[4hooves4me2]

Originally Posted by momof5

I wouldnt use the motor oil because it is toxic and causes cancer.You are not even sapposed to touch it.

35 years and going! No cancer yet!

[Acme Acres]

Originally Posted by Cowgirly

- don't bother with expensive horse shampoo- the best horse cleaner I have ever used is ivory dish soap- all natural and works great.

- I do use showsheen for shine in the show ring- I don't like any other brand

- I use shoepolish (specifically scuff magic black shoe dye) instead of hoof black. on a clean dry hoof it lasts just as long.

-cheap hair spray sprayed over mane then rub down the flyaways, and they stay down (white rain works well). it also works well to hold on glitter for parades and such

but if you have a dog I have one more- use BLUE Dawn dish soap for bathing them- kills all fleas.

You really should always use shampoo that's formulated for horses on horses (Same with any animal) due to pH levels of the shampoo and horses skin/hair. And remember, if a shampoo says it is to be mixed 16 to 1 (16 parts water to 1 part shampoo), you NEED to mix it correctly (I always recommend pouring the shampoo into very warm water, it mixes much faster and you don't get as much sudz as when you add water to shampoo).

Cowgirly.... the flea issue: ANY shampoo will kill fleas! You just need to let it sit on the dog/animal for about 10 minutes. Fleas can be killed by smothering them.

Have you ever tried Silverado's version of Pepi or Show Sheen? I find them to be as good, or better at very affordable prices.

[tuts]

Originally Posted by momof5

I wouldnt use the motor oil because it is toxic and causes cancer.You are not even sapposed to touch it.

I wouldnt use it either, ive been told to use vaseline

[Heavenly Jumper]

I have an old sock (in a baggie) full of talcum powder. It is great to just pat the powder on white markings. I do it while they are ever so slightly damp too.

[BornToRide]

i would never use motor oil on a horses foot. it is toxic. why do you think when you get it on your hands you are supposed to wash it off right away.. if you dont wash it off right away it could do some damage. i would NEVER use that on my horse. just because in 35 years it didnt happen i wouldnt take the risk anymore. pam works just fine and i use that myself.

[tn walker]

Here are some tips that work for any breed, keeping showing in mind

Clipping:
I always clip about 2 days before a show, then use a diluted baby oil bath or hot oil treatment on the area (careful around the face) for the next two days. Restores the luster of the coat, and you don't get those dull clipper marks.

Take a cheap disposable razor with you to your show. Thoroughly dampen the horse's muzzle with either baby oil or a conditioner (to prevent "razorburn") and use the razor to get all of the tactile hairs around the muzzle that your clippers left stubbly. Make sure to rinse your horse's muzzle afterwards.

I also am an advocate of Pepi Coat Conditioner. LOOOOOOVE it!

For white markings: clip closely, wash thoroughly with a whitening shampoo (Iodine shampoo works WONDERS on whites, but dilute it and make sure that your horse doesn't have a reaction to it, as it can be harsher on the skin), and while still damp rub corn starch in. Stays longer than baby powder and still gives you the same whitening effect. Grooming chalk also works well.

After bathing, I spray a diluted mixture of conditioner over the entire coat, including mane and tail. Leaves coat soft and shiny.

Also, ALWAYS carry baby wipes with you to a show They can be used to wipe off a dirty face (yours OR the horse! ha), tack, and anything else you can imagine that you manage to get dirty before going in the ring.

[Jenje!]

I don't know what "WD-40 tip" you've gotten in the past, but I use it to get the burrs out of my horse's mane and tail. Can't imagine using it for anything else...

[HawaiianPaint]

Lets see...

Totally agree with the cornstarch (or baby powder) works well on white markings, esp legs, but you have to be careful not to get it on dark markings. Oh and the suggestion about painting a white hoof black is solid because their gait can definitely look off with different color feet.

- if you use whitening and color deepening shampoo, both of which are dark purple/maroon like colors DONT GET THEM CONFUSED. (Bad flashbacks of showing a stud with a purple sock because I accidentally grabbed the darkening shampoo instead of the whitening, no matter how hard I scrubbed I couldn't get the color out of it from his bath that morning)

- A bit of old lady hair dye in the gray bottle with the pink spout, comes out purple (thats just what we call it, I dont even remember the brand) works wonders on a white mane when you just mix it in and squish it around during a bath and rinse it out.

- Do any big clipping jobs at least a week before a show. That way when you screw up really badly and make a white sock PINK because you forgot to change blades, it has time to grow back and cover it up. (though cornstarch helps in a pinch when you forget to follow your own advice) Touchups can be done several days before the show, but again, you can't put that hair back on once you shaved it off!

- Dont be afraid to rub some hilighter gel on their muzzle and over their eyes. If you haven't used it before, try it first before using it at a show to see how your horse looks, but as long as you dont use too much it usually adds a great final touch to the picture. DO NOT USE COLORED GEL as it is illegal to use in most breed shows...but I believe its usually ok to use clear.

- The aerosol Final Touch spray (made by Ultra, in the maroon cans with white lettering) is hard to beat...good stuff with a great effect.

- Always have someone follow you to the ring who knows how to use a towel. Baby wipes not always work because they make things moist and dust sticks to wet...so use a dry towel and have them wipe any dust off of tack or your boots.

Those are the ones I can think of for now

[Jenje!]

Originally Posted by HawaiianPaint

Oh and the suggestion about painting a white hoof black is solid because their gait can definitely look off with different color feet.

Just to throw this out there, you can't use anything but clear hoof polish with Arabs...they made it illegal.

[HawaiianPaint]

Good catch Jenje, you are very correct. Most shows are very specific about what is legal and what isn't (especially breed specific circuits and halter classes) so before following neat tips and tricks be sure that you know the rules of where you show! Even the white powder can be illegal if wording for shows is something like "no artificial color aids" or something like that.