Tips From An Auction Expert On How To Get That Show-Ring Shine

With show season about to begin in earnest, Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine recently interviewed two Thoroughbred grooms for their tips and tricks on how to get horses show- or sales-ring ready.

A few key takeaways that could translate to the show horse world:

  • Consistently wash white legs to keep them from staining, but don't bathe the horse's entire body with soap too often or you risk stripping away the coat's natural oils. If it's too cold to bathe, hot toweling is key to lifting grime off coats.
  • White coats are harder to make shine than bays or chestnuts, so baby powder can be used liberally to get coats blindingly white. This powder is also helpful in making white face and leg markings pop.
  • Human hair gel and mineral oil can tame unruly manes and a proper brushing technique (from the bottom up) can detangle tails.
  • Hooves must be cleaned before they're polished
  • A fleece car wash mitt can offer the finishing touches on a horse's coat

Click here to read additional tips and tools necessary to make horses shine.

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Florida Hunter Trainer Advocates For Return Of Thoroughbreds To The Show Ring

Based in Reddick, FL, hunter/jumper trainer Caitlin Maloney is working hard to bring back recognition of Thoroughbreds in the hunter show ring. She has re-trained and shown multiple off-track Thoroughbreds to national accolades.

When asked why she enjoys the breed, she says she appreciates that they are innately wired to please. Once a Thoroughbred understands what is being asked of them, she says, most want to work with their riders. The key to successfully retraining them is patience, she says.

Once Caitlin determines an OTTB is safe to ride, she will placea pole in the ring and ask the horse to walk over it to determine if he is bold or overwhelmed, which will factor into how he is trained. Once the horse is ready to begin jumping, she doesn't train a Thoroughbred any differently than she does any other breed.

Caitlin reminds riders that a Thoroughbred was first trained for speed and that a forward, galloping Thoroughbred hunter can be lovely to watch if trained to relax and jump correctly.

Caitlin says she has seen more Thoroughbreds in the show ring, and more groups and individuals advocating for their return. She expects the Thoroughbred classes at horse shows to get more competitive.

Read more at The Plaid Horse.

The post Florida Hunter Trainer Advocates For Return Of Thoroughbreds To The Show Ring appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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