Help! First Show on Saturday, eek! :D

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Kub

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Okies, not quite a show but I have to turn up as if it was a show. I'm soooo excited and this is a good intro for both me and my boy.

I'm doing an in-hand clinic and at the end they're having a mini show, so I need to get myself and my boy looking ship shape. Can you let me know if I'm missing anything/need anything else other than what I've listed below?

ME:
-Brown walking boots
-Blue Trousers (he has white legs)
-White shirt
-Hacking jacket (hopefully, if it turns up by Friday!)
-Brown hat
-Brown show cane
-Brown gloves
-Hair up in hairnet??

HORSE:
-Sparkling all over, any tips on making him super white much appreciated! Will be my first time getting him white so need all the help I can get :)
-In-hand bridle with reins
-Hoof oil
-Mane and tail shiny spray

Also, I need to make me up a show kit, what should I include in it??

Thanks for all your help peeps, cornettos all round!
 
Ooh, what fun! Yes hair def in haynet, although I have been guilty of occasionally just plaiting it for small shows. Is it the horse in your sig? If so, I would avoid hoof oil as it will get all over his feathers! For white legs I scrub like mad the night before and leave bandaged overnight with a bit of chalk powder brushed on and brush off the next morning. Not sure that will work with feathers though! Ideally for in hand showing you need a little coupling link/chain and a leather show lead. Maybe different for a clinic, but my show kit includes-
Water buckets, 3 2litre bottles of water, first aid kit, grooming kit with clean stable rubbers(tea towels), several full haynets, muck skip, scissors, pen, baby oil, change of clothes, lightweight waterproof rug, spare string/twine and probably lots I've forgotten!
My main tip for getting them super shiney is just loads of grooming! Groom until your happy with them then do another half an hour! Dark horses/patches look lovely and shiney if you finish off with a slightly damp tea towel. Good luck,take pics to show us!
 
All sounds good (although I'm no inhand expert!:p) As for getting him white, I use tesco value and a bit of whitener shampoo with lots of scrubbing, which seems to do the trick on my grey and then chalk on anywhere slightly yellow in the morning. Sorry, probably not the most useful answer, but good luck and have fun! :)
 
Thanks guys, every little helps! I was thinking clear hoof oil or is that not advised on traditionals?

Yep, it's the boy in my pic, and he's got a LOT of hair to wash lol!! What's the best thing for scrubbing him with? I've heard a shower puff is good, anything else tried and tested?

I've taken the Friday afternoon off work so I have plenty of time to clean him, being the first time and all, so thinking nice thick bed of clean shavings to help poof up his feathers and basically keep him uber covered to avoid the little monster getting dirty again lol!

I've been told not to bandage his feathers though, as it crushes them, but I've got some shires wraps which I'm hoping will do the trick.

Any good tips for whitening his tail and mane? Both a bit yellow at the mo *le sigh* lol!
 
Nothing much to add, but I've always been taught to only use a coupling and lead rein with an in hand bridle and reins only with a ridden bridle - if that makes sense?
 
Ah ok, will see if I can pick one up on Friday at my local tack shop. Otherwise it may well be reins, unless I can borrow some lol.

I've heard on here that some people use curtain whitener to get tail/mane really white, how do use this? Do you dilute in lots of water and soak??
 
i know it sounds original but i have found that fairy liquid makes the coat sparkle and also the main and tail.... what i normally do is wet horse with a hose, squeeze some fairy liquid into a bucket of warm water and scrub all over the horse, also i spray mane/tail conditioner in when wet. And chalk never goes a miss ;)... baby oil/ vaseline on eyes and muzzle, clear hoof oil, mane on the right side, and maybe to get his tail nice and wavey put some plates in over night or something... just suggestions! never shown traditional coloureds but im pretty handy with welshies ;)
 
Thanks junglediva, I do usually wash him with fairy liquid which definitely makes a difference but doesn't bring him up white. Admittedly, I have only washed him a couple of times and that was only once, so maybe a second going over after getting the initial dirt off will make a difference.

Not sure if traditionals are meant to have wavy tails or not... But tbh, anything to stop him getting it dirty is fine by me :D
 
Fairy Liquid is for getting grease off plates etc. Are you sure you want to take grease out of his coat? You need some grease for shine. I used to use Hint of a Tint Platinum hair shampoo on pony's tail, gave it a lovely silvery sheen. Also was told by a professional show person not to bath horse before a show but to groom energetically, spray with show sheen & rug up (I used a Dress Circle lycra rug with a light but deep stable rug on top) to keep clean. Worked for me.
 
I won't hear a word said against Fairy Liquid :D
And re: shower puffs... i have a plastic mitten thing with bristles on which is amazing... no idea what they're called though :o :D
 
Don't put chalk on Feather!!!!!! Seriously, chalk will attract the dust, just hang there and go grey. Terrible stuff for feather. I know, I am that person who did it - never again! Some people use baby talc but I've never dared after the chalk episode.

