Show Preparation - with Jayne Ross and Emma and Kevin McNab

IN THIS ISSUE WE SPEAK WITH ABSORBINE SHOW PREP TIPS FROM THE Top! SPONSORED RIDERS, JAYNE ROSS AND BOTH EMMA AND KEVIN MCNAB ABOUT TOP-TO-TOE HORSE PREP... all about looks as it helps keep Work around the fetlock Repeat the process for Hold tail out of the way the skin cleaner, drier, and the back end medication is more effectively applied. Before you start make sure you wash the horse’s legs with a shampoo rather than just water as this will remove grease and scurf – this makes the area much easier to work on. We use Absorbine’s ShowSheen 2-in-1 Clippers:

Show Preparation tips Shampoo and Conditioner “As with all clipping make sure your blades are sharp and clean from seven-time, Horse because it deeps cleans, is pH- before you begin. The quickest way to trim your horse’s legs is with a of the Year supreme balanced for horse’s sensitive small pair of cordless clippers. It is important that your horse stands champion Jayne Ross. skin and rinses out easily, still while you do this and if he’s not used to having his legs clipped TRIMMING LEGS “In all disciplines it is important for your horse to look its best and trimming legs is something we do regularly as part of our pre-show management. It isn’t leaving no residue. “There are two options when trimming - scissors or clippers. Whatever method you choose always have an experienced helper holding your horse.” introduce the trimmers gradually.“ • Start with the front legs at the back of the knee • With a light pressure, run the trimmers straight down the leg to the top of the fetlock. This will give a free-line finish and not appear ‘chopped into’ • Ensure everything looks tidy - go back for any stray hairs • Spend time blending the hairs behind the knee • The same method is used for the back

Scissors: legs – start a few inches below the

“If your horse isn’t keen on being clipped, then this is the way to hock. Make sure your horse’s tail is out go. You need a small mane comb and small sharp scissors.” of the way. • Lift the hair from underneath and cut the ends straight across. Clipping around the fetlock

Start at the top of the leg and slowly work down • Clip the longer hairs at the back of the • Use the same method when you get to the fetlock fetlock in an upward movement at first, • Blend the hairs by altering the angle of the scissors over the then angle the clippers to catch the rest back of the fetlock of the hairs and blend in • When working on the pastern area holdUse the same technique at the fetlock The scissor method - lift hair from underneath the clippers the other way up The result is smart and tidy • When you have finished tidy up any legs and hooves, ready for the stray hairs, give the legs a brush and show ring! remove any dirt. “I then like to apply Absorbine’s Hooflex Liquid Conditioner because it creates a breathable moisture barrier to help maintain a lasting moisture balance. It absorbs quickly giving deep conditioning and helps avoid hoof cracking and chipping, ideal for application around nail holes.”

TRIMMING THE FACE AND EARS “Trimming the long hairs from your horse’s face and ears adds the finishing touch to show preparation. To trim the face and ears I use a small pair of quiet, lightweight trimmers. Even if I have trimmed a horse’s face before I always just check they are happy with the noise and sensation again before I start. I also have a helper on hand to hold and reassure my horse.“

Face: • Begin by trimming the bottom of the jaw and follow the line of the jaw to the top • Turn the clippers the other way around and work back down again taking all the hair as you go • It helps if you get your horse to stretch his head forwards a little when you get to the top of the jaw • Trim all the longer hairs from underneath the jaw, turning the trimmers to catch them all. • Turn the clippers around and run down the side of the face to remove any straggly hairs • Gently brush the face and you are finished.

Turn the clippers round and run down the side of the face Start at the bottom of the jaw and work your way to the top following the jaw line

Trim all the longer hairs from underneath the jaw

Ears: “Generally, for showing trimmed ears are expected, but check the rules for your class if you aren’t sure. “I like to trim the ears a couple of days before a show, so I am safe in the knowledge it is done and I’m not trying to do it at the last minute. You’d be amazed how often a horse will let you do one ear then suddenly decide the other ear is a no-go zone!” • Gently squeeze the ear together so the sides touch • Run the trimmer down the edges to cut the long hairs.

You might need to repeat this to remove any missed hairs • Finally trim the outside of the ear including the long straggly hairs at the tip.

Before and after International event riders Emma and Kevin McNab share their event preparation tips.

Why is it important for your horses to look good? “It is important to have your horses turned out to the highest standard and we take pride in them looking beautiful. In the dressage phase it is about how you and your horse perform but it is an advantage to have an immaculately turned-out horse.”

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What preparation do you do the day before an event? “The day before is always a big day at the salon for the horses. We make sure our horses are trimmed and tidy all over: pull their mane, pull/rake their tail, trim bridle paths, fetlocks, and the bottom of the tail. They are given an all over bath to deep clean their coats with ShowSheen 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner – the provitamins nourish the skin and coat and leave it looking great. “We try not to brush their tails too often to prevent breaking the hair so after they are washed, we spray them with ShowSheen Hair Polish and Detangler and brush them in preparation for the competition. Usually, we will plait them the day before or, if we are competing late the following day we will wait until the day of the show.”

What are your tips on the day of an event to keep the horses looking great? “Our horses always wear hoods the night before an event so on the day their plaits look just as good as the day before. There is nothing worse preparing beautiful plaits only to find that your horse has rubbed them out overnight! “Our head girl Lucy has her own special

Quarter Marks “We use Absorbine ShowSheen on both the horses coats and tails. It is a really versatile product,” says Emma

competition grooming kit full of all the essentials that are needed to turn out at the event. She always makes sure the brushes are washed and clean for every show. “If there are two products that everyone should have in their competition grooming kit it should be a ShowSheen

Hair Polish and Detangler and Hooflex

Liquid Conditioner.

“ShowSheen is so versatile at events: tail shine/detangler, spray for quarter markings, all over coat shine and face make up for around the eyes and nose. It is the most useful, versatile product in our grooming kit. “We prefer using the Hooflex Liquid Conditioner for our horses' feet because it creates a breathable moisture barrier and maintains a lasting moisture balance. However, if it’s dusty or wet we swap this for some SuperShine Hoof Polish and Sealer because it has a gloss finish but doesn’t let dust or dirt settle.” Why do you have quarter marks on your horses? “Quarter marks make a big difference to the overall turnout of our horses and we do them at all competitions. Not only do they show off the definition of the horses’ hind quarters they give a finishing touch to a beautifully turned-out horse. There are many different patterns, but we do three vertical stripes on the top and then sharks teeth. Lucy will use either ShowSheen Hair Polish and Detangler or ShowSheen Finishing Mist to do them as this gives them great shine, highlights the coat colour and sets the hair better.”

www.absorbine.co.uk

Kevin McNab applying Absorbine Hooflex Liquid Conditioner

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