Makeover with Brogan and Samantha

At a show earlier this year, Brogan - a 13.2hh Traditional Cob - was sadly subjected to a widely publicised attack where his forelock was hacked off. We were delighted to be able to help at the time and we supplied a false tail to Brogan’s owner, Samantha Perkins, so this could be fitted to restore Brogan’s long flowing locks. We made a follow up visit to Samantha and Brogan in early September to give Brogan a full makeover and provide some handy hints and tips for Samantha so she could incorporate them in to her grooming regime for the 2015 season, as she plans to enter some HOYS qualifiers.

Susie Shuttleworth from Traditional Show Cobs very kindly offered to come along and assist with the makeover. Susie is very well-known within the Traditionals fraternity with horses such as Del Boy V and In Your Dreams, amongst others.

Susie first carried out an assessment of the damage to the forelock and advised to keep applying Mane and Tail Builder 2 to 3 times a week to help promote hair growth. We could already see that there had been some growth since the forelock was cut off and Samantha is going to provide some pictures on a monthly basis so we can publish the growth process.

Brogan was quite clean on the body as he had been shampooed in the days leading up to the makeover, so Susie just sponged off a couple of stable stains and then started to address the feathers. Brogan has got some feather but ideally could do with more. 

Susie advised that Samantha should apply Mane and Tail Builder to the feathers and this will help to promote growth as ideally a Traditional should have feather covering the hooves. She advised that with regular use, Samantha could easily expect a good few inches of additional feather over coming months.

Susie always pays special attention to feathers as this is so important for a Traditional Cob. She advised that immediately after returning home from a show, her team always apply pig oil to the feathers, so one of the first things they subsequently need to do when starting their grooming prep for a show day is to break down the oil and remove it. 

Firstly, Susie plaited the tail in to a loose plait so that she could work easily when around the back legs. She then hosed the legs down until they were really wet and then used Fairy Liquid on the hair as this is an effective de-greaser

Once the oil had been broken down and rinsed, Susie used Blue Shampoo to really whiten and brighten the feathers and she always starts with this as her first job so that she can lather up the legs and leave the lather on the feather whilst she is going about her other preparation.

By leaving Blue Shampoo on the legs, this gives the shampoo a good few minutes to really sink in to the feather and for the optical brighteners contained in the shampoo to work their magic. Both Susie and Samantha lathered up the legs and really worked it in to the hair before leaving it on to sink in.

Susie then got the clippers so she could tidy up Brogan’s appearance. She inverted the clippers and tidied up his cheeks and jawline as well as ‘removing his pants’ by trimming the longer hairs down his back legs. 

She then addressed his ears which were untrimmed and tidied these by clipping them out, tidied up the edges and over the top and around the ears. This gave a much ‘sharper’ and cleaner finish to the ears and really accentuated Brogan’s ears once they were pricked.

 Susie spot-checked the white parts of Brogan’s coat and applied Stain Remover Spray to any marks, then allowed it to sink in for a couple of minutes before sponging the dirty marks away.

She then applied HeritageCollection Coat Shine all over the coat – leaving the saddle area clear – and used a chenille mitt to smooth the coat in the direction of growth – this lays the coat and adds a lovely shine.

Returning to the feathers, Samantha and Susie rinsed off the legs and Susie applied Moisturise and Condition. 

Susie advised that she sprays it on and with a mane brush she works the spray in to the hair. She starts at the level of the coronet band and works her way up the legs to the top of the feather. This will soften and moisturise the hair as well as give additional volume when dry. Brogan also has a little bit of dermatitis on the back of his front legs and Susie advised that with regular applications of Moisturise and Condition, this dermatitis would start to break down and will be worked out.

Samantha then brought out her stock of wood flour. Susie advised that the wood flour she uses at home is very fine and is really effective at drying the legs as well as increasing the appearance of volume of hair. The wood flour was poured in to a tub and Brogan’s leg was placed in to the centre of the tub and then Susie worked her magic to dry the legs and enhance the volume of the hair. This she did, once again by starting at the coronet band,  and really rubbed the wood flour in to the feather. Immediately we could see the effects of the flour on the feather as this was dry within what seemed like seconds but the volume of the feather increased dramatically – giving a much fuller and wispy appearance. All four legs were done in this way and then the tub was removed.

The feather had a slightly yellow tinge from the wood flour, but Susie asked Paul – Samantha’s partner – to walk Brogan up the concrete surface of the stable block and the wood flour dropped out of the hair but the appearance of volume remained.

To remove the yellow tinge from the application of wood flour, Susie applied Leg and Body Whitener in powder form using a small medium stiffness brush. She dipped the brush in to the powder then applied it to the feather area in flicking motion so the Leg and Body Whitener was applied but didn’t create clumps to the all important feather.

The next job was to improve the appearance of the mane and forelock area. Obviously, Brogan is currently really lacking forelock hair so this was the most important part of the makeover. Susie first applied Moisturise and Condition to the mane – Brogan has a great length and volume of mane – as this really preserves and enhances both the condition and appearance of mane and tail hair.

