Grooming Secrets to Show Like the Pros

A strong grooming game starts in the months and weeks leading up to a show. Try these tips from the pros to have your horse shining in the show ring.

First impressions matter. When your horse steps into the show ring, before he even has a chance to show off his talent, his athleticism, or his meticulous maneuvers, judges will notice the time and care you’ve invested into his grooming. But achieving show-ring shine starts long before you step into the arena.

Practicing daily and weekly maintenance, and implementing a grooming routine before the show will help keep your horse looking his best.

Taking time to ensure your horse is well-groomed before a show isn’t just a matter of vanity. It speaks to your level of dedication and commitment. Meticulous attention to grooming reflects a commitment to excellence and professionalism, setting a high standard that distinguishes both horse and rider in the competitive arena. And a well-groomed horse not only has a coat that shines but will radiate health and well-being that can immediately capture attention.

We talked with two experts about their grooming routines that keep their horses at the forefront of the judges’ attention, and what you can be doing in the months, weeks, and days leading up to your next show to groom for success.

The Mane Event

Achieving the ultimate show ring shine starts with daily maintenance at home.→ The winning results are in the little details that will make show-day prep a breeze and keep your horse looking good year-round. For many of us, a long mane and tail are the dream. Although part of this will be chalked up to your horse’s genetics, care and maintenance of the mane and tail will help it grow and remain healthy.

[Read: Maximum Mane Care Tips]

Heather Young, a professional horseman and judge who specializes in ranch versatility events, suggests washing your horse’s mane and tail once per week with a good quality shampoo and conditioner and following it up with a healthy application of moisturizer and detangler to lock in moisture, detangle the hair, and maintain shine.

She then proceeds to let the mane dry before attempting to brush through it to preserve hair health and avoid breakage. “I let the hair dry first; this is the key to not pulling out a lot of hair when brushing. I then brush with a good quality hairbrush starting at the bottom working up,” she explains.

Band Carefully

Elizabeth Knabenshue, a multiple AQHA World and All American Quarter Horse Congress champion in trail and showmanship, echoes this sentiment. “We wash manes and tails once a week, using a moisturizing shampoo,” she shares. “When we are headed to a horse show, we might forego conditioner and detangler in the mane because we band our horses’ manes. When the mane is short and too clean, it can make it hard for the bands to stay in place.”

Pro Tip: If your horse has a long mane that tangles easily, you might opt to keeping it braided. A braid that is tight at the top can cause breakage and pull at the mane crest. To avoid this, keep your braids smaller and looser at the top on the mane, increasing tightness as you braid.

Let’s Talk Tails

On top of washing tails regularly, Young also prefers to keep her horses’ tails braided and in a tail sock when she’s not at a horse show to help avoid unnecessary breakage.

But don’t be pressured to spend big money if you opt to bag your horse’s tail. According to Young, you can find a cheaper option in the sock aisle of your local store by grabbing a pack of men’s tube socks. But not all socks are created equal. Young suggests avoiding nylon socks as they can be much harsher on the hair and cause unnecessary breakage.

To use a sock in place of a tail bag, take a pair of scissors and cut down the center of the sock starting at the opening of the sock. Make your cut long enough so that you can tie a knot with the two straps once you put your horse’s tail in the bag.

Trim Them Up!

At Knabenshue’s barn, she chooses to not to braid or bag tails, and instead focuses on keeping them washed and trimmed.

“A general guideline for trimming a tail is to keep it about ankle length. Don’t let the tail drag the ground and be aware if you’ll be doing a lot of backing in a pattern as this can determine how much to keep a tail trimmed,” Knabenshue says.

Young also emphasizes the importance of keeping your horse’s tail neatly trimmed as part of a maintenance program. “I keep their tails cut off blunt at the fetlock. This provides plenty of length yet is short enough the horse doesn’t step on it when stopping or backing up.” she says.

Pro Tip: To thoroughly soak and wash long tails, fill a bucket with shampoo and water, and dunk the entire tail. By submerging the tail, you ensure you’re evenly distributing product, and giving it a chance to permeate stubborn dirt and dust. Be sure to thoroughly wash out shampoo and conditioner from manes and tails to avoid itching and product buildup.

Feed for Shine

One of the most important daily considerations when trying to achieve a shiny coat is as simple as what you feed. No grooming routine is complete without looking inward. How you feed your horse, the quality of your hay, and attention to gut health will reflect in his outward appearance as well.