Showing tips

[Pinkpeeper]

Taking the 3yr new forest to a bigger show than we normaly do next wk, only doing 1 class youngstock m&m. We have had some success at local level, competing against older horses and at the last show the judge said she is going to be super next year and thourght she would do very well.
I am new to showing and have looked up how her breed should be turned out etc. But i want to know all the little tricks that all the good showing people do to turn out as well as possible.
All i can think of is bath, bit of baby oil in the rinse, mega clean pony, bit of chalk on white foot and hoof paint. But im sure many other people do much more than this, i just dont know what?

 

[blackcob]

After my recent showing experiences, I cannot stress enough that you need to practice halting square a lot at home before you try it in the show ring.

Baby oil can also be used to highlight eyes and nose. Absorbine hoof shine gives the best mirrorlike finish for feet and stays put longer than hoof oil.

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Supreme Make up for horses around their eyes and muzzle .

Shiney shiney shiney horse ! Plenty of elbow grease and a little dettol in the water when washing .
Although I always believe in horses shining from the inside out

.

Use talc powder for the whites bits .

Make sure tack is squeaky clean .

Also your turnout is important ie hair neatly put up or in hairnet .

Hmmm Mind has gone blank but if I can think of anything else Ill let you know

 

[SNORKEY]

Hi, a little bit of baby oil around the muzzle, and eyes, and also a drizzle of oil through the tail just before you go in the ring, also if your mare has a long mane I like to loosely plait their mane and tail the night before so it's a little wavey.
I also like the hoof stain you can buy that makes them jet black, but as long as they are oiled then that will be fine.
Make sure your correctly turned out, you can tell if someones new to showing from a mile away if your wearing the wrong things.
A velvet show hat, tweed jacket with a well fitting tie, white/cream shirt, brown/navy trousers or yellow jods with jod/long boots, dont wear trainers as I saw last week at a county show! and a nice brown showcane and leather gloves.
Also your bridle should be nice and clean, and should'nt have a flash on it if she wears one, and no coloured browband for m&m's.
And lastly make sure she's good at running up in hand and behaves, and when you take her up infront of the judge ask her to stand square, and walk her away and then turn her tightly to the right and head straight for the judge in trott.

Have fun

 

[Pinkpeeper]

Thanks for replies, our square halt is rubbish. She can do it but somethimes the excitment is just a bit to much for her and then im just pleased if she stands still for the judge. Will work on it more over the next wk.

She is roan so dosnt get that shiney, cant ever get a shine on her whitish bum

think thats why i feel i must be missing something out.

Supreme make up? will google that now.

Thanks again

 

[Chunkie]

I was once told that judges don't like black hoof oil as it can hide crappy hooves. Don't know if true or not but I always use the clear stuff.