Vaseline or baby oil gets sticky pine pitch out of manes! Rub in and gently brush out (it softens the sap so you can scrape it out). Or for short hair, use baby oil and rub out with a towel.

Put Baby Powder on clean white socks to make them look even whiter for shows. Also try rubbing into white spots on paints (on edges where white hair meets colored) to make lines look cleaner. -Submitted Anonymous
Kara Note: I've also heard using cornstarch instead of baby powder works..but I would try it BEFORE the show!

My favorite detangler: Cowboy Magic Concentrated Detangler and Shine. If your horse has a thick wavy mane...this is the only thing you should be using!!! (It works well for all lenghs and thicknesses.)-Kara

Keep a zippered pencil pouch with your tote/garment bag with extra coggins, membership cards, project cards and pens to write on your ribbons. -Kara

To clean the white padding on a dressage bridle...use white shoe polish (this can be slightly messy but worth it!) -Kara

When you are going to a show and you want your horse to look shiny, but not sweaty use baby wipes, to shine up their coat. -Submitted by a Surfer

Baby oil, hoof oil , a comb, rags, brushes, comfortable clothes to change into, one pre oiled rag for last minute boot shining, safty pins , sunglasses, a water bottle, a first aid kit and an extra hair net and scrunchy ( I tend to lose those) if you braid your horses mane, hair spray and styling gel. -Submitted by Heather

When applying poultice, wet your hands with warm water and keep them wet! (the poultice comes off you hands easier in the end). -Submitted Anonymous

To get that checkered pattern on the rump of your horse, get a plasic not too flexible sheet and cut squares, diamonds, or another pattern out, then place it on your horses rump and use a brush, brush the hair in the opposite direction. -Submitted by horseridinggal

I find that during the summer the dust is terrible. Especially waiting for my halter class, and people are warming up already. I take with me the pledge, 'grab-its' mitts or something similar and use those for my last minute wipe down. -Submitted by AK in Oregon.

If hoof polish frequently chips off your horses hooves at a show, you can touch it up with a dab of clear nail polish...it really works! (Or if you want to look extra fancy you can paint their hooves pretty colors). -Submitted by *Shelley*

Use baby oil in a gel formula for highlighting around the muzzle and eyes...
-Submitted Anonymous

If you want your horse to stand out in the crowd, use Twinkle products, and you can put any design you want on your horse. -Submitted by Paige Long

Be extra careful when using black polish on a paint. Depending on their mix, of course -this could wreck their appearance! -Submitted Anonymous

Try shining up your silver tack by using a rubber pencil eraser for last minute cleaning.
(NOTE FROM KARA: Rubber reacts with silver by leaving a black stain..I'd be careful trying this..ask anyone who's wrapped a rubberband around their silver flatware!)


Put baby oil on chestnuts to make them look better, darker and moisturized before your halter class. -Sumitted Anonymous

A way to get your horse to have a beatiful long moisturized, and shiny tail is to mix about 1/4 cup of Infusium 23 for wind and sundamaged hair (this costs around $8.00 per bottle) 1/8 cup Cowboy Magic Concentrated detangler and Shine (this costs around $11.00 per bottle) and 2 cups water. Spray in tail, main, and coat daily. The Cowboy Magic is great because it creats a high sheen, detangles manes and tails, deep conditions, and it contains no silicon, so it won't dry out the hair. The Infusium 23 will help fix the damage already done to the hair, and it will also detangle it and keep it well conditioned. Both of these products are sort of expensive, but the mixture will last you for about 3 weeks. -Submitted by: Rachel

Small spray bottles (available at most walmart type stores) are a very handy size to fit into your show tote to hold: Fly spray, Show coat spray etc. This way you will leave your main containers behind so they don't get broken or forgotten. -Kara

Liniment can be used to remove grass and manure stains from your horses coat. -Submitted Anonymous

Use Joy soap to clean grime off tack. Take a small sponge and wet it. Put a dab of Joy on it and suds it up. Squeeze out any exess water an wipe over leather. Repeat when sponge gets dry. When finished take lexol, or some other oil, and wipe over it to make the leather soft. -Submitted by Hannah.

For white markings the following procedure works wonders - wash with salty water, then your normal shampoo & conditioner. Use white cover up creme (or chalk) the morning of the show and apply with a toothbrush to get a realistic look (especially on blazes/stars). Rub cornflower in to really brighten up socks - just make sure your horse doesnt rub his head on them!! - Submitted by Avril

When using show seen or any coat shine, make sure your not putting a lot on the horse were the saddle and girth go. It makes your saddle slip! -Submitted Anonymous

Essential for your Show grooming stuff: Baby oil, wet wipes, show sheen, scissors, extra yarn or bands, brushes, clean towl, hoof pick, safety pins, band aids, hoof polish, bic razors, first aid kit, cloth towels, any whiteners you use,.... And of course..with all this grooming to think about don't forget your TACK AND APPAREL!!