In This Issue... CATCH the JUDGE's EYE SHOW-RING SHINE MANE & TAIL CARE

AUGUST 2020

CARE CATCHTHE In this issue... MANE & TAIL MANE & TAIL JUDGE’S EYE JUDGE’S SHOW-RING SHINE SHOW-RING HorseandRider.com

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MAKE THAT FIRST IMPRESSION COUNT WITH AUGUST GROOMING We tell you what judges are looking for when it comes to grooming.

How a horse is turned out in grooming plays a huge role in overall eye appeal and first impressions when you’re in the show arena.

3 | AUGUST HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY he moment you enter the show ring, your horse is on display. TAll your diligent grooming efforts are about to pay off. Making a memorable first impression happens in seconds, but it takes much longer to achieve. It’s the result of good horsemanship, proper nutrition, and many hours of hard work. You can’t just decide to start grooming the week before a show or event and expect to have good results. “How a horse is turned out in grooming plays a huge role in overall eye appeal and first impressions. His appearance also automatically gives you an idea of that horse’s overall health,” notes Tina Anderson, who has been an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) judge for 15 years. A lifelong horse owner, Anderson has her PhD in equine ortho- pedics; she’s also worked in the field of equine nutrition, and is now Director of New Product Strategy and Development at Farnam Companies, Inc. Having shown for years, Anderson now finds herself a “horse-show mom” and regularly helps her teenage daughter, who competes at the national level. “One thing a lot of exhibitors don’t understand is that the judges get a very short window to evaluate your horse, whether in halter, Western pleasure, Western riding, or even reining,” says Anderson. “If you were to use a stopwatch, it would be a very short amount of time. Just as when you’re meeting a person, you want to make a very good AUGUSTfirst impression. When I’m looking at any horse, that first impression is where I start, whether consciously or unconsciously.”

A LITTLE EXTRA You’ll want to enhance your horse’s basic grooming routine with a bit of extra pizzazz when it comes to the show ring. But what are judges looking for? Beyond an incredibly clean, neatly groomed horse, judges want to see that you’ve paid attention to detail. “A little face ‘grease’ will add a finishing touch to highlight and maintain shine around the eyes and muzzle,” says Anderson. In addition, “When a judge is close to the horse, especially in class- es like halter and showmanship, they pay a lot of attention to hooves,” she says. “To start with, you want a healthy hoof, and it goes without saying that the feet should be very clean inside and out. The horse should be up to date on trimming or shoeing, so the feet aren’t exces- sively long. In addition to clipping the legs and fetlocks, you should clip the hair around the coronet band, so you have a finished look. With stock horse breeds, the majority of people still use hoof black on dark hooves. If the horse has a white leg, you can just use a clear hoof polish or a shine on that hoof.” When applying hoof polish, take your time and make sure to go all the way around the hoof to the bulb and down so the entire hoof surface is neatly covered. Be careful at the hairline that you don’t get polish on the hair. Hoof polishing isn’t as easy as you might think, so you may want to practice before show day.

THINGS TO AVOID If you’re serious about showing, there are some things you can’t put off. Ignore them and your horse won’t catch the judge’s eye…or at When a judge is close to your horse they pay a lot of attention to how well least, not in a positive way. → you’ve groomed your horse.

