[QuarterPonyGrl]

There's a show coming up in about 10 days. Anybody got any tips for braiding, whitening markings, making the horse's coat gleam, making there eyes look big, bathing them and stuff like that? It sure could be useful, thanx.

[CowGirlUp1833]

I bathe the night before. As for socks, etc., I simply use Ivory dish soap, its mild, but it does the trick! I also clip the white areas very short...less hair holds less dirt. I wait until morning to braid, as most horses will at least try to rub them out over night. Take the extra time in the morning and your effort will show. About the eyes, you can use vasaline and apply it sparingly around the eyes and muzzle. I don't personally do this because I ride hunters, I believe this is more a QH and arab thing, but whatever you prefer. As for making the coat gleam, its not something that can be done in one day. Everyday grooming and a good diet will help the coat glow from the inside out. I use Healthy Hair Care Brand hair coat spray daily and give him a good spritzing of Show Shean the day of the show (remember, don't put it on the saddle area, you'll slip off! LOL)

Hope that helps and good luck!

[EmazingCasper]

for around the eyes are us baby oil. and for around the muzzle.

[imacowgirl2]

Baby oil works well for muzzle and around the eyes. I band the night before...just because my gelding doesn't rub them out, and I never have time in the morning to do them good -- its much easier for me to band late the night before and put a slinky on, then just fix 2-3 in the morning.

We also trim white socks short about a week or so before the show, then baby powder/corn starch them the morning of the show to make them even whiter.

[Lacie]

Baby Oil CAN blister a horses muzzle and anywhere it touches. Use a nice highlighter that has Vitamin E and Aloe Vera, and Sunscreen in it.

[POA]

For around the eyes, the nose, and in the ears I use some gel that I bought at the tack store years ago. It comes in black and clear, and it has sunscreen plus it smells good! For white area's, wash well, clip, and babypowder them up. Make sure that after/during your bath you use a clean halter otherwise you risk getting a nice mark on thier face. Make sure that after your bath you have an excptionally clean stall, and sheet them to avoid any spots in the morning. Do not condition the mane, makes it hard to braid and use something like mouse or some braiding gel to make it stick better. I always spray them with a nice layer of hair spray once I'm done and again in the morning. If the tail is long when you load make sure its up. Unloading and having your horse rip half their tail out is not a pleasant experiance. Hope this helped some and good luck!!

[Lacie]

lol yup POA it's grape smelling - in some cases horses lick it off but they do have unscented too.

[PoochtheMighty]

Applying baby oil sparingly, right before entering the ring, really doesn't burn a horse. If you overuse it and leave it on for a long period of time, I am sure it would. But a few drops rubbed in on the muzzle or around the eyes will not burn him. Less is more.

I usually bathe the night before, but I have a paint gelding with four white legs- I bathe his legs the morning of the show with shapley's whitening shampoo; then towel them off and let them dry for a few hours before our first class. Dusting a little corn starch on white markings really brightens them up.

I am not a big fan of showsheen; however, non-silicone coat conditioners won't dry out the horse's coat or make the saddle area slippery.

Depending on what discipline you are riding, you can braid or plait his mane; as someone suggested do that the morning of so they won't rub out. Also, you can really give him a clean, flashy look by banging his tail. There is a certain way you must hold his tail though, to get an even cut across the bottom. For dressage horses, you can shave the top of his tail and it looks SUPER nice!

Make sure all the tack is clean, even down to the buckles on your bridle. Have someone hold your coat for you, inside out to keep dust off, while you warm up and put it on right before you enter the ring to keep it as clean as possible.

Have fun!!

[Buckshot]

For making the horse's coat gleam, use Show Sheen. It is awesome! Have fun at your show!!

[dreamngold]

Well I always get my gelding ready the night before. I braid, bath, everything the night before. For the tail, if your horses tail is white, then you should get a tail bag or wrap. I'm not sure how these work, but they do the job. I always braid my horses tail into three small braids, and then braid those braids into one big braid. Mumping up a tail is not a good idea, because when you take it out, it will have a big dent in it. For the main, I have never had trouble with it. You can use a slinky over night to keep it nice, but I just make sure my braids are super tight, and leave them. For bathing I never have horsey shampoo, I just use human shapoo and conditioner. For the white, I have heard people talk about spray painting the white legs. I don't know what it looks like, but they do it and they love it. The corn starch and powder could work really well. I always carry some vasceline with me to shows. I hav eye to get the baby oil, keep on forgetting. But either one works, just that the vaseline picks up dust flying around. Put the oil around his eyes and nose. I do this in everything. Gives them a look at me type of look, in hunter, dressage, reining, western performance, etc.. I don't think it makes a difference realy. ANyway. Hope I have helped a bit. Let us know how it goes.