Susie plaited the existing forelock and banded it, which she felt would be beneficial in stopping the wispy forelock from creeping out from underneath the false tail when fitted.

Brogan has – luckily – a good 10 – 12 centimetres of black mane at the top, before it changes to white. This was to our advantage as Susie created a plait  at the far end of the black mane section and threaded one of the strands of the plait through the fabric loop at the top of the false tail. She then continued to plait down and turned the plait in to a French braid which she thought would hold the tail more securely in place.

 Once this braid was banded and sewn in  – Susie also ran a couple of stitches

through the actual plait and the loop of the false tail to keep it more securely in place – the false tail was positioned over the poll and down over the face. Brogan was immediately transformed! Susie also took a few strands from the false tail and plaited it in to the existing forelock – once again to keep it more secure and in place.

 

Brogan’s make over was completed by grooming out his tail and applying Sparkle to both mane and tail as well as Heritage Collection High Shine Serum – one of Susie’s favourite products, which she smoothed down the top of the tail and also used to smooth over and lay any hairs that were sticking up out of Brogan’s mane.

Finishing touches from Susie came in the form of High Shine Serum around the eyes, nose and muzzle, then Brogan was ready to be tacked up for his ‘after’ pictures.

We hope you agree that Susie did a fabulous job and Brogan was back to his beautiful self!

Susie, Brogan and Samantha.

Special thanks to Susie Shuttleworth from Traditional Show Cobs who gave up her time to come along and carry out the makeover. 

Products used in this makeover include:

For product and stockist information, visit www.supremeproducts.co.uk 

To learn more about Susie and her team, visit www.traditionalshowcobs.co.uk  


To see more about Brogan's progress - visit Samantha and Brogan's FB page

A month on from our makeover - an update from Kerry Dawson

After the brilliant Supreme Products makeover day with Team Hollings I started to use the Supreme Products Mane & Tail Builder from the Heritage Collection on Quest’s rubbed out mane and he is enjoying the massage down his mane every few days! To be honest I am also enjoying it too as it smells really nice and is starting to work already. 

Since the visit to Team Hollings, I have been thinning out Quest’s mane a little at a time. I was advised to do this by Stacey as Quest has such a thick mane I need to thin it in small amounts each time. Stacey took a lot out on the day, so it is just a case of keeping an eye on it. Hopefully I am doing it correctly as I don’t want to make it too thin and I have to be careful that the frustrated hair dresser in me doesn’t strike again!

It is most definitely an art form and one that I need to master before the showing season gets underway.

We have been suffering like everyone else with the adverse weather conditions of late, the ice and snow have been that bad that my usual 15 minute trip to the yard was taking in the region of 35 minutes. I even had to dig my car out on the Saturday as it was a good eight or nine inches deep with snow, not to mention the snowplough that had gone through the village and pushed all the snow against the cars! 

Quest in the snow

At the yard, the ice on the farm track leading to the other stable block and sand paddock from where my stables are was so icy I dared not risk either of my ponies slipping and injuring themselves when walking to the sand paddock so I have been working Quest in-hand in the field next to the stables.

It was not an ideal situation but needs must so we have been working on our in-hand development, standing correctly when in front of the judge, long-reining and working on the lunge with roller and side reins, ready for backing in the next few weeks.

I had planned to sit on Quest and to have walked him off the lunge by now but if I am honest I didn’t want to hit the deck in the big freeze that we have had as the sand was as hard as concrete and I don’t bounce like I used to.

My plan now is to work him every day. When I am at University he will be working in the morning before I go to my classes and on my days off I will be able to spend more time with him and hopefully have him under saddle and walking solo with rider by the end of February! Fingers crossed that the weather improves!

 Apart from that this month has been the usual round of hospital appointments as my son badly broke his leg at the start of December and he has just had the cast removed after being in it for the past 10 weeks, so now we start the physio stage, although he is wanting to get back in the saddle now that the cast is off!  

My youngest and I are planning our showing seasons. My daughter will be doing her first ever season ridden as she now has a pony that will do the things that she wants to do. 

We have been looking at her joining the local Riding Club so she can do dressage and showing with her pony, and she may do a few other shows as well as a few clinics to improve her skills. 

As for me, well I have sent Quest’s passport off to be over stamped with Chaps and have become a member.

I hope to get him graded with CHAPS in April as a stallion, he is already a licensed stallion with the WPCS. I have also booked my transport for Cheshire County Show, I just have to decide which classes to do with him now and have been looking at doing the spring LWPCS show which is a bronze medal event. 

As yet I am still undecided as to which shows to do and where, not having my own transport is an issue, but I have always managed to get round that with hacking to local shows, walking Quest out in hand along the roads means when backed we will have no issue hacking out or troubles with traffic.

So the biggest issue I have had this month is deciding who I should apply for membership with and what shows to do!

Will write soon Kerry.

The Professional’s Help on Surviving the Colder Months!