Washing up liquid is good, but I find Tresemme, the 'deep cleansing for shifting deep city grime' :D is better. The foam helps lift the grit out from the legs, and yes, shower puffs are fantastic inventions.
You're lucky in that he's a gelding and doesn't pee in his tail like mares do. A good blue/purple shampoo can lift the yellow away in geldings and make the tail look gorgeous.
Apply lots of elbow grease. I sympathise, honest! :D


Please beware of putting oil/vaseline on the face - they can fry in the sun.

When you get the tail done, put it in plaits to keep it clean and out of the way of poo. Same with the mane. I stable Star in a LW turnout rug the night before morning classes to keep her clean, she delights in covering every white patch in poo! I use wraps on her legs as well for the same reason.

Take lots of babywipes - they are brilliant at getting rid of green stains which appear just as you are going to go into the ring.

Have fun and post some pics :D
 
Thanks peeps, really appreciate the suggestions :)

Mari - I'm not going to wash his body as he's pretty clean on the main part tbh, and any little marks should come out with a good groom, hopefully! I do need to wash his legs, tail and mane though coz they're currently very yellow and should be sparkling white lol!

Thanks for the votes on the puff, I've got a spare one at home to think I'll be testing that out tomorrow :D I've heard great things about Tresemme so will try and pick some up tonight. Do you wash with fairy liquid and then Tresemme??

Janette - Good point about oil and frying! My boy has a pink nose too so really don't want to make him more suseptable(sp?!) to being burnt! As for plaiting, am I allowed to as he's a traditional? Coz it will ake his mane/tail wavy, is that ok?

Eeeek, I'm really excited! I know it's a kinda mock thing as it's a clinic but it's gong to be good getting some feedback on me and him and whether we'll be any good at this showing malarky :D
 
People will say no, but I plait Star's and it drops straight soon enough. Comb it through with clean water if it doesn't drop out.

I just go with the Tresemme and then a purple shampoo. And really, really rinse. Shampoo stops the feather from 'flying' and attracts dust. I see that the tail is white, if you don't have a tail bag, some people bandage the tail, right down to the end of it.... Stops it going wavy and keeps it clean - never mastered that myself though so invested in a tail bag.



Good luck, have loads of fun and come back and share further secrets of how to get them clean and keep them clean :D
 
i have a tradional he's not coulored but i do plait main and tail into several 'smaller' and then replait the plaits i then take them all out when i get to the show. to keep the tail clean i put it in a pair of tights over night the white problem i'm still experimenting with. as he has white socks i put them in elasitic badages (the sort u use on sprained wrists but bigger ones) got that from my farrier i then brush out when get to show with show shine and a wire dog brush they come out all fluffy there not white but they stay cleaner then normal
picture.php

this is what he comes out like.
The most important thing is to renember your going home with the best horse and enjoy your self
 
To make things white i use chalk and a bit of water to make a thin paste and put that on anywhere that needs to be white, leave it on over night and brush it out in the morning and its whiter than white! xxx
 
Thanks peeps.

Janette - is it the deep cleanse Tresemme?
Clopton - good idea about the tights! I have a tail bag but it isn't really long enough so will give the tights a try :) Are the elastic bandages easy to get hold of? And have you got a pic of the sort of brush you use to puff them up again? Wasn't going to do bandages but not sure I can do anything else as need to cover his feathers completely to stop them getting dirty

Damn me and buying a coloured lol!!
 
i can get the bandages from a pharmacy/ chemist or supermarket they are just the white elestic 'support' bandages i get the knee size will ask my daughter if she can use her phone to take picture of dog brush as i broke the camra but they tend to have the rectangular ends with lots of little angled/bent wire bristles if thats of any help
 
Thanks clopton :) Well today is D day so hoping I can get him all clean this afternoon. Luckily, if it goes a bit wrong, it won't be too big a deal as it's a mock show at the end of the clinic, but I'd like to get it as right as possible lol.

Haha, don't think the orc would be too impressed with that, but you might be able to get some sort of tie dye thing going on?? Hehe! :D

p.s. Neither clopton or I believe you should bleach horses :)
 
Remember a tie for you!

Is he a youngster? If so then an inhand bridle is ok, but if he's over 4 then I'd be inclined to use a normal ridden bridle (with a nice thick noseband) and reins, rather than an inhand one. Depending on what type it is, inhand bridles can look jut awful on cobs as they usually need a nice thick noseband.
 
I was just thinking that, teagreen! Luckily, my bf has lloooaaaddsss hehe, but not sure what colour to go for.. Any suggestions? :D

He's is only rising 3 but I completely know what you mean. I do have an inhand bridle for him but if we get any good, I think I might go for a hunter bridle for him as the thicker nose band definitely looks better on his roman nose :)
 
Change the shirt to a coloured - cream or yellow the brown. You can do the yellow duster trick, buy cheap white shirts and put them in the wash with a tesco value duster - yellow shirts!

