When you enter the show ring you want to catch the judge’s eye as soon as possible. Therefore, turnout is the essential element for creating a good first impression. Once you have the judge’s attention it will become easier to impress them with your horse’s paces and manners.
At Home
Trimming
First make sure your horse looks elegant by trimming out the ears, muzzle and bridle path. Also trim out the heels to remove any unnecessary leg hair.
Mountain and Moorland Ponies should be shown in their natural state, however you can do some trimming on the pony’s head to make it appear more defined.
If you want to trim the mane be careful to make sure it still looks natural, and the tail should be left neat and tidy, but again in a natural style.
Show horses should also have their tails pulled. If you are not comfortable with pulling tails, use a Supreme Products Thinning Comb. This is a humane and efficient bladed comb which thins tails and manes easily and quickly.
Bathing
Firstly wet your horse all over with lukewarm water. For that ultra clean and shiny look choose a shampoo specific to your horse or pony’s colour. These shampoos really help to enhance the colour of the coat.
Once you have the shampoo to hand you can either put some in a bucket of warm water or place it straight on to your sponge. Get a good lather on the coat and where possible leave the lather on the coat for a few minutes to work in. In stubborn areas you can apply the shampoo neat and leave for a few minutes before washing off.
Thoroughly rinse the shampoo off the coat and sweat scrape the worst of the water away. If you want to enhance your horse’s colour further use Supreme Blue Rinse as a finishing touch as this will add shine and enhance the depth of colour for all coats.
At Home
Trimming
First make sure your horse looks elegant by trimming out the ears, muzzle and bridle path. Also trim out the heels to remove any unnecessary leg hair.
Mountain and Moorland Ponies should be shown in their natural state, however you can do some trimming on the pony’s head to make it appear more defined.
If you want to trim the mane be careful to make sure it still looks natural, and the tail should be left neat and tidy, but again in a natural style.
Show horses should also have their tails pulled. If you are not comfortable with pulling tails, use a Supreme Products Thinning Comb. This is a humane and efficient bladed comb which thins tails and manes easily and quickly.
Bathing
Firstly wet your horse all over with lukewarm water. For that ultra clean and shiny look choose a shampoo specific to your horse or pony’s colour. These shampoos really help to enhance the colour of the coat.
Once you have the shampoo to hand you can either put some in a bucket of warm water or place it straight on to your sponge. Get a good lather on the coat and where possible leave the lather on the coat for a few minutes to work in. In stubborn areas you can apply the shampoo neat and leave for a few minutes before washing off.
Thoroughly rinse the shampoo off the coat and sweat scrape the worst of the water away. If you want to enhance your horse’s colour further use Supreme Blue Rinse as a finishing touch as this will add shine and enhance the depth of colour for all coats.
After washing the tail spray with Supreme Products Detangle & Shine to help gently brush through the tail when it is dry. You want to leave your horse or pony’s tail as thick and lustrous as possible so only brush through the tail when you really have to.
Plaiting
When it comes to plaiting you want to be able to stand back and be happy that the number of plaits suit the length of the neck.
Sewing in plaits always leaves a much smarter appearance and is the only way to plait for showing classes.
If you find plaits become loose before you sew them in you can always secure with a rubber band at the bottom of the plait and then start to roll the plait up.
Plaiting
When it comes to plaiting you want to be able to stand back and be happy that the number of plaits suit the length of the neck.
Sewing in plaits always leaves a much smarter appearance and is the only way to plait for showing classes.
If you find plaits become loose before you sew them in you can always secure with a rubber band at the bottom of the plait and then start to roll the plait up.
There may be occasions when it is easier to plait up the evening before to save time and reduce stress on the day of the competition.
Using Supreme Products Easy Plait will help you achieve a good professional finish. Spray the section of the mane with Easy Plait and this will help you get a good grip and also hold the plaits in place, without being sticky or greasy.
Once you have plaited, fitting a Supreme Products Lycra Mix Hood will protect the plaits and help lay them and keep them pristine. A hood will also lay the coat, as well as adding condition and shine to the neck.
Plaits can be used to disguise problems with your horse’s neck. If your horse has a weak topline then plaits will need to be pushed up onto the crest to give him a better overall appearance. If he has a cresty neck then he will require small plaits set low down.
