Horse Showmanship - Preparation

Preparation

The horse must be appropriately groomed and clipped, as the exhibitor is being judged on the ability to fit and show a horse "in hand."

The horse is prepared months ahead of the event by being provided good nutrition to develop a healthy, shiny coat. Its hooves will be trimmed regularly by a farrier and kept balanced, smooth and neat. It will be brushed and otherwise groomed frequently to further promote a shiny coat and good overall health. The horse will also be exercised regularly, either in-hand or under saddle, to develop good muscle tone.

The day before the show, the horse will be bathed and hair on its mane, tail, legs and head trimmed or clipped to meet the style standard for the particular breed of horse. Often special conditioners are used on the hair to make it extra shiny or silky. While precise styles vary by breed, the hair on the horse's lower legs, jaw, throat, ears, and around the eyes usually is closely clipped, the whiskers on the muzzle and sometimes the eyes are trimmed, and usually a "bridle path" is cut, removing a length of mane behind the ears where the crownpiece of the halter or bridle goes.

It is very important for competitors to be very familiar with the most minute grooming and style details for the breed of horse and style of tack and clothing they choose to use in the ring. A style required by one breed association may be considered illegal by another. Depending on the breed of the horse and the style of tack used, the mane might be braided, left loose, or "banded" (having small rubber bands put around small sections of a short mane at the roots in order to help it lay down). Horses shown with loose, flowing manes sometimes have their manes put into 5 or 6 large braids the night before, taken out just before the class and brushed to give an attractive, wavy appearance.

Tails of horses shown in hunt seat style may be French braided at the dock in classic show hunter style. Some breeds allow false hairpieces to be added to a tail, other breeds prohibit fake tails. Horses required to have naturally long tails sometimes have them kept "up" when not showing, the long hairs braided up to the bottom of the dock, then the braid rolled up, with a bandage or old sock put around the hair to keep it from breaking off and to keep the tail clean. When taken down and brushed out, a tail kept in this manner is wavy and flowing in the ring. If kept up at all other times, a tail may grow so long that it drags on the ground.

On the day of the show, shortly before it goes into the ring, the horse is not only groomed to remove every possible speck of dirt, but it will usually have polish applied to its hooves, a light oil or conditioner placed on its muzzle, around the eyes, and other strategic areas of the head to accent its best features, and usually have a light coat dressing sprayed on its entire body for a bit of last minute shine. While exhibitors in 4-H competition are expected to do this all themselves (and keep their show clothes clean in the process), exhibitors in open competition usually have a groom, often a parent or coach, assist them in this last-minute preparation.