Everyone who has ever participated in a horse contest knows what it feels like: they are excited but sometimes stressed, especially right before entering the arena. Instead of waiting until the last moment to get everything ready for the contest, take the time to prepare and make sure you look good while staying relaxed!
Step
Method 1 of 5: Prepare Your Horses Well In Advance
Step 1. Groom your horse every day of the year
If you want to have a horse ready for contests, make sure you keep the coat in perfect condition at all times. Taking care of your horse on a daily basis does two things: it will strengthen your emotional bond with it, and it will also improve the shine and health of your horse's coat. This is a win-win situation for you and him.
- Spend most of your time combing the horse with a curry comb. This trick is important to get rid of dust and hair fall. If not removed, these two factors can make the horse look dull and dirty.
- Make sure you also clean the horse's paws daily. The horse will feel more comfortable and look better in the long run.
- Spend some time cleaning the base of the horse's tail to stimulate its growth. The ponytail will be fuller and healthier because you are helping to spread the natural oils and stimulate the growth of the hair follicles.
Step 2. Feed the horse grain which improves the coat quality
There are a variety of different food products that contain the nutrients that horses need to make their coat and mane/tail thicker and shiny. If the horse is allowed to eat these grains (depending on the state of their diet), make sure you give them in addition to their regular diet, at least a few months before the contest.
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You can also feed your horse with small portions of bread crumbs. This food will make his fur shiny, just be careful not to get sick!
Prepare for a Horse Show Step 2
Step 3. Treat the mane and tail of your horse
If your horse's tail and mane are often tangled and full of dust, you'll have a hard time getting them ready in time to look cool during the contest. Brush the mane and tail of the pony thoroughly every time you do the grooming, and apply a small amount of cocoa butter every few days. Cocoa butter acts as a conditioner that thickens and softens all the hair on the horse's fur. If needed, use a detangler to help reduce the number of hair clumps.
Braid the mane and tail occasionally (while still short) to keep the pony's hair from getting tangled
Step 4. Provide regular medical care
Horses that are under/overweight, wormed, or affected by other diseases, will not be able to perform well. Make sure you consider the health of the horse throughout the year, instead of deworming and other things when the contest is only a week away. A healthy horse will look better and more attractive than an unhealthy one. You should also make sure your horse keeps up with the vaccination schedule and meets other health standards.
Method 2 of 5: Preparing the Horse 1-2 The Night Before
Step 1. Bathe the horse
It's better to do this one day before the contest so that the horse is clean and ready to perform. If you bathe your horse too soon, it can get dirty again, so you'll need to bathe it again.
- Be careful when using hair-enhancing formulas around the saddle area, or the saddle pads may slip.
- Another advantage of bathing your horse the day before the contest is that the horse won't have much time to act, so it's less likely to get dirty.
Step 2. Trim any excess hair
Also trim knots of hair on the horse's legs, as well as the long hair that grows on the horse's muzzle, face, ears, and throat. Shaving is important! Make sure you always shave your horse to keep it looking clean and nice – for large breeds of horses, trim the hair the entire length of the ears; for small ponies, trim the fur to about one and a half ear lengths. Shaving will enhance the horse's body shape and improve the presentation aspect before judging.
- Do not shave a horse if it is very large, such as Friesian or Clydesdale horses.
- If you plan to shave your horse's entire body, do it 1-2 weeks before the contest. Full body shaving will cause the horse to look dull, until the oils spread again and new hair begins to grow.
Step 3. Make sure all the white parts on your horse are clean
Horses with white hair, or those that have brown “socks” parts, are stained with grass, or are soiled will not receive high marks from the judges. Use a whitening shampoo to clean all the white areas on the horse. Let the shampoo soak for about 5 minutes before you rinse it off. Then, coat the white part of the horse's body with cornstarch or French chalk to make it look whiter.
Wrap the white “socks” in a layer to keep the horse's paws from getting dirty and stained before the contest
Step 4. Treat the mane and tail of the horse
Wash with a special shampoo and use a bleaching product if the horse's hair is white. Add a detangler to make sure there are no clumps that get in the way of brushing. Then, use a metal-toothed brush to thin out too thick a mane, or a razor blade. Finish by braiding or trimming the horse's tail and mane.
