Essentials for Successful Show Days

Welcome to show season! Many equestrians have competitive aspirations so they love to attend horse shows, clinics, hunter paces, and more. They all can be an exciting way to showcase your hard work and dedication. From your local series to national competitions, a successful show requires ample preparation, both in and out of the saddle. Keep reading to learn tips and tricks about helpful products that will make your show day experience easier and less stressful.

On the Trailer

Start the day out stress-free with safe transportation to the show. As soon as your horse puts its first foot into the trailer, your show day has begun. By putting a little bit of thought and preparation into your trailering, you can ensure that both you and your horse arrive safely and calmly at the showgrounds, ready to hit the show ring.

Protect your horse from potential injuries by wrapping your horse’s legs. Horses move around in the trailer and can step on themselves. Some equestrians choose to utilize pillow wraps and stable wraps, while others prefer to use shipping boots. The important thing is to make sure that your wraps are applied correctly and that it covers your horse’s sensitive coronary bands. For additional protection, especially if you have a reactive horse or a tall horse, consider using a head bumper or poll guard, such as the Tory Leather Deluxe Head Bumper. 

Horses have evolved to constantly need forage moving through their digestive tracts. Hay nets and feed bags allow your horse to continue snacking as they head down the road. Some horse owners choose to utilize slow feeder hay nets, like The NibbleNet or the Shires Greedy Feeder Hay Net, to extend their horse’s hay rations and ensure that it lasts the duration of the trip. Constantly feeding your horse forage will minimize their risk of developing ulcers and keep them busy while traveling. If you have a nervous or anxious horse, you may want to also consider treating them with an omeprazole-based product like UlcerGard to keep ulcers at bay. Learn more about keeping your horse safe and healthy in the trailer on our blog post, Summer Trailering Precautions. 

Meanwhile, horses that suffer from anxiety may also benefit from a calming supplement to ward off nerves and allow them to focus on the job at hand. These supplements come in both daily feed-through options as well as use-as-needed pastes. Many equestrians prefer calming pastes for horse show days because they are fast-acting and more potent than the daily options. We encourage you to refer to our blog, Keep Your Cool: FAQs About Equine Calming Supplements, to help you select the best calming supplement for your horse and situation.

Help keep your tack clean and protected in your truck or trailer from scrapes and dings with a saddle cover and a bridle bag. Not only do they make transportation easier, but they will also keep your tack safe over the duration of the show day whenever it is not in use. We also carry coordinating garment bags, helmet bags, and boot bags so that you can bring your equipment with you in style.

Horse Show Must-Haves

When it comes to packing for your horse shows, it is essential to be prepared for anything. A horse show checklist makes sure that you are ready for every scenario and have everything that you need on hand. In addition to your tack, clothing, and horse husbandry supplies (including a spare halter and lead rope), here are several additional things that we never leave home without.

In case of emergency, an equine first aid kit can be literally a lifesaver. Look for one that contains ample amounts of wound care products, such as gauze, adhesive bandages, and antibiotic cleansers. It is important to carefully assess the condition of your kit before each horse show and remember to replace products as needed. Additionally, it is a great idea to have a human first aid kit on hand.

Despite what the forecast may say, rain is always a possibility. We recommend keeping a poncho or rain gear in your tack trunk so that you are prepared for whatever the weather may be. The Kelley Equestrian Rain Poncho packs up into a small pocket and makes it convenient for you to bring along. If you will be riding or waiting outside, consider a Saddle Cover to protect your equipment as well. A rain sheet will keep your horse dry while protecting them and your saddle from the elements.

If you are attending a show where you may not have access to water or if you have a horse that is reluctant to drink at shows and only likes the water from home, a water caddy is a convenient way to transport water with you. The High Country Plastics Slant Load 39 Gallon Water Caddy holds enough water to support your horse throughout the day.

Remember to think about your own needs as well! Pack healthy snacks to keep you energized throughout the day. A lunch box or cooler will keep your food cold and safe on even the hottest of days. Staying hydrated is also an important consideration. Make drinking water a pleasure by bringing an insulated tumbler, such as the YETI Steel Rambler Tumbler, which will keep your beverages ice cold all day long. Ward off the harmful rays of the sun and prevent sunburns with sunscreen and even a big sun hat.

