Turnout Tips For the Show Ring

Discover top dressage turnout tips from international rider Francesca Cawley. Learn how to achieve a polished, professional look with Smart Grooming's must-have products, from plaiting to shine, hoof care, and rider turnout.

Keeping horses tidy and groomed during the winter months, takes much more time and effort than during the summer months. The weather can turn suddenly, and a beautifully dry paddock can turn into a mud bath within a very short...

Preparing your horse for a show is a fun job, but it is time consuming and requires a large amount elbow grease! There is a lot to do and so much to remember to bring with you – and usually on the day of the show you are running late, scrambling to finish those last-minute plaits or removing that stain your horse has picked up while traveling!

Practice makes perfect, it's always wise to make sure you are confident in the application of makeup to your horse well in advance of your first competitive outing.

The use of cosmetics products such as coat sheen, muzzle gloss and even colour sprays have become standard in the show ring - though before using them, you need to be certain that you are not breaking any rules. 

Like most showing yards, we bath horses the day before a show. I always use warm water, not only because its more comfortable for the horse, but I don’t think cold water is as effective at lifting the grease