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Guest Post: Preparing Your Horse for Shows
Weāre right in the thick of equestrian show season, with many horse owners busy preparing their animals for the big day out. Preparation begins weeks in advance of a show, as the horse will need to be drilled in the routines that it will likely be asked to perform on the day, and the hours and days leading up to showtime are quite busy as final preparations are made. The day before the show should be dedicated to enhancing your horseās appearance as best as possible. Make sure all its body is washed and apply coat conditioner, although be careful not to put too much conditioner on the saddle area…
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Braiding and decorating the mane of a shire horse
Hi! I admire some people’s patience when it comes to heavy braiding! In some cultures there are events where heavy decoration is the norm. I watched this video of a lady braiding the mane of a shire horse for an event and, indeed, I can say that this requires high skill and yeap, big patience!
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The equestrian grooming tools and how to use them
I opened the BHS complete Training Manual for Stage 1 stored on my Kindle to learn about the instruments that are necessary to groom a horse. So, it’s called “gooming kit” and it includes the following: All grooming instruments must be kept clean, to stop disease spreading. Source: Islay Auty & Margaret Linington-Payne, “The BHS Complete Training Manual for Stage 1” (Official handbook), The British Horse Society, Kenilworth Press, 2012
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Enquiry: Why do we braid manes and tails?
Braiding is a major issue and a crucial activity in the world of equestrianism, as I have assumed from the countless videos I have watched onlineĀ And I regret to admit that I don’t like the result at all. I prefer a well-brushed mane and a rich tail moving the natural way as the horse moves or does whatever. But many others do like it (otherwise braiding would not be such a big deal). And I have to respect their opinion (as they have to respect mine). “About tastes no discussion”, says an old Greek proverb, and it perfectly applies here. Why do we do that to horses? Is there any…
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The beauty challenge: grooming a friesian horse!
All creatures have the right to beauty and horses are no exception, especially when they participate in shows. We want them clean, shiny and impressive at special occasions. Besides, it is also a matter of hygiene, preventing funghi and bacteria. Problems that add to the costs’ part of the owner’s budget. If you are not too enthusiastic about grooming, then a friesian horse is probably not for you. Yes, it’s all this hair that it carries. And imagine all this hairy stuff getting sweaty and messy in summer, at high temperatures (42 celcius, for example). You don’t want a stinky horse, that carries loads of organisms that you can’t see,…