Don't forget a tie and really you should have a tie pin - not a bling one.

Hair tied back and if long enough, into a bun, if short, into a hair net.

Thin elastic to tie your number on. Some people round the corners to create a neater impression.

If you are wearing brown hat and I am assuming a brown or green tweed, maybe consider brown trousers.

Never never never plait the mane etc so it looks wavy - very incorrect. Chancer's mane luckily as he is getting older is loosing its wave, though he still has wavy feather but I am not that concerned to get straightners on it.

Give him a light trim - jawline, outside of ears, belly hair, bloomers and if he has cat hairs, go over with a set of trimmers going with the hair to remove them. Do not trim off whiskers - he should have minimal trimming as for any natives.

Feet - if not covered in hair, clear hoof oil. On the head you use a tiny amount of highlighter on the nose and over the eyes but make it very very discrete. I use supreme sparkle on the mane, forelock and tail and if on grass and no dusty, on the feather.

Avoid too much leg whitener, a bit of talc on the day is great as it does not clog the hair and stop it floating. Avoid chalk.

To get him white. On the legs and if he has white mane and tail, mix up the following 1/3 vanish liquid, 1/3 arial excel gel, 1/3 either fairy liquid or tresume deep cleansing shampoo and if you can get it some equine blue - equineblue.com - you need about a level teaspoon. This should get the white very good. Use the same on the body but not the vanish and use the arial only on hock/knee stains. I find the tresume and equine blue on the body is sufficient to get Stinky very white. On the legs, tail and mane put on plenty of cheap condioner to over coming using what can be harsh cleaning products, plus it really gets the hair to look more full.

Once washed, I go over with coat conditioner - I love the alva products, really brush the coat flat, put on a lycra body suit to hold it down.

I use survivior detangler from tailgator on the legs and all other hair and gently comb through. Once the legs are dry I use stable wraps to keep it clean. I put the tail once dry in a very loose plait and then bag it. The mane and forelock once dry are put in bunches with bands round top and bottom and then it goes under the suit to stay clean and in place.

I put a lightweight rug on top and in summer he goes out - though he wears his Snuggy hood SI body and hood with a no fill rug on top, and still leg wraps.

On the day, I scrub off any stains that have appeared - cowboy magic is excellent. I may put a little whitener on them before I go off, ie on the hocks.

When I get to the show, first thing I do is brush out all the whitener - it will send a black tail grey. Next remove all his clothing and cover him in alva gleam and brush and then use a soft mitt to really get the shine up. Legs are very gently combed through, ditto mane, tail and forelock. I then apply sparkle to his hair and put his tail into a twist and a knot. Final touches are to his face, feet (depending on time of year) and off we go. Just outside the ring, a final comb on the hair and flick over the body.

My grooming kit consists of combs - two for the white areas and the dark areas so any talc is not transferred. Brushes - various types, mitts and cloths. Hoof polish, for in the summer where you can see some hoof, highlighter gel, avla gleam, supreme sparkle, talc, stain remover, wet wipes to clean nose and eyes.

I do a tick list and as everything is packed I tick it off and again as it PUT into the van, I learnt that the hard way that you need to do two ticks as once I forgot my inhand boots and had to quickly scrub up my everyday yard boots.

Result

TraditionalHorseInHand.jpg


Stinky rising 5

Chancer-trottingup-BSPAWCC.jpg


Stinky just turned 3

and our first ever show, he is 20 months, we have learnt a lot since them, but you can see how much hair he has in May compared to the end of August - he really moults out so I only ever wash and comb when going to a show.

ss20061.jpg


Good luck and I hope all goes well with your show.
 
Well I am back from my first outing with my beautiful boy :) It was a really good day and he was just soo well behaved, especially as he's two (even the judge thought so lol!) and I think we did quite well for our first time.

The clinic was great, and held by someone who knows their traditionals, and to top it off, Bashful Bobby Dazzler was there too! So great to get some tips from the top peeps :) They think Harry has good movement and confirmation and a good example of his breed, which is brill. The things they did pick up on are little things that I can easily amend so just so happy that the basics that I can't change don't need to be :)

In our mini show, no-one was placed as such but we all received a personal mark sheet stating good and bad points. Harry and I got 78 out of 100, though I think the lady was being nice, but her comments were really useful.

All in all, it's been a great first time out. I couldn't have asked Harry to be any more perfect, and he even loaded at the end without too much hassle, we're slowly getting there!

One thing I must say is, for all those that have hairys, I do not know how you do it! I spent 6 hours yesterday trying to make my boy white, we got pretty close but it took a lot of scrubbing, washing, re-washing and chalk lol! So kudos to you all :)

Thanks for all your help peeps, I'll get some picks up soon :)
 
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