During the winter months many show horses and ponies are turned away for a well deserved break. However, certain problems can arise which can hamper your early return the show ring in the spring.

Winter Care Products from the Supreme Products Horse Care Range

In this issue Sarah Turnbull of SUPREME PRODUCTS® and two of the team's professional producers - Robert Walker and Nigel Hollings - offer advice on how to avoid the many pitfalls to ensure your horse will look stunning at the start of the season.

Dealing with Mud

The effect of mud on your horse can go from unsightly clumps to the loss of mane and tail, to broken skin causing soreness and lameness. Therefore it is vital to treat your horse with care during the winter months.

Mud in the mane and tail

Mud deposits in the mane and tail can be uncomfortable for a horse but can also lead to the horse rubbing and itching which then progresses to hair loss. It is important to handle the mane and tail carefully to keep it lustrous and full. When removing the mud, let it dry first before brushing it out gently with a body brush. If you feel it is necessary to wash the mane or tail, take care, especially during cold weather. If there are any large knots, tease these out gently with your fingers before brushing.

Detangle and Shine

Says Robert Walker: “Spray the tail with Supreme Products Detangle and Shine before turning out, this should help prevent a large build up of mud and also make it easier to remove any mud clumps without pulling out vital hairs.”

Mane and Tail Builder

"If you do suffer with hairloss in the winter months" says Sarah "and need a product to help thicken manes and tails or promote hairgrowth then Supreme Products Mane and Tail Builder from the Heritage Collection is a wonderful product. We have received so much positive feedback about Mane and Tail Builder since we launched it early in 2011. It was designed for use on Native and Traditionals but can be used on any horse or pony needing a bit more growth before the start of the season. It works wonders!"

Mud on the skin

Mud on the coat can look unsightly and mean you spend more time brushing your horse than actually riding it. However this is only a minor problem. In some cases mud can pose a more serious threat to your horse’s wellbeing.

Another problem to look out for is mud fever, which can leave a horse lame and without heel feathers, so important for traditional classes. The bacterium, Dermatophilus Congolensis causes mud fever and rain scald which can cause the condition to reoccur at any time unless it is effectively removed. Mud fever causes the skin and underlying tissues to become inflamed and leads to the skin swelling, stretching and weeping; the skin starts to crack, hair falls out and hard scabs form.

Leg and Mud Guard

Adds Nigel Hollings: “We use Supreme Products Leg and Mud Guard from the Horse Care Range to help prevent mud fever problems keeping those precious feathers intact and stopping unsightly sores from appearing. It can be used on the legs and also under the belly to help prevent this unpleasant problem occurring.”

Lice, Mites and Ticks

Lice, Mites and Ticks are the three main ectoparasites in the winter. This is because their life cycles occur entirely on the animal. These ectoparasites must be eradicated as they are usually itchy and uncomfortable for horses as well as capable of transmitting numerous diseases.

It is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer to remove rugs daily and groom your horse so that you can check the coat and skin for any infestations which could lead to hair loss and discomfort.

Hoof Care

Whether your horse or pony is stabled for longer periods of time during the winter months or is turned out in the field, essential hoof care should be a part of your daily routine.

Foot Care Spray

Says Nigel: “The old saying ‘no foot, no horse’ is as true today as it has ever been. I am always amazed at the amount of Foot Rot you see in Show Horses and Ponies, especially when I am judging. We’ve used Supreme Products Foot Care Spray daily for about four years now. It is easy to use, it’s good value for money and it works wonders – we don’t have any problems with Foot Rot with our ponies. We order a dozen cans at a time for the yard and really see the benefits of using this product on a regular basis!”

Mane and Tail Pulling

Over the winter months there is a temptation to leave manes and tails to grow long. This can actually cause the mane and tail to go thin so it is worth keeping an eye on the length to make sure they are in good condition for the season ahead.

Make sure your horse or ponies tail is regularly cut to the desired length, especially if you have a Mountain and Moorland pony because excess growth can see it trailing on the floor which makes it prone to being stepped on and pulled out.

A benefit of pulling little and often is that your horse will not become sore and uncomfortable when it comes to the spring and you start to trim him up ready for the ring.

Says Sarah: “If your horse is not a fan of having his mane or tail pulled use a Supreme Products Thinning Comb. It is a humane and efficient bladed comb which thins manes and tails easily and quickly. It can also be used on woolly coats and to think out feathers if needed.”

Mositurise and Condition

Be Vigilant

Throughout the winter keep a close eye on your horse. If he is turned away, regular visits and health checks are essential. To keep valuable mane, tail and feathers intact throughout the winter use Supreme Products Moisturise and Condition. This helps keep skin supple and in good condition. Massage on to the skin to prevent damage and restore skin and hair texture. Says Robert Walker "This product is an absolute unsung hero! It's fantastic for aiding and improving the condition of manes and tails; it can also be used on coats and feather and it also helps promote hair growth on bald patches or thin manes and tails. Its a product that everyone should have in their tack room as it has so many benefits for use."