Horse Show Advice -
Making the Right Impression

Follow our horse show advice to get a flawless finish!

Maximise your horse's appearance and give yourself the best chance of getting to the top of the line.
How? Read on to find out more...

Turnout is everything, even in classes where you are judged on your riding ability, the first impression that the Judge has should be a polished and immaculately presented horse and rider.

Under this topic, we will concentrate our horse show advice on the turnout element of horse show preparation. We will cover Ringcraft and Etiquette shortly under our Riding Section.

Does Your Tack Measure Up?

Of course, tack should also suit the rider and the purpose of the class so not just any old saddle will do - an oversized or undersized saddle will be uncomfortable for the horse, restricting their movement and will force the rider to sit incorrectly above the horse's centre of gravity.

For example, a dressage saddle used for show-jumping will push the rider too deep into the horse's back, altering their balance and will be more prone to putting the horse off their stride and forming the correct shape over obstacles.

Double-check you have the correct bridle, browband and permitted bit for your class - you will automatically be moved to the end of the line if your horse is incorrectly attired.

Indeed, youngstock are not permitted to be shown in anything other than a simple headcollar and you will be penalised heavily for bridling and/or using a strong bit on a young, inexperienced horse. Conversely, stallion classes usually stipulate that a stronger "stallion" bit is used to maintain control under show conditions.

On the morning of the show, give your tack a final polish. A quick fix for a brilliant shine is to dip a cloth in a drop of milk and rub sparingly over the leatherwork. This works for your boots too.

Remember to clean with a damp cloth after the show to remove mud, dust and other debris. Never put your show tack away dirty as it will be doubly hard to clean next time you need it.

Clean the exposed areas of the bit with metal cleaner - don't get this on the mouthpiece as it probably won't endear you to your horse!

Dressing For Success - The Right Rider Attire

If you are wearing a dark colored show jacket use dark colored string or tapes to secure your number and run the tapes behind the number so you don't obscure it from the Judge's view.

Ladies should always tie hair back neatly and wear a hairnet. Non-slip plain gloves (matching the color of the jacket) should be worn and buttonholes or stockpins should not detract from the overall appearance.

Check that your clothing is correct for the time of day. Ratcatcher dress (hacking jacket, plain tie and beige jodphurs) is fine during the day but more formal attire is usually required for evening shows or those under floodlights.

In these cases you would normally be expected to wear a black jacket, stock (hunting tie) and white jodphurs. For evening wear, ladies are obliged to wear a black top hat or bowler hat and likewise for the men.

If you are showing in-hand, wear sensible non-slip shoes particularly if it has rained on the showground. Lead-rein classes typically require the rider to wear an outfit complimented (if not matching) that of the handler.

Horse Show Advice - Accessorising Your Horse

Baby oil is useful for accentuating your horse's eyes - use sparingly on a soft cloth around the eye area taking care not to get any inside the eye itself.

The same can be used around the nostrils but don't overdo it or your horse will resemble a Chippendale!

If your horse has a fly-away mane or tail use a touch of hairspray but again use sparingly on a pulled mane as it won't move at all in the ring if welded to the horse's neck and this will look unnatural.

Ask a friend to wipe over the horse's coat with a wet wipe or light spray of coat conditioner before they enter the ring to bring out the colour of the coat and give it a healthy shine.

This, of course, is no substitute for the thorough grooming that should be done in the days leading up to the show, but will enhance the natural oils in the coat.

Don't spray coat conditioner near the eyes or under the saddle area - it is better to put it on when you have tacked up rather than risk the saddle slipping off.

By following our horse show advice and tips you will get the results you dreamed of but what will the judge be looking for and how can you catch his eye among your competitors?

Understanding the 3 Key Factors that a Judge will be looking for will help you turn these factors to your advantage in the ring! Find out why Advance Preparation will help you beat the competition!

Read more Horse Show Advice with our Six Top Tips to help your horse look his very best on the day!

Return from Horse Show Advice to our Home Page