Best turned out tips please?

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poiuytrewq

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For tomorrow! Best turned out at this show is what we aspire to get a first in year after year!
Give me your best hints and tips!
We've been 3rd and 2nd so far!
 
scrub scrub and scrub, make sure there is no grease in mane and tail, i once got marked down for plaiting using rubber bands! make sure your stirrups and treads and bottom of boots are spotless, have you cleaned all your tack and made sure there is no grease on inside of any off it, is it supple, are your gloves clean.
 
is your shirt ironed, jacket clean with no horse grease or hair on.
Is your hat all brushed and steamed.
Get someone to check boots and stirrup treads once you are on, to make sure they are spotless.
I always take haynet off my horse 10 mins before i put bridle on or he drools hay spit all over it.
My friend is always on stand by to make sure there are no knots in his tail as he swishes it badly when there are flies about, mane and tail conditioner helps.
My friend always watches him in case he does any droppings, if he is excited that can cause a right mess.
 
Poke the holes in your tack with a cocktail stick, clean your fingernails, wash your bit and stirrups in boiling water and polish dry straight away to get a good shine.
 
You can put shower caps over riding boots to keep them clean and take them off when mounted,make sure the buckle guards on saddle are pulled over the buckles , oil hooves inside and outside just before going in the ring, if the rider has long hair plait it wind in a bun and secure put hair net over and a plain band over the bun do not have any loose hair showing under hat,if you have a number tied around waist make sure the string is threaded behind the number not across the front ,when the string is fastened pull the knot through the button hole so you can not see it then fasten the button .
If you can before going in the ring a final wipe over and may be some quarter marks
This is a class we have enjoyed and won many times ,just make sure you allow enough time to to get ready,I hope this helps, good luck.
 
Was just about to say the same as mon above, the pair of white gloves is a really old fashioned thing but still used around my way.
 
We always had yellow cotton (crotcheted string!) gloves under right hand girth strap when out hunting, in case it rained, and our leather gloves would slip on our leather reins, both being wet!
*staggers off to Bath chair, mumbling " you young things . . ."*
 
If you think it's clean, it's not and go clean it again, if you think the judge won't notice it, they will, go clean it again and don't expose your show ring clothes to fresh air until you are about to climb on, even better, shed the outer layer whilst mounted. Good luck :))
 
Lay off the baby oil! I've judged plenty of these classes and people often put loads of baby oil in the tail to make it shine. I always make an effort to look smart myself when I'm judging and having a good suit ruined by baby oil is a real downer.

Someone mentioned making sure fingernails are cleaned. Fingers shouldn't be on show as gloves must be worn.

No matchy matchy. Might be OK for hacking out but in the show ring bright coloured saddlecloths, reins, bit guards, ribbons, etc are a no no.

Make sure everythng - horse and rider - fits correctly. I was once slammed by a competitor for putting someone with a synthetic saddle above her when she had a brand new saddle and matching bridle. Point was that the sythetic saddle fitted whereas the new tack did not.

Could go on for pages on this .....
 
For back number use a piece of cotton tape the same colour as your jacket.

Sew plaits

Boot polish instep of boots

Only a little human makeup

If your horse can handle it - no numnah or saddle blanket
 
No bright colours, make sure you use hunter show ring HOYS style tack/dress etc.

White paste/chalk on legs, if bathing the day before put a light sheet/fly rug on your horse overnight in the stable and make sure its as un-slip proof as possible to prevent stains!

Make sure you wipe any gunge off your horses mouth beforehand and have friends on the ground.

And everything other people have said :D
 
Too late now but tail plait with the middle bit raised rather than under. Scrub frogs and underside of hoves generally. Hoof oil soles.
 
Beentheredonethat said:
Someone mentioned making sure fingernails are cleaned. Fingers shouldn't be on show as gloves must be worn.

I said that, but only because, been there many many times, used to do lead rein turnout as well as my own ride and remember when the decision couldn't be made between us top two we got asked to remove our gloves and show our nails as the decider! (I won :) )
Bit extreme granted but sometimes there has to be something.....!
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