- By braiding the mane and ponytail a few days before the contest, you'll ensure that these two pieces don't tangle and have natural waves – even if you're planning to untangle them.
- If you want to detangle your mane, trim any hair that is too long. This will ensure that the horse's mane looks neater, as well as prevent you from cutting it twice.
- Wrap the ponytail in a special bag or long sock so the tail doesn't fall apart or get caught in something.
Method 3 of 5: Packing Contest Supplies
Step 1. Prepare food and water for the horse
Since contests are usually stressful for horses (with people and other horses present), make sure you stick to their regular feeding schedule as much as possible. Prepare all the food he usually eats and at least two buckets of water. When you arrive at the contest venue, try feeding the horses at their regular times.
Step 2. Prepare all the stakes and fixtures
Do not let you leave the stakes and equipment needed in the contest. Make a checklist of everything you will need to enter the contest, including all exercise and riding equipment, and blankets. Collect all these items and tick the checklist as per availability. Make sure you have gathered everything you will need.
- Clean and wipe all the stakes before you arrive at the contest site. This is important to ensure the appearance of the horse in the best condition.
- Find out the contest rules; maybe some objects, tools, and pegs are prohibited from being used. For example, 4-H has strict restrictions on the types of bits allowed, while some horse riding clubs don't allow figure-eights, draw reins, etc.
Step 3. Prepare the accompanying horse if needed
Driving long distances in a trailer can be very stressful for a horse. Instead of arriving at the contest with a scared and nervous horse, help him minimize the tension by bringing another horse. Horses that will enter the contest can be calmer because of this.
Step 4. Prepare all the waiting equipment you will need
Contact the event organizers and find out if you should prepare your own waiting area. Many horse contests require you to prepare for shaving, in addition to horse pegs and chains, as well as buckets/straw and earthen forks. Find out what things can be shared during the contest, and what other items you should bring yourself – also make sure everything you bring meets the requirements of the event.
Step 5. Also prepare a first aid kit, both for horses and humans
Wherever you go, make sure you bring a first aid kit for the horse. Bring all the basic supplies for cuts and abrasions, in addition to bruises and swelling. Make sure you also prepare a first aid kit for humans in case you get into an accident.
Step 6. Prepare a change of clothes
You will be away from home, so be prepared for any situation. Bring extra clothes – in case something happens to the clothes you are wearing and makes them unusable for the contest. In addition, you can pack clothes/shoes that are more comfortable to wear when driving to and from the event venue.
Method 4 of 5: Prepare
Step 1. Wear Western clothes
Western competitions, such as Western Pleasure or Western Horsemanship, always require clothing that makes you and your horse stand out in a color that matches the color of your saddle. This way, you will look trendy in your general appearance. For local contests, wear a button-down western t-shirt, nice pageant pants, boots and a belt. However, for more competitive contests, choose clothes like fitted silks and vests, expensive shoes, etc.
- If you don't have the budget to buy all of the above, as long as your outfit fits you and your horse, you don't have to worry.
- Wear dark colors on bright horses, and bright colors on dark horses to attract attention.
- You are not advised to wear all black in the contest ring. Most of your rivals will wear it too – just make sure you stand out. Dark purple or dark blue colors are good alternatives.
- If you're confident in yourself and your horse's abilities, try to attract extra attention by wearing brightly colored clothes. You will stand out in the crowd with the same color and easy to remember clothes.
Step 2. Wear appropriate clothing for British pageant classes
Choose a dark outfit and/or a traditional coat (navy, black, hunter green, tan, grey, brown, or copper) and complete your look with a bright neutral or white. The collar on the shirt must be stock and pin, or ratcatcher. Your boots should be very shiny, and your gloves should match them; choose black.
- Gloves will prevent the skin between the hands and jacket sleeves from showing.
- For a saddle mount, you'll need the full set: a day coat and matching pants with shiny jodpur boots, or a derby hat for women riders, or a fedora hat for men, to enhance your look.
- Helmets for British contest classes are usually covered in velvet. Check the contest guide for specific conditions.
Step 3. Treat your hair properly
Make sure your hair is always tied up and not bouncy, unless you're taking a hunter/jumper contest or dressage class. For more competitive contests, all hair must be under the helmet, or only slightly out of the hat/helmet.