4 | AUGUST HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY A sun-faded hair coat is a big no-no. It to encourage growth, you’ll want to protect • Don’t leave an extension in overnight; it’s doesn’t happen overnight, and it can’t be that tail hair when your horse is stabled or meant for competition only. remedied quickly. Ideally, your horse’s coat turned out. Braiding hair on hair can cause Whether you use tail extensions or your is protected year-round, but at the very breakage, which is why experts recommend horse naturally has a long, thick tail, don’t least you’ll want to start protecting his coat Lycra tail “tubes.” Just divide the tail hair let static electricity spoil the look. Spray the 90 days before you begin showing. A bare into three sections, insert each section into inside of his hind legs with a silicone-base minimum would be 60 days. a tube and then braid the tubes together. grooming product. You’ll also want to make Stable him during the peak sun hours, or The tail is protected from sun, mud, manure sure his chestnuts (the oval spots inside if you want to turn him out, use a summer and breakage. Plus, it won’t be a tangled the legs near the hock and knee) are super sheet or fly sheet. You may also want to use mess when you undo it. smooth. Rough chestnuts can snag the tail a coat conditioner that contains SPF for ex- In the stock horse industry, big, thick tails and keep it from flowing freely. tra sun protection. There are supplements are hot right now, and many exhibitors use Even if the show ring isn’t your end goal, on the market designed to bring out coat tail extensions. Some riders like weighted you still want your horse to look his best, so color and shine, but they’ll work best if tails, as this encourages the horse to carry make grooming a regular routine. Beyond you also protect your horse from too much the tail flat against the rump. keeping your horse clean, it’s an excellent sun exposure. A few caveats to remember when using a way to get your hands on your horse from Another appearance no-no is a scruffy tail tail extension: head to tail. This allows you to discover any with broken-off hairs. Judges want to see • Be sure the color completely matches potential health concerns (ticks, scratches, a clean, free-flowing tail. It doesn’t have to your horse’s natural tail color. swelling, heat, abrasions, etc.) before they drag the ground (although some do!), but it • Don’t go too thick! If the extension is need support. Plus, grooming is just a great needs to look healthy and luxurious. too thick, it will get caught between the way to spend time with your horse while In addition to providing optimal nutrition horse’s back legs and look obviously false. enjoying his company. 

AUGUST

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An oil-based shine product can help highlight the black points on your horse’s head and face. We also banded this gelding’s forelock, which made for a tidy, polished look.

TIPS FOR SHOW-RING SHINE Use these pre-show spiff-up tips to prep your horse for an 9eye-catching performance.

7 | AUGUST HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY irst impression: It’s that moment when a judge gets his initial look at Fyou and your horse when you walk into the show pen. A positive one can help set the tone for the rest of your performance. One simple way to do that is to make sure your horse looks his best. How? With a little time and elbow grease, some inexpensive grooming products, and these nine tips.

The Prep Tip #1: Start with a clean horse. Bathe your horse’s body, then shampoo and condition his mane and tail. Not only will his coat look its best, but you’ll also help minimize wear and tear on your clippers. (There’s nothing like a dirty horse to wreck a set of clipper blades!) Let him dry completely.

Tip #2: Clip your horse’s legs. Clipped legs provide a clean, crisp look. They’re also eas- ier to keep clean than hairy legs. We use #10 blades on low white socks, for a close, clean clip. (Note: To be safe, clip your horse’s legs about a week before your show. That way, the hair can grow back slightly, minimizing any sign of clipper tracks.) If your horse has high white stockings, use #7 or #8 blades (the lower the number, the coarser the blades). Such blades provide a slightly longer cut that still looks tidy but is less likely to cause razor burn or irrita- tion, especially if you use protective leg boots. (Note: If you’re not good at clipping, longer-cut blades are more forgiving than closer-cut ones, because they’re less likely to leave tracks.) Also use #7 or #8 blades to clip around your horse’s coronary bands, as well as his fetlocks and pasterns, to provide a crisp, clean look.

Tip #3: Clip your horse’s face and ears. Use #40 (surgical) blades to clip your horse’s ears, muzzle, eyebrows, and bridle path. Switch to a #10 blade to clip the long hairs under his jaw. Once you’ve clipped his ears, apply some rubbing alcohol to a moistened towel and wipe them out. Doing so provides a more hygienic ear environment, as well as a polished look.

Tip #4: Smooth his hooves. Using 250-grit Use #10 blades on low white socks.

