[royalrox]

ummm...
1.a few months before the show start feeding some type of oil, corn/safflower/etc.
2. about 3-5 days before the show do a "show trim", the legs (up to right below the knees hocks, just longer hairs), their ears, muzzle, throatlatch, and in the winter the longer hairs on the underside of their neck...
3.starting a few days before dedicate a good 10 minutes to currying to bring up the oils, but don't do it the day you bathe them cuz they'll get washed down the drain lol
4. BATH:my guys a dark bay with three socks AHH, for shows I use diluted cowboy Magic all over, rinse that out, then QuicBlack in mane, tail, and tops of legs and QuicSilver on white marking...wait...rinse, last cowboy Magic conditioner in tail, mane, and only a tad on the neck, and hindquarter (NO SADDLE AREA)...for regular baths a use Suave...then tons of show sheen on white marking and tail (while drying) to prevent stains... put on a sheet, wrap the tail, and a sleazy for greys lol and leave in CLEAN stall
6. day of show, check for stains, rinse out or use stain remover, curry really well to bring up oils, brush, use rag or face brush (clean) for finish, SHOWSHEEN on markings and tail AGAIN
7. pray for no stains on the way to the show lol

[Quick2Skip01]

I personally would not recommend backcombing a horses tail. I backcomb my hair, and you wouldnt believe how much hair I lose when I brush it out. And in all honesty, trying to pick backcombing out with a comb w/o losing hair is nearly impossible. So I wouldnt do it, as I dont want to lose anymore hair than possible. I NEVER take a brush to my horses tail either. Its either a wide tooth comb, or I finger comb it.

Secrets?

I use Quic Color shampoo on Skip. I shave his white at least a week before. After baths I spray the white down w/ show sheen. I ALWAYS keep a bottle of Cowboy Magic Green Spot Remover as its a life saver and always removes the dirt and spots that Skip magically gets through his blanket and on his legs.

I have the mane thinned, and short. I use a widetooth comb to measure my sections for bands or braids. #10 size blade on bridlepath, and #40 for his ears. I just bought some MegaTek, leave-in conditioner Avocado Mist, and I love that stuff, and same with the detangler. I love all of them.

I make sure i have a little tote w/ all my grooming products/brushes that i might need down by the ring for last minute touch ups.

Save disposable razors to use to get a close shave on the whiskers!

[RowdyRio1324]

do give her a bath and put hr mane up off her neck and oh yeh to make sure my mare isnt on her cranky day!! lucky she has only had one in the year ive had her

[JKetsche]

I clean my brushes so they are cleaner than she is--THEN I put them on her!

Seriously, making sure she's healthy and getting some sunlight (helps the coat as much as any oils, though I'll use those, too), fitness, mane pulling, etc. all happen before the show. Tack is cleaned daily for at least a week before the show (and any other time it needs it, of course). A good bath with time to really dry in the sun is huge. A good braid job helps tremendously in overall appearance. Clipping (but not whiskers) and trimming around the coronary band are helpful--I usually do this the night before. Boots are polished beforehand, as well. A clean saddlepad is critical (and if you put a towel of the same color under a square pad, you don't have to wash the pad often--you can just wash the towel).

I also check my show clothes, etc. before the show--it's silly if she looks good and I don't. I will put some conditioner on her hooves. A cloth in the warm up is a great final step. I use quartermarkers, too.

To get tack looking extra great, I use Never Dull on all buckles, bit rings (we use a rubber bit), stirrups, or anything metal. I also dab on effax leather conditioner right before I get on (carefully, so as not to get it on the horse). I don't put it on the saddle but on the breastplate and bridle. It gives the tack an extra sheen.

[AQHA Hunter]

For tails: Wash thoroughly, down to the skin on the dock, and allow to dry, then finger-pick using Cowboy Magic. If necessary, braid just enough below the tailbone to hold in a tailbag (braiding all the way down will make the tail wavy, so it won't look as long). Otherwise, just put some hair gell on the top and wrap the tailbone the morning of the show, fingerpick the bottom thoroughly (it will look very full if you make sure to get it untangled all the way to the hair roots), and once it's all fluffy, just braid the very end (last 6 inches or so). Then when you're ready to show, just pull off the wrap, and take out the braid and shake the tail, and it will look nice and full (the upper part will lay flat, making the lower part look fuller).

If you band, do it the night before, and use a sleazy to keep them nice and flat. If your horse has a short neck, do small sections of hair to make the neck look longer.

Clip white legs up above the knees and hocks to remove yellow stains, which are usually just on the tips of the hair. Allow several days for regrowth before the show, though.

[DancerLover08]

A great grooming routine and good food is where you start. We're already starting now currying and running Fozzy on supplements for show season which starts in April.

2-3 days before, I shave white legs and white faces in order to have time for the markings to grow out. The day before, I bathe usually with Vetrolin, that stuff rocks! I also clip the face the day before: muzzle, throatlatch, whiskers around the eyes, ears, and bridlepath. Band/or braid manes. I'll wrap the top of his tail with vetrap, and bag the bottom. Leg wraps, and a full body sleazy.

Day of the show I'll let down his tail and put his extension in. Take off wraps, sheets, etc. Before going into the show ring, baby powder the legs, black the hooves, then 1-2 coats of Ultra Hoof Polish Enhancer. Highlighter on the face (only for halter/SMS). Give him a good rubdown with a towel to bring out the shine.

I use Passier Lederbalsam on my tack, makes it look awesome. Most importantly, don't forget the lintbrush! :P

[jmprgrl]

Originally Posted by CJ

In English please, lol!

Pledge/ lemonoil furniture polish to keep dust off. (-Pump bottle not aerosol. Aearosol hisses.) Ive heard dryer sheets work too.

what do u use dryer sheets for?

[*Psylocke*]

Well of course feeding and that sort of prep is all very important, but for the actual show...sanding, clipping, grooming are all important....quick braid/hairspray/gel are all on hand for the hunters, Silk N Satin or Ultra for spray, baby oil (for their face), shoe polish/hoof polish (in neutral/clear) and steel wool (for their feet prior to the class).

Also blankets/sheets/snugglies/slinkies/hoods whatever you prefer or need (for temp wise) are all important!

Psy

[AQHA Hunter]

Originally Posted by jmprgrl

what do u use dryer sheets for?

They are good at getting dust off boots, horses, tack, etc. I actually like the Swiffer dusters better, though.

[canadianlover]

i was blessed with a black horse