How Much Cotton Wool For Show Horse....

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Forget_Me_Not

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Ok so knowing I want to show Dermot I'm paranoid about him getting knocked down for scars, lumps and bumps etc....Even slight rubbing of the mane is causing a nightmare from a plaiting point of veiw. I know a friend who has a proper hunter which isn't allowed out with others...Now understand after watching Dermot playing with the boys....So far only few nicks....
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How do you wrap yours in cotton wool??
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Have always shown mine first a grey then dark bay, never used boots just craftily applied make up.

I have to say they knocked themselves about a lot less when unshod, present ned is still unshod behind
 
You can't really wrap them up in cotton wool.

Even the most cossetted horses can end up injured - in fact they are far more likely to get injured if they're shut away, as when they do get to go out, they can explode like a bottle of pop.

At the end of the day, you have to take a risk, and allow them to be horses.
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Not much cotton wool on these two (champion hunter RIHS and champion novice riding horse). If you wrap them up too much they lose the will to live! If we have a horse that is rough with the others, then he only goes out with the retired boys who can stick up for themselves. But most of them are happy to go out with any horses on the yard.
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Mine are`nt wrapped in cotton wool either - but they do wear boots all round when being ridden and turned out when they are in work (they get about 2 hours to every day during show season). During the winter they are turned out fully with 3-4 others.
 
Oh Dermot does go out rain or shine every day and when we're allowed more like 24/7. Hes in all round boots. And I enjoy watching him play. Though after watching him being kicked I think if they conituine I might have to sep him during the showing session. How much would you espect two old unseeable but feelable splits to get you down? He isn't shod because he doesn't need shoes and I'm not going too shoe a horse unless he needs them. But that i can control!
 
No cotton wool. Turned out with 25 other horses ranging in age from 2-36, in a 50 acre field. They have to have quite a substantial injury for it to effect a showing career. my pony had a splint, but it went down and judges never mentioned it. In fact my biggest showing problem came from the fact he outgrew his class, grr!
 
All mine apart from one are out 24/7 rain or shine..... however the other one isn't used to being out, and even when he is allowed out, he has a few hours turnout totally seperate from others.....

<Now heads off back to Wilkinsons to stock up on the cotton wool> !!!!
 
No cotton wool for mine either, turnout as much as possible, mostly with other horses (except for the very antisocial!) and always without boots. They also hunt, cross country, compete in other disciplins etc. I do try not to jump wire out huntig unless absolutely unavoidable - but I would with any horse.
 
I have tincy wincy bit of cotton wool for ours ....


Shes only a baby after all ... saying that there isnt many horses on our livery yard that she can be turned out with ... her stable mate was sold so she is now turned out with a big grey mare who she gets on fine with although she ( the big grey mare) is very friendly with a lil 12hh pony who is a right lil tinker that bites and kicks other horses .. she does have a lil bit of an attitude problem probably due to her size . So therefor I dont let Missy out with her ( as in 12 hh pony )

She has 2 rugs on her at the minute along with an anti rub vest that covers her head and neck also .. ( due to her needing to cast obviously ) for may .

I think once we get balmoral over us then we can relax abit more with her .
 
no cotton wool on my 4.

None of mine ever wear boots except when traveling. all 4 are turned out 24/7 all year round.
 
NO COTTON WOOL FOR MINE!! turned out with others to rough off this year no rugs no nothing!!
 
My friend shows at county level - and is a two times HOYS winner.

Her horses go out in the fields with each other, no boots, only rugged when needed. You are more likely to get a damaged horse that isn't allowed to be a horse quite frankly.
 
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You mean thay won't feel his lovely baby soft coat? Damn its half his selling point....Sod the soya... Why can't greys shine...
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They shine by just looking stunning once they are clean!
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I do WH with mine and she has scars on her lower legs which have never caused her to be marked down, although it is not such an issue for that type of showing.

Woman at my last yard spent 8k on a german dressage baby and insists he will a. never go on a road and b. never be turned out with any other horse. It is so sad because this lovely horse is totally isolated when he should be learning about socialising - because he didn't know any better he once went straight up to the back end of my mare (idiot owner was letting him meander around the yard on a lunge line) to say hello and nearly got both barrels!!

Let him be a horse and happy!
 
None..he hunts all season and lives out 24/7!

Our only concessions are not hunting for a month before the season and giving him Conditioning feed & soya oil
 
none whatsoever for Pidge and I want to do working hunter with him etc this year. He does get a few scrapes on his head and neck from playing but to be honest I'd rather he enjoy himself than be on his own in a field just so he can look perfect for showing.
 
Well i always put mine on on their own but beside another horse and boots all round. As for rubbing of manes ( is it a rambo wug by any chance?) that wa s anightmare for me and my friend too which we resorted to false plaits!
 
My old YO used to have an expensive horse he used for showing and he would hardly ever let it out of its stable, except to go on a hack or a show.he was a bit paranoid about people going to see him and was always looking for cuts and marks. One day, after not being in the field for about 2/3 weeks, we managed to convice the YO to let his horse out into the field and my god iv never seen a horse go so completely bonkers in my life!!!bucking, galloping,throwing his head up in the air, sudden stops an turns....it was mad! and no one could catch him to take him back in until about 3/4 hours later, not even with food!!! so id say, just let them be horses. they are much less likely to hurt themselves just generally grazing and wondering around their fields than when u restrict them.
 
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Our only concessions are not hunting for a month before the season and giving him Conditioning feed & soya oil

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I hunted one of mine 3 days before HOYS, I think she'd have been very annoyed if we all went hunting without her!
 
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