For a long neck you need fewer larger plaits, and more plaits for a short neck. Stitch in the plaits to keep them secure.
At The Show
Quarter Marks
All show horses can wear quarter marks apart from Mountain and Moorland ponies.
Using Supreme Products Easy Plait will help you achieve a good professional finish. Spray the section of the mane with Easy Plait and this will help you get a good grip and also hold the plaits in place, without being sticky or greasy.
Once you have plaited, fitting a Supreme Products Lycra Mix Hood will protect the plaits and help lay them and keep them pristine. A hood will also lay the coat, as well as adding condition and shine to the neck.
Plaits can be used to disguise problems with your horse’s neck. If your horse has a weak topline then plaits will need to be pushed up onto the crest to give him a better overall appearance. If he has a cresty neck then he will require small plaits set low down.
For a long neck you need fewer larger plaits, and more plaits for a short neck. Stitch in the plaits to keep them secure.
At The Show
Quarter Marks
All show horses can wear quarter marks apart from Mountain and Moorland ponies.
When applying quarter markers use Supreme Products De Luxe Coat Gloss to help provide the perfect canvas and leave a natural looking shine on the coat.
For Show Ponies and Hacks the traditional markings are an upside down V checked board with sharks teeth, for this you will need a small quarter marking comb.
Start on the left and gently comb down to create a small square, leave a space of an equal width and comb in another square. Continue until about 6 squares have been created.
Then comb directly under the blank squares on the row above. Each row should have one less square, this should create the V shape. Then repeat on the other side, making sure they are symmetrical.
Hunters markers are much simpler, they have two or three rectangles which are produced with a wide body brush with closely knitted bristles.
Once the desired marks have been created, it is now time to add the sharks teeth. With a body brush, brush in an upwards direction in one stroke, you should see that the hair is now laying in a different direction. Starting at the same point brush downwards in a diagonal movement.
The next step is to brush up and try and meet the last point down, repeat this exercise until three or four shark’s teeth have been created.
Finishing Touches
Once you have arrived at the show add the last minute finishing touches to your horse or pony before you enter the ring.
Painting feet is a must’. Supreme Products Hoof Paint is great at producing shiny hooves to give your horse that top class effect. It is a paint, not a varnish, so it allows the hooves to breathe whilst creating a shiny finish.
If your horse has any scars or blemishes, or you want to add extra definition around the eyes and muzzle add Supreme Products Make Up
Finish the look by applying Supreme Products Glistening Oil to add those final touches and enhance and highlight your horse’s best points.
Now head off to the arena with a smile on your face and plenty of confidence!
For Show Ponies and Hacks the traditional markings are an upside down V checked board with sharks teeth, for this you will need a small quarter marking comb.
Start on the left and gently comb down to create a small square, leave a space of an equal width and comb in another square. Continue until about 6 squares have been created.
Then comb directly under the blank squares on the row above. Each row should have one less square, this should create the V shape. Then repeat on the other side, making sure they are symmetrical.
Hunters markers are much simpler, they have two or three rectangles which are produced with a wide body brush with closely knitted bristles.
Once the desired marks have been created, it is now time to add the sharks teeth. With a body brush, brush in an upwards direction in one stroke, you should see that the hair is now laying in a different direction. Starting at the same point brush downwards in a diagonal movement.
The next step is to brush up and try and meet the last point down, repeat this exercise until three or four shark’s teeth have been created.
Finishing Touches
Once you have arrived at the show add the last minute finishing touches to your horse or pony before you enter the ring.
Painting feet is a must’. Supreme Products Hoof Paint is great at producing shiny hooves to give your horse that top class effect. It is a paint, not a varnish, so it allows the hooves to breathe whilst creating a shiny finish.
If your horse has any scars or blemishes, or you want to add extra definition around the eyes and muzzle add Supreme Products Make Up
Finish the look by applying Supreme Products Glistening Oil to add those final touches and enhance and highlight your horse’s best points.
Now head off to the arena with a smile on your face and plenty of confidence!
Well, the audience also has their first impressions for performance horses showing their skills in the ring, it’s just the judges have the rights to give them score.
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