Discover top showing products for your horse
When preparing your horse for a show, the list can go on (and on) in terms of the products available to maximise turnout. Many months of hard work go into preparing a horse or pony for those all-important outings, but it’s often the showing products used during the preparation that makes the most difference. It’s that crucial time when paying attention to detail will pay off.
In this product feature, we’ve rounded up a few much-loved showing items for you to consider before and during your showing outings this year.
Please note: The article contains affiliate links, which means, should you choose to make a purchase following clicking on an external link, we may earn a commission. With this in mind, we only recommend products we believe are of good value and are fit for purpose from retailers we trust. Pricing and availability were relevant at the time of publication. Click here to learn more.
Supreme Products Shampoo Range
Available on VioVet
A good shampoo is essential for any show day prep. Choosing a shampoo that provides a deep cleansing wash, which can enhance your horse’s natural coat colour is an excellent place to start. The Supreme Products Shampoo Range provides several types depending on the horse’s coat colour and desired outcome. A blue shampoo will help thoroughly clean and enhance a white, cremello or coloured coat, feathers, mane and tail, or opt for a chestnut shampoo to bring out the red tones in your horse.
Priced around £12 depending on product type.
NETTEX Stain Remover
Available on VioVet
The small but mighty NETTEX Stain Remover (available in a bigger bottle) is an excellent solution to remove stains from a horse’s coat. A little bit goes a long way, and it can help reduce the likelihood of dirt building up after use. Great to have on hand when spot-cleaning the morning before or when you arrive at a show after travelling in the trailer. NETTEX Coat Shine for Horses can be used afterwards to seal the hair to help prevent further staining.
Absorbine Showsheen
Available on VioVet
Perhaps one of the most loved and widely used products, Absorbine Showsheen is an excellent way to finish a horse’s coat for a fantastic soft feel and vibrant shine. To use liberally after shampooing, or when grooming, it is an excellent product for detangling the mane and tail, it’ll also help keep mud from sticking and repels dust too!
Moisturises the coat and is fortified with Vitamin E.
RRP £21.46 for 946ml
Supreme Products Hot Oil – used by professionals!
Available on VioVet
A must-have for hot clothing and adding that perfect shine! The Supreme Products Hot Oil helps remove grease and dirt and adds a great shine to the horse’s coat. It contains Panthenol and Collagen to help repair damaged or dry coats. It also offers UV protection.
Craig Elenor Equestrian said,
We keep a close eye on their coat, once it is really moulting we clip and then Hot Oil daily to get them shining for the early shows.
Vicky Smith said,
Keeping a well groomed coat has a number of benefits; vigorous grooming promotes circulation, massages muscles, stimulates the production of beneficial oils and helps the new coat come through. We groom every day and use Supreme Products Hot Oil at least three times a week to remove excess grease and dirt from the coat. Hot Oil is particularly good to use at the start of the season when their skin can be dry following the winter as it moisturises and hydrates the skin creating a great shine.
Available in 250ml ad 500ml
RRP 250ml £12.55, 500ml £21.15
Top Zop Plaiting Comb
Available on Amazon
The Top Zop Plaiting Comb is perfect for keeping the mane out of the way while plaiting up, alongside measuring out equal sections of hair. The handy clip at the bottom keeps plaiting bands easily to hand. Made of rubber.
Priced around £13-15
Shires Waxed Plaiting Thread
Complete with a needle; the Shires Waxed Plaiting Thread comes in three different colours, the choice, of course, will depend on the horse’s mane colour. Perfect for sewing in plaits, can be used instead or alongside bands. Excellent for a clean, neat finish. If your threading skills aren’t great, use alongside plaiting bands.
Priced around £8-£12
Plaiting Bands
Available on Amazon
Where would we be without our old, faithful plaiting bands? Useful in so many areas of grooming, plaiting bands are a staple accessory for many horse owners. Predominantly available in white, black and brown (although other colours such as pink, purple and green have been seen, too), a bag of plaiting bands can help you plait up with ease. Even if you choose to sew in those plaits, you’ll find a pack of these never go amiss. Not only are they super handy, but they are also cheap too.
£3.99 on Amazon
Hy Equestrian Magic Hold Plaiting Spray
Available on VioVet
Keep loose stray hairs at bay with this strong hold Magic Hold Plaiting Spray from Hy Equestrian. It helps to perfect plaits by leaving a non-greasy finish while providing extra grip when plaiting the mane. Combs out quickly and easily after use.
RRP £11.43
Smart Grooming Plaiting Wax
Available on VioVet
Smart Grooming Plaiting Wax helps make plaiting easier by taming flyaway hairs for that perfect finish. Formulated with Bees Wax and Vitamin E, it’s a non-oil-based formula to help condition and nourish the mane. Wax is in a stick that is pushed up from the base.
Priced around £10-£12
Supreme Products Body Wrap
Available on VioVet
After spending hours shampooing and plaiting, you’ll no doubt want your horse to stay clean overnight and for the coat, mane and tail to stay flat. The Supreme Products Body Wrap is made from the finest grade 4-way stretch Lycra mix material. It’ll help keep those plaits in place, add extra shine and condition to the coat, help keep everything flat, AND help keep the horse clean (a god send for grey, coloured and cremello horses!). It can also be worn when travelling.
Craig Elenor Equestrian continues,
It’s also important to check for rug rubs, this time of year when the coat is changing is when they are more prone to getting them. If you notice one alter their rugs, we often opt for a Supreme Products Body Wrap.”
Size: 12hh, 12.2hh, 13.2hh, 14.2hh, 15.2hh, 16.2hh or 17.2hh
Colour: Black, Orange, Purple, Red or Navy
RRP £97.50
Shapley’s Show Touch Up Colour Enhancer
Available on VioVet
Don’t let all your hard work go to waste! After hours of preparation, the Show Touch Up Colour Enhancer helps disguise scars, stains and blemishes (those finishing touches). The product can also be sprayed into tails to create a fuller look. Designed not to streak, smear or clump. Safe in wet conditions can be removed with an oil-based product and will not cause damage to the horse’s hair.
Available in Black, white, sorrel, chestnut, medium brown, dark brown, palomino or grey
RRP £25.26
NAF Off Citronella Spray
Available on Amazon
Citronella helps mask the odours flies are attracted to. But did you know it also helps lift the mood too?
Having a fly spray like NAFOFF Citronella Spray to hand will help your horse stay fly-free and calm when in the ring. A must for any show-day grooming kit.
RRP £17.08
Goat Hair Dandy Brush from Hy Equestrian
Have a brush, such as the Goat Hair Dandy Brush from Hy Equestrian on hand to help keep dust and debris from your horse’s legs on show days, especially when standing waiting for a class.
RRP £12.99
Supreme Products Pro Groom Hardshell Box
Available on VioVet
This stunning hardshell grooming box from Supreme Products will help you keep all your show prep gear tidied away. There’s a shock-absorbing foam inner so grooming bottles will be kept safe, especially when travelling and at a show. Includes dividing inner panels, removable shoulder strap, and carry handle.
RRP £69.99
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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