Grooming Tips from Charlotte Dujardin, Jayne Ross and Jo Bates
In this feature, we are joined by Charlotte Dujardin, Jayne Ross and Jo Bates to talk grooming tips* and top products for you and your horse. We also take a look at grooming kit essentials while the ladies give advice on how to achieve top turnout at shows.
*Includes product placement
Grooming tips for top turnout out shows – Whichever discipline you are competing in, turnout to the highest standard is always a sought after goal. There are many things you can do to ensure your horse looks ‘best in show’ when out competing! Take a look here to find out more.
Grooming tip 1: Plan ahead
Don’t wait until the day before the show to start organising your turnout. Ensure that you have pulled your horses’ mane and tail if applicable and carry out any pre-show trimming several days before the show. This will save a huge amount of time on the day prior to the show. Also, don’t forget your own turnout, check your show riding gear is clean and ready to go. Make sure you have your list of must having grooming gear ready, for before and after the show. A well organised travel grooming kit will also save your heaps of time on the day too. Type and print out a check list to keep in your showing diary, or add notes to your phone to electronically tick off! Show day anxiety isn’t uncommon, so don’t be too hard on yourself, just be prepared and plan ahead!
Grooming tip 2: Bathing your horse
Give your horse a thorough bath one week before, then the day before a show and take care to make sure the mane and tail are kept clean by using a good detangling spray. A conditioning spray can help dirt and bedding from becoming lodged in the hair and tangling it. It may sound obvious, but make sure you thoroughly rinse the coat, mane and tail as not only can it cause irritation, it’ll prevent that extra shine you’ll be needing. If you don’t have a solarium, ensure that you give your horse a good rub with a towel to help dry him and keep him warm after his bath.
Absorbine sponsored rider and top show producer, Jayne Ross, says
“I use ShowSheen 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner on all my horses. If the greys and colours have any stable stains the ShowSheen Stain Remover and Whitener is a great pre-treatment. Then spray with ShowSheen Original Hair Polish and Detangler to stop the dust and bedding sticking to the coat and tail.”
Grooming tip 3: Hooves
Try and leave five days or so in between the farrier visiting and taking the horse to a show after hooves have been trimmed or shod.
Absorbine sponsored, Charlotte Dujardin says,
“It is always important to take your horse to a show with his feet looking at their best. Depending on which discipline you are competing in, dress your horse’s hooves with a good quality hoof oil or hoof polish. If you are using hoof polish never paint pale hooves with black product, we use Absorbine SuperShine in Clear on the horses. It dries really quickly and is easy to apply”.
Grooming tip 4: Quarter Marks
Whether you’re a quater marker pro, or prefer a stencil to mark your horse’s quarters, you’ll not only want a comb/brush to create the shapes, but you’ll need a good product too.
Top show producer Jo Bates has some top tips to perfect your quarter marks.
“We apply quarter marks using ShowSheen Original”
She expalins. But how do the experts do it? Jo continues;
“A mitt, a metal mane comb and a body brush are also our go to items. Spray the whole hind quarters with ShowSheen, get a good covering and wipe down with the mitt. Using the metal comb, starting from the top of the quarters down to the point of the hip, do three parallel stripes. Then use the body brush for the shark’s teeth. Starting at the centre of the hair whirl, bring the bush up and round towards the rear of the horse, then make a second stoke in a more downward direction. Repeat, moving down the quarters. Four or five “sharks teeth” are appropriate dependent on the size of the horse. Don’t use any horse bathing or cleaning products on the saddle area as it will make it slippery!”
Grooming Kit Essentials from Absorbine
Absorbine Showsheen Showring Shine
Absorbine ShowSheen Original Hair Polish & Detangler produces the finest show-ring shine. ShowSheen is enriched with Pro-Vitamins and Silk Proteins to nourish the coat. It makes coats smooth and sleek, and it accentuates body tone and definition.
Buy now for £10.64 (561ml) from VioVet
Absorbine SuperShine Hoof Polish
gives hooves a magnificent mirror-like finish. Its quick-drying formula helps prevent dirt and dust from settling on the show-winning shine of the horse’s hooves. It seals out excess moisture to harden soft hooves, but will not harm feet as the product does not penetrate beyond the surface of the hoof wall. Available in Clear or Black.
Buy now for £18.86 on Amazon
Absorbine Stain Remover and Whitener
Absorbine Stain Remover and Whitener contains Oxi-Erasers to lift out stains, simply sprays on and rinses off. For the toughest stains it works as a powerful pre-treatment spray. It is colour safe and does not contain any bleach.
Buy now for £11.51 on Amazon
Absorbine ShowSheen 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner
Absorbine ShowSheen 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner contains Pro-Vitamins to help nourish the skin and strengthen hair. It deep cleans and conditions in one step to leave hair soft, strong and manageable without stripping natural oils. ShowSheen 2 in
Buy now for £14.49 on Amazon
The full range of Absorbine products are available from Equestrian retailers and Amazon.
Please note this article contains affiliate links. Should you choose to click and purchase, we may earn a commission. With this in mind we only recommend products of good value. Products and pricing correct at time of publishing. Images are not representative of the product size.
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Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.
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