The Big Clean! The Cheats Guide To Preparing Your Horse for Shows

Well last night the great clean began for the weekend's competition and I have to say I was grateful of the warmer weather (as was Skippy!).  I think I will be even more grateful tonight when I am plaiting up without frozen fingers. And while I am certainly not here to advocate cheating at all, anything I can do to make the preparation process a little quicker and easier is fine by me. After all there are only so many hours in the day!! So here's how we got on...

Now at this point I realise I should have taken a "before" shot but sadly I quite simply forgot. But you can trust me when I say that these legs of my piebald hadn't seen true white for quite some months. I was dubious about how many rounds of shampooing I would need to endure but actually I was pleasantly surprised!  So armed with my bottle of Supreme Products Blue Horse Shampoo, the hose and a large sponge I took on the challenge of turning the grey/ brown/ stable stained legs into pure striking white.  The bottle read leave on for 3 - 5 minutes for tough stains.  I definitely had some seriously tough stains so maxed out with the 5 minutes wait after a good lather.  There followed a thorough drenching (that was just me) and scrub to get all the shampoo out and I was thrilled with the results.  Only one shampoo needed! Although extremely good to bath Skippy isn't keen on the water dripping off his legs and likes to show his annoying by swishing his tale in my face so I have to say I came out of this experience feeling like i'd been slapped around the face several times- charming!       

I swiftly followed with the Supreme Products Leg and Body Whitener which I applied damp and then the legs were sparkling! Of course Skip took that precise moment to decide he needed to rub his (black) face all over the damp whitened leg.  So out came the damp cloths to scrub the strange white marks off his face, which is a bit like trying to give a toddler a face wash when they are really not up for it!!  

By now I was getting a bit tired having had a 5am start, a very long day in the office, a lesson and minimal food so I cheekily ditched the shampooing of the tail and got out the Miracle Groom Bath in a Bottle (bit like dry shampoo for horses).  Finally finishing with the amazing Pig Oil Spray (which I cannot live without) I brushed this through his tail with the MagicBrush. I'll be topping him up with this at the weekend to add some further shine but avoiding the mane (as I am plaiting and need a bit of grease!) and saddle area so he's not too slippery.  

So here are the final results...

Okay so there's still the whole plaiting up, cleaning tack, learning dressage tests and getting myself looking semi-presentable to go but hey I think we're off to a good start.  Just wait till I get in the rubber warm up arena and his legs go black again from the dust...lol!

I'll be sure to post a picture of the finished turn out when its done.  Fingers crossed for a successful and most importantly happy weekend for all of us and our horses xx 

Equestrian Essentials for the Showing Season

With another summer of showing ahead of us its important to have the right equestrian gear so you feel prepared and confident for your classes.  Here are a few highly recommended pieces to get you and your horse shown off to your full potential.

When competing preparation is key and making sure your horse looks pristine is essential for the show ring.  Start at home with a thorough shampoo with warm water.  Depending on your horse's coat we'd opt for one of the Supreme Products shampoos or the Absorbine Showsheen Shampoo and conditioner for an all round effective wash.

If your horse requires plaiting then we love the Supreme Products Easy Plait to keep your plaits secure on a windy day.  Ideal to use if plaiting up the night before with thread. Tried and tested on a variety of manes and it proves to be most effective.

For any last minute stains then opt for the Miracle Groom - perfect if you arrive at the yard in the morning to find your horse has a huge stable stain (surely that doesn't just happen to me!).  Comes in an easy to use spray bottle you can take this to the show with you for any last minute marks and its great if the weather is a little cold.

For manes, tails and extra coat shine we would recommend the Pig Oil spray.  This can be used sparingly especially on the coat as you don't want your horse to become too slippery! Adds beautiful shine to mains and tails that will glisten in the summer sunshine.  Also useful for horses with full feather to add shine and condition.  Plus to add glimmer to your horse's hooves the Kevin Bacon Liquid Hoof Dressing is the perfect product to look good and condition hooves at the same time.

In the warmer weather it's important to ensure your horse stays hydrated and the Wacky Practical Foldaway Bucket is a brilliant product that doesn't take up too much space.  Folds flat for easy storage then expands to hold water for your horse to drink or to wash him down with.

And once your horse is ready it's time to start on yourself - phew!!!  But don't worry here are just a couple of products that will make you look super stylish in the show ring. The Equetech Kenton Tweed Messenger Bag is a gorgeous bag for ringside use and the perfect size for all your equestrian essentials.   Available in two colours so pick the best one to coordinate with your showing gear.

A luxury pair of horse riding gloves are essential to look the part and protect your hands - especially if your horse gets a bit keen on show day! We'd recommend the Carrots Brown Leather Competition Gloves for ultimate comfort and style.

For other products for the show ring why not check out our full show season collection for a little inspiration.  And with these goodies in your kit just remember if it all goes wrong on the day at least you will look absolutely amazing! Good luck! xx

Show Season!

Well what an amazing and inspiring Badminton Horse Trials this weekend! Sadly I didn't manage to visit the event but I was gripped to the TV - never before have I seen so much action across country! With so many of us getting back out competing now - and okay we are probably not tackling the dizzy heights of the Badminton Cross Country Course - but we still want out horses to be turned out in tip top condition.  So here are a few goodies from our new show season collection to help you and your horse shine in the show ring.

To get your horse looking their best, preparation is key and the Supreme Products range of horse grooming goodies will help you with this process.  The Supreme Products Blue Horse Shampoo is great to add shine and colour definition to all coats where as we find the Supreme Products Stain Remover particularly useful for greys and coloured when tackling grass or stable stains.  Use in combination with the stain remover spray to maintain a clean gleaming coat for the show ring.

For plaiting and quarter marks, the Supreme Products Easy Plait and Quarter Marking Spray are another two handy show essentials making your show preparation a little easier and stop any last minute panics on show day! 

 

To add that extra shine to your equine we have a range of sprays including the popular Absorbine Showsheen, the original show ring shine, hair polish and detangler for horses and ponies.  The formula even contains calming Jasmine and Sandalwood to help you and your horse perform at your best.  Plus the Kevin Bacon Liquid Hoof Dressing will give a stunning show ring appearance whilst being great for your horses hooves.  

Once you and your horse are prepared for the day ahead remember to pack all your essentials into your horse lorry in case you need them on arrival.  Be sure to include extra plaiting bands, thread and hoof picks as well as other little extras.  We also love the brilliant Wacky Practicals Foldaway Bucket which stores flat then easily expands to hold 7 litres so your horse can happily have a drink.  This makes a brilliant gift for a horse owner who is often out competing.

 

Happy competing and good luck!