Last-Minute Touch-Ups

Before you head into the ring or the show pen, it’s important to do one more once-over to ensure that both you and your horse are looking your best. After all, you only get one chance to make a first impression! As part of your final preparations, you will want to make sure that you and your horse are clean and well-groomed from head to hoof.

Starting with your horse, run a mane and tail brush through your horse’s tail to remove any errant shavings. You will also want to perform a last-minute job with your trusty hoof pick to ensure that no rocks are lodged in your horse’s hooves between the grooming stall and the warm-up ring. We recommend using a soft body brush or grooming wipes, such as the Betty’s Best Skin & Coat Cloth Wipes, to remove the dust which may have accumulated on your horse in the warm-up arena. Any new mud or manure stains can quickly be erased using a waterless shampoo, like the Cowboy Magic GreenSpot Remover. As a final preparation, spritz your horse with fly spray to prevent the pesky biting insects from distracting your horse during competition. The Farnam Dual Defense Insect Repellent for Horse & Rider is a popular option because it can be used on both horses and people. For more information on show ring grooming, we invite you to refer to our blog post, Show Ring Grooming Begins at Home.

You will also want to make sure that you are looking every bit as sharp as your horse. Begin by brushing your helmet, a soft rag works great. For Western riders, a hat lint brush, like the Bickmore Felt Hat Cleaning Sponge, removes lint and dust, while giving your hat a like-new appearance. If possible, have a friend or barn mate dust off your boots with a rag or a sponge. The Effax Speedy Shine Sponge removes the dust and grime from your boots while giving them a show ring-ready shine.

Après-Show Day 

After a hard day of competition, both you and your horse can use pampering in addition to rest and relaxation. To alleviate stiff muscles, consider treating your horse with a liniment brace. These provide temporary relief to muscle soreness and tendon and ligament aches and pains, by offering a cooling effect as the product evaporates. Liniments can also be used to decrease inflammation.

Many equestrians also like to ice their horse’s legs, particularly after a strenuous day, such as cross-country jumping or gymkhana races. Ice boots make this a quick and easy task, helping to decrease swelling and inflammation in your horse’s legs. If you do not have access to a freezer on show day, a pair of cooling wraps, such as the CoolAid Equine Icing and Cooling Hock Wraps and the CoolAid Equine Icing and Cooling Leg Wraps, could be just the ticket. These provide both compression and cooling relief, using only water. They are a great and convenient way to provide your horse with cold therapy on the road.

Additionally, therapeutic blankets and therapeutic leg wraps can help your horse feel comfortable. These products utilize specialized fabrics which reflect your horse’s body heat to them as infrared heat. This helps to decrease pain and inflammation while also increasing circulation and muscle suppleness. Products like the Bucas Recuptex Therapeutic Blanket and the Back on Track Quick Leg Wraps are effective ways to help your horse recuperate overnight.

We know that your horse isn’t the only one who needs a bit of TLC after a long day at the show. Minimize your aches and pains by using a CBD-based pain reliever, such as Medterra CBD Pain Relief Cream, which has been shown to have fast and effective results. Other products like arnica creams, MediNatural T-Relief Gel for example, and liniments for humans, like Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Gel, help to minimize the painful effects of arthritis, muscle pain, and joint pain.  For a bit of extra pampering, consider using a Back on Track Mini Blanket on the seat of the truck; it will help to minimize back pain and hip pain as you head home.

With a bit of preparation and the right products, horse showing can be a fun experience, where you can spend time with your friends, family, and barn mates (as well as your horse!). Do you have tips and tricks for show days? We would love to hear them! Share them in the comments below.

At The Cheshire Horse, we have everything that you need to make this show season a success! If you have any questions about the products that we carry or would like assistance making your purchase, we encourage you to reach out to our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff. As active equestrians, we love to share our favorite products with you and explain how they have benefited our personal horses.