Best Turned Out Help Please

[JessPickle]

Well I have a smallish show going on at my yard on bank holiday monday, I really want to do well in best turned out. Last time the judge was a bit unclear said he didnt like running plaits, but liked horses plaited, no martingales or boots or saddleclothes. But his top 3 all had these and the bottom 2 had none of these!

Now I have no idea what to do

He has a bit of a mad mane and tail! any ideas on how to make him look stunning. (also how can I make my tack shine!)

Picture of the mane!

and the dreaded tail!

and just a whole body pic, any ideas to make him look truly stunning

 

[icestationzebra]

He's really lovely!
Could you pull his mane a bit shorter - that way you could do conventional plaits and he would look really smart. If he is a native then leave him unpulled and just wash his mane and comb through - remember to scrub right down to the crest to get rid of any grease. A light conditioner on the ends or show sheen will make it look glossy and tangle free - but don't use these if you are going to plait as it will be too slippery. He has a lovely thick tail - a wash and comb through it will look lovely - if you are plaiting his mane then you could plait his tail too. (If you are pulling and plaiting then his feathers should be trimmed too - but not if you are leaving him natural) Give him a bath or a good groom to remove any grease and wash his white bits to make them really white. The key to nice looking tack is to thoroughly clean it before soaping it to remove all the grease - hot water will make this easy. Avoid garish colours, boots, saddlecloths etc. Go for discreet numnah and girth and a plain cavesson noseband if you have one.
Don't forget to look smart yourself too

Good luck and take some photos for us to see.

 

[hadleigh]

That tail is gorgeous and should be really easy to plait. The mane is too long for conventional plaits so a running plait is your only option imo. He's a lovely horse so a good old groom and brush up and a nice quarter mark and you stand a good chance!!

 

[JessPickle]

Thank you, plenty of tips there. He can look absulutely stunning. I am determined that he wll do better this time, he deserves too. Am not sure about pulling mane I love his flowing mane!

 

[GlamourDol]

Pull is main, plait his tail, cut the feathers off(do this a couple of days before) chalk his legs, plait mane and gel down, and scrub your tack boots etc with a tooth brush!
Dont do a running plait, hes not spanish.
Good luck
x

 

[MillionDollar]

Well if he was mine, I would pull his mane drastically, so its thin and is all about 5 inches long. I'm telling you now, you will love him with a pulled mane. I have a TB x Clydesdale (very like him) and she looks fab with a short pulled mane. You can always let it grow if you don't like it anyway.
I would clip his feathers off (honestly he'll look amazing for it), do this about 5 days before the show. I'd then plait both his mane (not a running plait though, thats for Spanish horses IMO) and tail.

Good Luck!

 

[TFS]

Pull his mane and plait up using thread, try and get a decent number or plaits (9 - 12) plait his forelock,
pull his tail or plait it
cut his feathers off chalk them
all the tufty parts of his mane over his wither clip off and clip a poll patch and his whiskers and any cat hairs under his chin.

give him a great bath and really scrub his mane - a good tip is to use a plastic curry comb after you soap his mane to get all the dirt out then it looks much better when plaited.

tack wise nothin really except a bridle and saddle, a good fitting saddle shouldnt need a numnah or if you do use a nummnah use a discreet brown or black one. a snaffle, double or a rugby pelham is the norm for showing.

anything else pm me and il answer any questions you have im happy to help and i hope you do well!!

 

[Lucyann89]

If your horse is a Native;
Don't cut his mane, tail or feather off. Just wash him really well the day before the show and keep him in a thin rug or sheet to keep him clean! When the tail is still wet, split it in 5 and loosely pleat each section, secure it and when it is dry it will be a bit wavy, now comb through with a mane comb until it's detangled and use some shine spray/detangler spray too. Don't pleat his mane but keep it detangled. Then just groom him really well and use a shine spray on his body. Use chalk on his white feathers and comb them through too.

If he is not native;
Wash the day before, thin rug on so he stays clean. You will have to pull the mane to make nice neat pleats. Google it and it will show you step by step pulling and pleating. Cut the tail so it is level with his white socks on his hindlegs. Make sure it is all the same length. Google how to pleat the tail too and make sure the ends are combed through really well. Use gel/small amount baby oil on the pleats to keep loose ends down and make it even neater and shinier. Cut his feathers and his beard but I don't agree with his whiskers being cut off

espec. if it's a smallish show. Chalk his white bits and just groom groom groom for shine.

Tack;
The day before..
1. Use a damp sponge (warm water) and wipe the entire bridle and saddle. This will get dirt and most of the grease off.
2. Use the damp sponge and rub it onto some saddle soap. Cover the entire bridle and saddle..Except the bit and any other metal parts like stirrups, just clean them with clean water only.
3. Cover the bridle and any rough parts of the saddle, the stirrup leathers maybe? with vaseline and rub it in well so it's not greasy. Leave over night
4. For final touch ups apply small amounts of tack oil or vaseline to any parts which are still dry. Rub over with a clean cloth and tack should be gleaming!

I have attatched two links. One of a native horse which is being shown and one of a horse which isn't native all pleated up. They don't look like your horse much but they are bay so it gives a good idea of what to aim for.

good luck!

NATIVE
http://www.horseweb-uk.com/hi/int3.jpg

NOT NATIVE
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/969/15448.JPG