everyone knows but I rarely see anyone do, is loads of curry combing. I try to explain to people, when they complain about their horse not shining, that it's not going to be shiny if it's dirty. :winkgrin: If I get bored at shows, I go curry my pony.

[Maya01]

Cornstarch is also great if you start to get heat rash or chafing yourself.

I picked up a bundle of bright neon green microfiber towels at the auto section at WalMart, and those are a saving grace ringside, too, cleaning everything from teh goobers to the bit to the horse to the rider.

:lol: Cornstarch is a very multi purpose thing.

I LOVE those green microfiber towels. I use them for everything. They are also great for cleaning tack (gets a lot of the grim off and saves me from trying to scrape it off with my finger nails - no more black finger nails for me!) :D

[Aliascml]

A rag (for boots, horse mouth, etc), cowboy magic, show sheen, hoof oil, and baby powder.

[iridehorses]

rubbing alcohol can work for ANYTHING!
towels!!! if you forget the vetrolin shine, just rub the towel against the neck and the natural shine comes out!!
keep tail wrapped until you go into ring
towel!

[iridehorses]

white shoe polish for socks!

[Parysa]

Tails
I love a pretty tail at the shows so I keep them nice year round. I had always heard that it isn't a good idea to Show Sheen them on a regular basis, that it caused their hair to break. I now know this is a wive's tale. I now Show Sheen, Abracadabra, Vetrolin Shine - what have you, before every ride as part of my regular grooming program. I also regularly condition with baths, then, after half-heartedly rinsing the conditioner out, I spray again w/my detangler of choice. However, if I know I am going to be at a show where we need to braid, use of any conditioner needs to be ceased long enough in advance for the tail to no longer be slick. A vinegar rinse will help cut the conditioner prior to the show.


I've show groomed Arabians and Paso Finos, which are both known for their tails. If you want a tail to grow faster, braid it and put it in a sock. When you're at the show, if you aren't braiding the tail, take a half-inch section (or just enough to be able to lift the tail with) at the tip of the dock and lift the tail away from the body. Show Sheen. Part the hair in the middle down the dock and then brush downward from the base to the tip. Show Sheen again and repeat. Last, brush the section in your hand without letting go of it, and then lay the tail back flat. The top will come back to rest hanging straight down and the rest of the hair will angle back toward the horse a little, giving the illusion of the tail being fuller and thicker.
Also, to keep dirt from being picked up on the hooves, place a rubber mat under the horse's feet before polishing them and then let them stand while you do everything else in order to let the hooves dry. Then, when the horse stomps his/her feet, you don't have to worry about dust flying up before they're dry.

[IsolaBella09]

My only show grooming tip, that everyone knows but I rarely see anyone do, is loads of curry combing. I try to explain to people, when they complain about their horse not shining, that it's not going to be shiny if it's dirty. :winkgrin: If I get bored at shows, I go curry my pony.

Ditto this. Everone always compliments my horse on how shiny his coat is and they ask what I do. I curry. Then curry some more. And then curry again.
All this curry makes me want Indian food. ;)

For show days, I always have rags, baby oil, a brush, vetrolin, and hoof oil with me.

[equito]

My favorite show prep tip is homemade quick braid. I mix some ultra cheap hair gel from Walmart or similar with water, put in a spray bottle, shake, spray, and braid. Quick, easy, and CHEAP! :D

[Seven-up]

The one thing I can't live without is a morning bath. There is nothing worse than spending 2 hours bathing a horse the night before and then showing up in the morning with giant stains all over the horse and no time to bathe again.

So I don't bother with the day before bath. It's a waste of time. I get there early early, have the wash rack all to myself, and then graze til dry. If the horse is a notorious roller, once he goes back in his stall I might tie him up so he can reach his hay and water.

I guess I developed this habit from owning grey horses, but I do it even if the horse is bay. They're just so much fresher when you bathe the morning of.

[Hunter Mom]

Not for the horse, but -Don't laugh - I actually polished my boots yesterday with a banana peel! I had read it somewhere, and got ringside just to notice a huge mud spot on my boots. DD had eaten a banana, so I grabbed the peel and it worked slick as a whistle to clean the mud off my boots! My eq course may have been way too fast, but my boots looked good!

For horse - lots of elbow grease before the show, a bath just before the show and she's extremely shiny. No show sheen needed!

[TheOrangeOne]

Not for the horse, but -Don't laugh - I actually polished my boots yesterday with a banana peel! I had read it somewhere, and got ringside just to notice a huge mud spot on my boots. DD had eaten a banana, so I grabbed the peel and it worked slick as a whistle to clean the mud off my boots!

For horse - lots of elbow grease before the show, a bath just before the show and she's extremely shiny. No show sheen needed!
OK I am going to ask a stupid question: Was it the inner mushy part of the banana peel or the outer rubbery part?

[Hunter Mom]

OK I am going to ask a stupid question: Was it the inner mushy part of the banana peel or the outer rubbery part?

Inner mushy.

Word of warning - if you do this and forget to take off your black leather gloves, refrain from brushing a wayward speck of who-knows-what off of your breeches or you will have black handprints on your belly. :eek: If you do not heed this warning, Shout will get it out. :D

[ljc]

I'm posting this hoping someone will remember:

A spray bottle of Vetrolin cut with XXXX. I forgot the XXXX ingredient. (someone help :winkgrin:) It was a new tip for me and works GREAT. I'm only halfway throught my first bottle and need to figure out what you mix it with before I run out.

It's great for getting sweat marks off a warm-upped horse before you go into the ring. It's also great at getting dusties off. I spray onto a brush or rub rag or directly onto the horse if the marks are large and wet. The alcohol in the vetrolin makes it dry fast. I've also used this trick when it was too cold to bath in the winter.


Vetrolin mixed with rubbing alcohol? That's what I use on my grey horse and it works beautifully for getting rid of sweat marks.

[fordtraktor]

Regular good, deep currying and grooming at home is a key ingredient, as is good nutrition. The show-day details (most taken from my days showing quarter horses -- those people can GROOM!) --

I clip all legs, not just the socks, with 10 blades, up through and past the ankles, fading out on the cannon area. Do this a week ahead of time so the hair can grow back in a little (avoids pink look or other color discrepancies). This can really make the horse's leg look more graceful and elegant.

Dampen whites, apply corn starch heavily. Allow to dry, then brush out. This will create neon-white socks without leaving a tell-tale trail of white powder behind.

Use the face-glo designed for horses (with sunscreen), not baby oil or vaseline. You need the sunscreen to keep your sensitive horse's face from blistering, as the oil will act like tanning oil and bake its nose. Not good. Use a small amount on nose, inside ears, and just the tiniest, tiniest amount to accentuate the bone structure in his face.

Don't sacrifice on the good braids. If you can't braid a 10, pay someone who can.

Apply hoof oil just before going into the ring. Do not apply ahead of time because dirt will stick to it in the warmup.

A spritz of Pepi on the tail hair/braids after braiding really makes the hair gleam. Do not apply to coat or it will look too oily.

Never use show sheen on a coat. If you feel like you need some bottle shine, apply then cover the horse with a sheet until it dries completely. Sunlight plus show sheen causes the coat to stand up at a weird angle and dry with a dirty look.

Nylon sheets rock and really bring out the shine overnight.