Turnout tips please

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toppy72

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The opening meet is fast approaching and I need some turnout tips, I will have to do a school run etc before the meet and therefore would really like to plait the night before given my poor skills in this area. Can anyone recommend a suitable lycra neck cover to keep the plaits in place I have had a look on line and there seem to be a number of products varying from quite expensive (snuggy hoods) to fairly cheap (shires).

My horse is grey so any other easy tidy up/keeping clean tips greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
I have 12 horses to get ready for Opening meet this year !

Plaiting - make sure that when you plait down that the plaits are nice and tight from the base. Always plait the section tightly and against the neck, don't pull the section of hair away from the neck as you plait it. It should then lay tight to the neck and when rolled up form a neat tight ball. I always sew my plaits as first it looks more neater and i find it holds the plaits more secure.

Once you have finished plaiting, cover each plait in a square of Kitchen foil, and scrunch around the plait, this keeps the plait clean. Then cut a pair of tights up, cut the legs off, then the toes and then along the length of the legs, and then stretch the nylon along the neck, secure over each foil covered plait with a plaiting band. This will protect the plaits and the sections between from hay and bedding. Make sure the horse can stretch down.

Snuggy hoods are good for keeping the neck and heads clean - It's the only ones that I find stay in place. Otherwise get some soapless shampoo from boots to be able to clean up stable stains quickly. Have baby wipes on hand as well for bottoms!

Make sure horse has a clean fresh deep bed the night before and try and skip out quite late to remove any poos that may be squashed into coat! Extra large haynet to keep them occupied

keep having a go at plaiting to sharpen up your skills and before long it will be second nature! ( it takes me 20mins from start to finish) make sure mane is pulled and thinned and clean, however do not wash mane the night before, try and wash it at the begining of the week and plait down to keep tidy and clean. In the morning remove tights and foil and make sure all plaits are still neat and tidy, then spray with hairspray to hold in place.

Wash the tail the night before unless you are plaiting tail as well. Plait down from beneath the end of the dock bone to thetips. If you don't have a tail bag, then place tail inside the leg of a pair of tighs and sew through to hold in place. Keeps clean and free of soiled bedding. If you have a grey or white tail then wash with Daz washing powder for a fantasic white finish ! Supreme Products also have a good blue rinse for greys and white tails. Use only a tiny bit or you will stain tail/mane blue !!

leave for the night with death threats if they as much as look at a speck of dirt/poo and pray that thay don't have a party that night !! lol

Good luck !!
 
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