Let’s ask a Competitor: What is your grooming routine when preparing for a Western Dressage Event?

Written by Teresa

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Beth Noble is a western dressage competitor from Western Australia who regularly shows her Australian Quarter Horse gelding EEC Its All Good in Basic and Level One at her local Western Dressage events. Together Beth and Dodge show at Standard and Championship level shows as well as their annual State Show. Beth also owns and runs the popular Nags To Riches Equestrian brand of horse presentation products.

Beth kindly took the time to answer some of my questions about horse grooming presentation for a Western Dressage event. Take a look at her grooming tips.

Question #1: Why do you feel it is important to present your horse well at a Western Dressage Event (or any horse event)?

Whilst there are no points for presentation in Western Dressage, first impressions matter and presenting yourself and your horse well is a great way to show the judge that you’re here to be noticed and that you take pride in your horse and what you are doing.
The horse’s coat is the first thing you notice when you look at a horse, so having it in tip top condition is important.

Question #2: How far in advance of the event should you start preparing your horse?

To have a horse’s coat in tip top condition you need to work on it all the time, or at least for a few weeks before the event, not just the day before.

Personally, I use the HSE Hot Oil Coat Conditioner mixed as a grooming spray every time I groom my horses. It is a deep conditioning and moisturizing treatment for the hair and skin, and it’s packed full of ingredients that can be absorbed by the skin and hair.

Question #3: Are all horse products made equal?

The short answer is no. The types and quality of the ingredients is what differentiates grooming products. For example, products that contain mineral oil or cheap silicones won’t be as beneficial as products that contain ingredients that can be absorbed by the skin and hair.

Question #4: How do you take care of the mane and tail?

Keeping the mane and tail clean, conditioned and knot free is important. Whilst I am not a fan of washing my horses any more than absolutely necessary, I do wash their manes and tails as needed. You’ll be able to feel when the hair is in need of a wash. I love the Eziwash EQ shampoo range. It’s an absolute game changer for washing horses - it’s a sprayable range and it’s amazing how little product you use, how well it cleans and rinses and how shiny it leaves your horse. Finish off with the HSE Liquid Silk which is a detangling and shine serum or spray.

Keeping the mane and tail clean and knot free helps to stop rubbing out or hairs being pulled out. Clean manes and tails are particularly important in winter when my horse is wearing warmer rugs as anything on the mane can potentially rub the hair, and dirty hair will always rub worse.

Beth Noble & EEC Its All Good

Keeping the mane and tail clean and knot free helps to stop rubbing out or hairs being pulled out.

Question #5: What is your routine the day before the event?

The day before an event I like to wash my horse with the Eziwash EQ Shampoo, condition the mane and tail with HSE Intensify Conditioner and spray him all over with the HSE Showtime Amplify Oil mixed with water in a spray bottle. It is similar to the HSE Hot Oil but with a few extra ingredients for that extra show day shine.

Then I pop some appropriate rugs on him to keep him clean.

Question #6: What are the final touches you apply on show day?

The day of the show is all about finishing touches. Depending on the horse I may use a false tail, so that gets popped in. I spray the mane and tail with HSE Glass Coat Laminator, and I polish it in with a polishing brush or mitt. Then if I have time or I am feeling fancy I might add a little clear makeup over the eyes and muzzle to make them stand out a bit more and finish him off. I don’t like an over-the-top look and it’s not really appropriate for Western Dressage so I don’t use a lot.

Then it’s a final check of myself to make sure I am clean and tidy and off we go.

Question #7: Most useful tip?

The HSE Hot Oil really is my main trick of the trade for amazing coats on my horses. By having my horses’ coats look amazing all year round makes the show day prep very quick and easy.