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The Perfect Presentation
Whether you are planning to show your horse under saddle or in-hand this season, presenting him correctly in front of the judge can make a huge difference to your final placing. Top show rider and producer Lynn Russell gives us her top tips…
When it comes to preparing your horse for the show ring, planning ahead is key and every day care of their appearance is vital. I use my own Lynn Russell Quick Manes & Tails on their tails and because I use this product on a daily basis, my horses’ tails are never difficult to comb through for show day. If your horse does not have a thick mane or tail, don’t brush or comb everyday – simply spray the detangler onto the tail and with your fingers work through the hair, this way he will still have some hair left at the end of the showing season.
I use stain removers to get rid of those extra tough stable stains. Always read the instructions but those that can be left to work into the stain generally do a better job, however nothing works better than keeping on top of stable and grass stains – when you spot them, deal with them. Having had a number of white and grey horses over the years, I know what a nightmare it can be keeping them looking show-ring clean. For those stains that appear over night I tackle them with my Quick Brite Shampoo and Super Stain spray!
Your show tack should be ridden in regularly and also cleaned after every use, not just before the big day. However for a last minute spruce up, I use my Lynn Russell Quick Tack Wipes, which are quick, easy and effective. It’s important to check your tack for signs of wear and tear and generally keep the leather in good condition.
If your horse is quite dirty in the stable, it might be worth skipping out later on in the evening, so that he doesn’t end up covered by the morning or alternatively, if you can, turn him out over night with a rug on.
You can bandage up with socks over night, but if you are not used to bandaging, get someone who is experienced to do it for you – over tightening stable bandages can cause problems so if you are not sure – ask. I tend to use leg wraps, as these also don’t leave marks on the legs in the morning.
When it comes to plaiting, practise really does make perfect, so in the build-up to your show try experimenting with different sized plaits and numbers to see which suit your horse best – less plaits generally make a longer neck look slighter shorter and vice versa. I always use a pre-plaiting product, Quick Plait, which I spray onto the hair to dampen down loose stray hairs and help get a grip on each plait and I always plait using cotton thread not elastic bands.
Don’t worry about applying hoof oil until you get to the show, otherwise your lovely clean travel boots will suffer!
When you arrive at the show, allow time to get your number, see how the rings are running for time and then unload the horses and check for any stains (which can be sponged off). I will warm my horse up and then ten minutes before my class I will return to the lorry for the final checks. I give their hooves a quick spray of hoof oil, a final mist of my Finishing Touch. I’ll cover any blemishes with my equine make-up range and give my boots and tack a quick wipe over to ensure that we are neat, clean and tidy – then we are ready to show off in front of the judge!
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No matter what the horsey chore, Lynn grins and bears it! |
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