8 | AUGUST HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY Apply a detangler when brushing your horse’s mane and tail, working from the bottom up. sandpaper, lightly go over your horse’s (Note: Tinted shine products are available. and frayed, and/or starts coming undone, hooves to smooth out ridges. Follow up by Be sure to check with your breed associa- it’s been on too long and may cause more buffing with 400-grit sandpaper, to create a tion before using one, as some associations damage than it prevents. smooth, even surface. (Note: Some people forbid them.) Don’t over-do—less can be consider sanding a horse’s hooves to be best. Your goal is to highlight, not saturate! Tip #9: Apply shine to his body. Use an unhealthy. Perhaps if you sand off too much oil-based coat-shine spray to give extra surface that could be the case. But if you’re Tip #7: Shine and smooth your horse’s sheen to your horse’s coat, just before you just smoothing it out, you’re unlikely to mane. Apply a small amount of shine/ show. (If you’re showing in a super dusty damage the hoof wall.) detangling product to your fingers, and run facility, opt for a dust-repellant coat-shine them through your horse’s mane, to smooth product, instead.) And now you’re ready to Tip #5: Polish his hooves. If within the down the hairs. Then brush or comb his go—and win!  rules of your breed or sport group, apply a mane, working from the bottom (the ends) hoof-shine product to your horse’s hooves, to the roots. (Note: Avoid brushing or comb- for a clean, polished look. (I’d suggest wear- ing a wet mane or tail, which can result in ing gloves, as this can be messy!) Using the stretching and pulling out hairs. Instead, dauber, start with a line along the coronary allow the hair to air dry after you’ve washed band. Continue applying even horizontal and conditioned it. And always apply detan- lines, until you reach the toe. (You may want gler before you brush.) to practice once or twice at home before doing this at a show.) Remove the polish after Tip #8: Shine and smooth his tail. Repeat you’ve finished showing, using a product #7 on your horse’s tail. We keep our horses’ designed for this purpose. tails braided when we’re not showing. That Bob Avila, Temecula, California, is an AQHA way, we don’t have to brush them every day world champion, three-time NRCHA Snaffle Tip #6: Oil your horse’s face. Use an and can minimize hair breakage. You can Bit Futurity winner, NRHA Futurity champ, and oil-based shine product on a towel or rag also use a tail bag or a sock to protect the tail two-time World’s Greatest Horseman. He's to highlight the black points around your hairs. However, you have to check the tail been named the AQHA Professional Horseman horse’s muzzle, eyes, and inside his ears. daily—if the bag or sock starts looking dirty of the Year. Learn more at bobavila.net.

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LOCKS OF LOVE Untangle the secret to your horse’s flowing tresses with these do’s and don’ts.

WOW FACTOR: Owned by country singer and non-pro reiner Lyle Lovett, Quarter Horse stallion Smart And Shiney sports a stunning long mane and full tail. They’re the result of a hair-care program shared here.

11 | AUGUST HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY ow!” That’s usually the first reaction people have when “Wthey see the long mane and tail of Smart And Shiney, one of the reiners in our barn. The typical second reaction? “How do you get a mane and tail like that— what’s your secret?” I’ll share it with you here. But don’t expect to read about a single hidden trick, because there’s no such thing. The “secret,” if there is one, lies in having and sticking to a manes- and-tails program. Read on for the do’s and don’ts that’ll help you develop the best tresses your horse can grow.

