Horse Show Grooming Tips – Knock the Judge Over!
Well, aside from staying on and your horse not acting like a totally foolish goober, you can make your horse shine for the judge. That show ring shine is in the details, an extra set of hands, adding a few things to your regular grooming routine.
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Back in the barn, before your classes:
- Tidy any braids with mousse to pin down fly-aways.
Mane Mousse is great before you braid and can be used after as well to tame any disobedient strands of mane.
- Use a smidge of grooming oil to make your horse’s eye orbits and nostrils shine. Some disciplines use a lot of grooming oil! For disciplines that don’t typically use oil, a little bit goes a long way; aim for the understated look. Less is more.
- A tidy tail. Some mousse will flatten and shape the top of your horse’s tail. This helps you avoid the unfashionable, just got struck by lightning look.
- Wickedly clean tack. Before you hop on, a quick wipe with a lederbalsam creates a nice subtle shine on your tack and gives your bum some extra sticking action.
Lederbalsams are great at spiffing up your tack AND creating grip. Good news for your bum!
- Trim your horse’s coronary bands. You may have the sharpest-looking legs with perfectly groomed fetlocks, so keep the look going by trimming up the coronary band. Simple safety scissors or your clippers can create a sharp line. Bonus – it’s easier to inspect your horse’s hooves this way; you will likely catch any cracks early!
- Add some last-second shine. Apply your shine product evenly, and avoid the saddle area! Sheen sprays can be slippery.
- Properly fitted saddle pads do their job without covering up most of your horse. Keep bling and decorations to a minimum, and keep saddle pads clean and minimal.
- If your horse has been eating before you hop on, consider rinsing his mouth with water to remove all the green slobbies. A large syringe does the trick.
- When you are getting dressed, honor the tradition of your discipline without taking the judge’s eye away from your horse.
Dress to impress. You and your horse.
Grooming between the warm-up and the show ring:
- Nicely cleaned and polished hooves. Brush off all dirt on the hooves and add some hoof polish sparingly. You may even want to wipe off most of it, so your horse’s hooves shine just a bit.
- Do your best to remove sweat. Use a sweat scraper to remove most of it, then follow with damp or dry cloths. Sweat scrapers with the rubber flap are awesome for this job.
- Clean any slobber from your horse’s lips, and wipe any sweat from his face. You may want to also check and clean in between his butt cheeks.
- Smile and have fun!
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Spot removing, deodorizing, dust busting, shine adding spray.
Other sizes, too! Adds shine with the most gentle formula.
The best shampoo for shine and soothing.
This is my favorite horse care product for shine, conditioning, detangling, and stain protection.
It's fashion and function
For all colors - to add shine and help lift stains.
Brighten duns, palominos, and golden colors.
For dark bays, black points, and black horses
This style of sweat scraper is gentle over your horse's bony and lumpy places.
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These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.
The jute side buffs to add shine, the other side is fuzzy for lifting dust and applying fly sprays and grooming products.
Sort of a mix between a finishing brush and a body brush. Soft for sensitive horses.
Keep all of your poops in a group with this handy tote.
Boost shine and create a smooth coat with this medium brush from the best of the best - HAAS. Go forth and shine!
Gentle and effective detangling for your horse's mane and tail.
These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.
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- Cordless 5-in-1 clipper for precise finishing work on horses
- Adjustable blade (#9, #10, #15, #30, #40) for flexible trimming
- Lightweight design for easy control and less hand fatigue
- Dual batteries with quick swap for extended grooming time
- Quiet, low-vibration motor for sensitive horses
- Ideal for bridle path, face, ears, muzzle, and fetlocks
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- 2-speed motor (6000 & 8000 RPMs)
- 4-hour cordless runtime + corded option
- 5-in-1 Diamond Pro blade stays cool and sharp
- Textured housing for comfortable control
- Travel lock for safe transport
- LED screen with speed, battery, and maintenance info
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- Powerful motor glides through coats
- Textured grip for better control
- Up to 3 hours cordless + corded option
- Digital display with battery + maintenance alerts
- Travel lock for safe transport
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- Upgraded brushless motor (3,700 & 4,500 RPMs)
- Textured housing for secure, comfortable grip
- Constant Speed Control powers through thick or matted coats
- Corded + cordless use with quick-charge battery
- Up to 2 hours cordless runtime
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- #10 Prime Series German high-carbon steel blade for durability
- LOCKGUARD tech prevents hinge closure for easy blade changes
- Lightweight, slip-resistant design for better control
- Constant Speed Control powers through all coat types
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- Powerful, quiet motor with 7,200 SPM and reduced heat
- Adjustable cutting lengths (#30, #15, #10) for versatile clipping
- Lightweight design for controlled grooming and finish work
- Ideal for fetlocks, bridle path, face, ears, and detailing
- Includes adjustable blade, blade oil, and cleaning brush
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- Includes #10 wide Prime blade
- LOCKGUARD technology for secure blade hold
- Two speeds (3,000 & 3,700 RPMs)
- Two lithium-ion batteries, up to 3 hours each
- Wide blade version of the KM Supera
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- Powers through all coat types with 3 high-speed settings
- #10 Prime Series German high-carbon steel blade for durability
- LOCKGUARD technology prevents hinge closure for easy blade changes
- Replaceable drive tip system for quick, simple maintenance
- Rubberized no-slip grip for comfort and full control
- Lightweight design built for all-day grooming use
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- Powerful motor up to 6,000 SPM with cool, quiet performance
- Up to 2 hours cordless runtime with Lithium Ion battery
- Quick-adjust blade (#10, #15, #30) for flexible cutting lengths
- 15-minute quick charge gives ~10 minutes of extra use
- Ergonomic design for comfort and control during grooming
These wildly powerful shears are great for thick coats, and when I say thick, I mean it.
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- Keeps blades lubricated for cooler, smoother cutting
- Helps blades stay sharper for longer use
- Recommended after each use for best performance and longevity
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- 2-minute hospital-grade disinfectant for fast, effective cleaning
- Kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi on contact
- EPA-certified formula for trusted disinfection
- Safe for grooming tools and workstation surfaces
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Choose your favorite blade from a #7 to a #40 for body clippers like the Velocity, Supera, or KM Series.
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- Glide-through cutting for smooth, efficient clipping on all coat types
- Easy detachment and adjustment (#9, #10, #15, #30 & #43)
- Always cool-running blade set for consistent performance
- Ideal for bridle path, ears, muzzle, fetlocks, and finish work on horses
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Use code LIV to save at wahlpro.com
Clean anything and store anything with this versatile hook. Easy to bring to horse shows, too!
and adds a nice sheen!
If you love options, this surcingle has a kabillion rings to pick from.
This is the best broom for getting every last bit of shavings out of the barn aisle.
Keep all of your poops in a group with this handy tote.
Classy and practical stall guard, custom made for you!
Let your horse have the best view with this spiffy stall guard!
No escaping, please.
Keep your horse dry during bad weather, this rain sheet is also great for windy days.
Could you be even more organized? Likely not.
This is SO SATISFYING to shrink up your seasonal horse blankets and gear.
Be sure to check the size. Don't want doll house size or marshmallow man size, either.
Vertical storage is the best! No more digging through trunks.
Keep your horse's water and noms warm this winter.
You will be amazed at what the ground will throw at ya.
Plus you can keep dust and rodents out of your horse's blankets while saving space.
Thank you!