5 Showing Turnout Tips To Lead You To Success
5 Showing Turnout Tips to lead you to success
Showing is one of the most demanding disciplines when it comes to turnout in the Equestrian world. It takes a lot of time, energy and effort to bring your equine up to standard.
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Shared below are a number of revised shortcuts to help your equine excel in the show ring. Easy and quick to use, they could save you that extra amount of time you need before you start your class.
1. Plaiting tricks will help with neck proportion!
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Coppard
Plaiting is a huge factor when it comes down to show day, as it is for other disciplines too! But plaiting in the show ring is important because it is something that is being looked upon during your show.
When learning how to use this trick you need to remember the more plaits you include in your horse’s mane, the longer the neck looks. This can sometimes be useful to catch the judge’s eye when wanting to stand out, especially if your horse has a shorter neck. In the same breath, if the neck is a little long, fewer plaits will help with proportion too.
If your horse has a weak neck and you want to make sure the plaits don’t point this out, then you can make sure the plaits are sitting higher on the neck to give the view of a more enhanced crest, again something that will stand out.
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2. Shiny coats equal all the votes!
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Coppard
Something that will always catch a judge’s attention is the shine on the horse. Whether this be its coat, face or hooves, it’s important there is a shine there.
Many products can be found on the market from the most expensive to an everyday polish, but sometimes money isn’t everything.
A successful product to use in the show ring is Baby Oil.
It is incredibly useful, and what is even better is that, when you want to place a shine on your horse’s face, Baby Oil is completely safe. Before entering the ring it is possible to add some Baby Oil to your horses muzzle, which gives an immediate shine when the Judge comes to inspect you. Just over their eyelids works a treat too.
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3. Look good, feel good, do good
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Coppard
Standing out in the show ring means the rider needs to have just as much care put into their turnout as the horse.
A common misconception is that everything is down to the horse, but it’s not fully true. You need to look just as well turned out on the day of the show too.
Making sure your outfit is protected when getting your horse ready on the show ground is so important, you don't want to fall at the last hurdle after all of the effort you have put in.
Your DVR Dexter Track-pants are a fantastic lightweight and comfortable option to wear over your jodhpurs when prepping your horse and coming with silicone grip, perfect for the warm up ring.
4. Last-minute essentials
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Coppard
Next, make sure you fill a small basket with last minute ringside essentials. Some products that are frequently used on a show ground include;
- Cloths and grooming mitt
- A handful of sponges to wipe of last-minute saliva etc (ESSENTIAL)
- Selected sprays (fly spray, shines or polishes if you wish)
- Hoof oil
This will help you incredibly instead of having to run back and forth from your lorry or trailer and to make sure everything you could possibly need is there with you and time can be saved
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5. An all year effort
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Coppard
Throughout the year it is important to remember that if you are wanting to show into the next season you have to up-hold similar standards. For example, making a concerted effort to keep your horses tail pulled will have positive long lasting effects when the season begins again. Keeping regular tabs of when to trim your horses’ whiskers, fetlocks and manes too will have a longer lasting effect that could show you up well against others who have rushed this process.
Thank you so much for reading!
Please remember these are tips and tricks from riders who have used them but might not work for everyone.
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Written by Niamh
Photos courtesy of Rebecca Coppard
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