When a horse exhibition show takes place (there are many events of this type happening here down under and you are participating, you want to do your best to wow the judges. Some claim that it takes seven seconds to form an opinion on someone and the same thing applies when your horse is being judged. It's unlikely to see an eventual winner coming from the bottom of the line. Therefore you want to do your best and prepare your horse for showing to make a positive first impression. In light of that let's share a few tips on how you can do it.

Clipping is beneficial for the horse since it prevents him/her becoming too sweaty and overheating, but also because it will make him look well-groomed. Competition horses are clipped all year round and usually, a full clip is done ( all the coat, including the legs, head, and ears are removed). When there is an event approaching it's advisable to do it one or two weeks before the show. You want to start the clipping process by letting your horse feel the vibrations of the clipper blade through your hands first. Also for safety reasons, start clipping at the shoulders so that if the horse reacts to the clippers you get out of the way.

For this purpose, many like to use heavy-duty clippers for horses. These have a powerful motor, wide blades and an ergonomic design so that they can provide for fast and precise trimming. Since the clippers can heat during the process also you want to pay attention and buy ones with a ventilated head which prevents the blades from getting hot too quickly. Usually, the clippers for horses come with a blade set and a carrying set. Oiling the blades with a clipper oil is highly recommended to ensure quiet operation and longer blade life, so make sure you have one.

At competitions, they usually want all the whiskers at the muzzle removed for aesthetical reasons. But many consider this cruel and unfair because horses need these to feel and sense what they are eating, bumping into, etc. Therefore it's up to you to decide whether you'll remove the whiskers with the clippers or not.

Before you pull your horse's mane or tail you wan to check the rules of the competition because they may vary. Some for instance demand for the mane to be or pulled or plaited. Good braids require a lot of preparation in advance. First, you should trim and pull the mane so that it gets shorter and thinner. To pull your horse's mane you should use a metalic comb (a plastic one would break easily) and pull a little each day before the show. Start at the base of the neck near the withers and work towards the poll. Brushing your horse's mane on a daily basis and pulling a few hairs out here and there when relaxed will help if your horse is difficult to have their mane pulled. Next, brush the mane to remove any tangles and section the mane into bunches depending on how many plaits you want. Secure the plaits with elastic bands or you can use a needle and thread.

Plaiting the mane sure takes time and patience. As with anything practice makes perfect and you might get better with time. However, if you don't have the right expertise at braiding and pulling your horse's mane you should leave things in the hands of professionals to avoid potential mistakes.

This is the last step of your horse's grooming process. A glossy coat is sure to turn heads so you want to make sure to add extra shine and moisture to it. Different sprays and serums can help you with that. They are usually enriched with vitamins and silk proteins to provide great strength and shine. If you’re showing in a dusty facility, make sure you choose a coat-shine product that is dust-repellent.