Method 5 of 5: Prepare for Contest Day
Step 1. Feed your horse
Don't overfeed or underfeed, because if this happens, the horse will feel uncomfortable and unprepared to perform. Follow his regular diet and feed around the event if needed. Horses will be happier and more pleased when invited to cooperate after he has eaten.
Step 2. Perform the final treatment
Don't bathe the horse, but comb it to give it a shine. Spend the most time with the curry comb and make sure all parts of the body are combed. Take extra time on the white parts and use more baby powder, cornstarch, and french chalk if needed.
Step 3. Polish the horse's hooves Riders in the Western and British classes usually file a horse's hooves to make it smooth, then add polish
Black polish can be used on black nails, while clear polish should be applied to all other nail colors except black. Polishing should be done on a clean hard surface.
- Place a thick foam or rubber mat on the floor in the treatment area to allow the polish to dry. Once the polish is completely dry, wipe the dust off the horse's hooves with a towel.
- If you don't want to polish your horse's hooves, rub in a little lanolin oil to add extra shine.
- Appaloosa horses are not allowed to use nail polish of any color, other than transparent – in fact this is not recommended either. Find out the rules and specifications for your horse breed.
Step 4. Take time to relax
Contests and other events should be fun times; if you're nervous, not only will you not enjoy the show much, but the horse will pick up on your emotions and look bad. Make sure you get enough sleep the night before, and eat and drink before the contest. Do some deep breathing and visualization exercises to calm yourself down; listen to music or say a mantra. Make sure you also help the horse to relax, for example by taking a walk or running together.
Don't worry about other competitors. Act as if you are riding a horse alone in the arena where you live. This strategy will calm you down and make you pay attention to your riding style. You also have to be careful – don't let you bump into other riders in the ring
Tips
- In contests that last all day, don't sit on your horse. Give him a break. Sit on the bench. He's more likely to be drinking, relaxed, and refreshed for the next class if you don't sit on him.
- Stay calm and be in control. Judges don't like horses that mess up, let alone riders who panic.
- Before entering the court for a jumping contest, say the sequence aloud to make sure you've memorized it. Conditions 'off course' (off track) can get you eliminated.
- Make sure your number is visible at all times so that field officers or judges don't have to ask you to adjust their position. This number should be affixed to the back of your coat or western T-shirt, aligned with the back of your back, or placed on either side of the saddle pad.
- Before taking dumbbell classes, have the horse trot, guide him, and spin him around to make sure he's awake. An awake horse performs better than a sleeping horse.
- Judges like confident looks, so if you're nervous and sweaty, blow your palms and look straight ahead. Never look down, it's dangerous! Most importantly, make sure you have fun and stay competitive by being careful!
- Remember, you may opt out of the contest mode if you feel you are not ready. Conquer any pressure you feel-just do what's right for you and the horse.
- The most common jacket colors found in English classes are navy and black. These two colors are also the most popular colors. You can also use hunter green, copper, and tan colors. These colors help you stand out, but if that's not allowed in the contest you're in, stick to a black or navy jacket.
- Don't brush your ponytail every day, as the brush can shed too much hair. If this happens, the ponytail will look thin and bald when entering the contest! Brush the tail once every 1-2 weeks for a fuller and fresher look!
- Don't wash the mane the day before braiding it, so it doesn't tangle.
- Do not exercise excessively the day before the contest. You certainly don't want the horse to be exhausted before the D-day!
- Applying baby powder to the white parts of the horse's body (when applied clean and damp) can make it shiny.
- Don't force your horse to overwork, even during contests. If he starts gasping for air and is sweating profusely, give him a short rest.
Warning
- Never complain to a jury about why you didn't get the position you wanted. Instead of doing so, ask for reasons why you got another position; This method gives a better impression as well as informs the shortcomings that you must improve as a horse rider.
- Don't get too close to other horses in the arena. They can injure you or your horse while kicking. Horses with red stripes on their tail indicate the fact that they may enjoy kicking, and horses with green stripes mean they are young or inexperienced.
- Always tie the horse with dumbbells and a bridle – use a knot that is easy to untie. When you change costumes for other classes, don't tie the horse with mouth ropes. If he grabs her and runs away, you can't show up. In addition, the teeth can hurt; sometimes it even breaks.