Lovely Locks: The Dos and Don’ts Good nutrition and regular care are the keys to keeping manes and tails as long and healthy as they can be. I can’t stress this enough. Based on heredity, each horse has his own individual potential for mane and tail length or thickness. However, it’s also important to provide the horse with the DOS INCLUDE (clockwise from top-left): Comb or brush only when necessary; separate hair to clean down to the tailbone; rinse out product thoroughly; massage dead skin from the manebed; condition ends. nutritional components to stay healthy, and to do your part with regular washing and conditioning. In addition, it’s crucial hair and easily pull it out. Remember to sure to rinse all the shampoo out. To make that you don’t comb or brush the hair every check your brush for hooks in the bristles; sure all areas are shampooed, use your day, but rather, use your fingers to pick out these will pull out lots of hair. fingers to separate the hair. You don’t need shavings and shake the tail clean. Even if Do use clean tools. Keep your brushes to scrub back and forth as long as all the the weather is cold or your horse has a long clean, and disinfect them periodically, hair is reached. The only areas you’ll want layoff, you need to give frequent, proper care particularly with new horses or with any to scrub are the base of the mane and the to his mane and tail. noticeable skin issues. tailbone. Dirt gathers around the tailbone, Do provide proper nutrition.We use Do bathe thoroughly. Each horse has and it’s an area that’s often missed when SmartPak (smarkpak.com) to customize unique needs, and we stick to what our washing. To avoid itching and rubbing, it’s our horses’ nutrition. We don’t typically veterinarians recommend to be safe and important to keep the skin on both the tail- use a specific supplement for hair growth; gentle. We wash and condition most manes bone and the base of the mane clean and however, a multivitamin component and tails at least twice a week. We use free of dead skin. When horses are simply gives the horses what they need to build white vinegar as a pre-rinse in light-col- rinsed off during hot weather, sometimes a healthy body, along with a long, flowing ored tails to remove and keep out stains. the sweat residue stays at the top of the tail mane and tail. A combination shampoo and conditioner to irritate the horse. Don’t over-comb. We avoid combing or could work well if your horse has a really Don’t neglect the ends. When condition- brushing manes and tails on a daily basis. tangled mane and tail. ing, pay special attention to the ends of the We only comb or brush after bathing and Do follow a bathing routine. Every time hair. They’re more brittle and need extra conditioning or before showing—in other we wash the mane and tail, we follow a softening. Leave the conditioner on the words, only when necessary. On other days, similar process. It’s important to wet the mane and tail for several minutes to soak in. we just pick shavings out of the manes and mane and tail thoroughly, because leaving Do rinse thoroughly. Be sure to rinse out tails, because a significant amount of hair is dry spots will cause you to miss removing all product. Conditioner left in the mane or lost every time you comb or brush. We use a some dirt. It’s also important to pay special tail will attract dirt. mane/tail brush with wide teeth, because it attention to the tailbone and the base of the Do braid as needed. Braiding our horses’ seems to remove less hair than other combs mane when shampooing. These areas hold manes is mostly done for their comfort. we’ve tried. There are lots of choices out extra dirt and dead skin. A long, thick mane can be very hot in the there, but you need to be careful to choose Do avoid tangling. Try not to tangle the summer, and some horses seem to get hot one that’s not abrasive and doesn’t grab the mane or tail while shampooing, and be more easily than others. For the few horses

12 | AUGUST HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY that we keep braided, we take the manes down and braid them back up a minimum of twice a week. It’s important to let the hair dry before re-braiding. This is for both the health of the scalp, and to reduce frizzing of the braids. When braiding, we separate the dry mane into sections that are a few inches thick and use rubber bands to secure the braids at the bottom. Don’t let your horse’s tail get too long. Al- though our jumpers’ tails aren’t braided while they work, we do braid the reiners’ tails for schooling their stopping maneu- vers. We also braid all our horses’ tails and put them in socks when we ship, so they don’t get caught in the dividers. We leave the tails down in the stalls, keeping them clean, healthy, and short enough to avoid stepping on them. We have found this to be the safest thing for the tails, and more comfortable and natural for the horses. I recommend that you avoid giving your horse an oppor- tunity to step on his tail. Keep it shorter or braid it up if your horse is at risk. PROTECTIVE BRAIDING: Use Don’t over-use tail bags. We don’t like a detangling product for ease of separating mane hair into using tail bags; we’ve found that they’re braidable sections with your heavy and frequently responsible for extra fingers. Make the braids several breakage. Your horse’s tail is safer out of a inches wide, to reduce overall tension applied at root level. braid when in the stall. Horses seem to find all sorts of things to catch their braided tails on, breaking hair off.

CUSTOMIZE: Factor your horse’s job, lifestyle, and breed (if you compete) into his hair-care program. Arabian show style, for instance, dictates a long, flowing, untrimmed tail, while reining horses typically need trims to avoid stepping on their tails.

13 | AUGUST HORSE&RIDER MONTHLY