How to Groom a Horse for Show Jumping

Early Preparations

• 1

  Bathe your horse to wash off any dirt, bodily fluids and grunge that may be clogging your horse's coat a few hours before your competition. This also gives you a great opportunity to wash your horse's mane and tail. This is especially important if your horse tends to lay down in its stall, or if your horse is gray.

• 2

  Use a deep-cleaning shampoo that is enriched with coat enhancers to bathe your horse. In order to penetrate the coat, use a scrubbing mitt or your curry comb in a circular motion over your horse's entire body. But be sure not to use a curry comb below the knees.

• 3

  Wash your horse's mane and tail thoroughly. The dock of the tail is especially important because it can store worms, pinworms especially. And if your horse's mane is not washed thoroughly, it will fail to lie properly on the horse's neck once dry.

• 4

  Rinse all shampoo out of your horse's coat. Apply a deep conditioner to your horse's mane and tail. This will help reduce frizz in the mane and give your horse's tail a healthy glow. Let the conditioner sit for five to 10 minutes, then rinse. You can use that time to scrub body markings, such as white socks and blazes.

• 5

  Scrape off excess water with your sweat scraper. Spray Show Sheen in the mane, tail and body of your horse, except where your saddle and girth will be placed. If you apply Show Sheen to these areas, your saddle and girth will slide around while you compete and could cost you a class. Tie your horse up in its stall to prevent rolling. Wait for the horse to dry.

Grooming Before the Competition

• 6

  Groom your horse before your class begins. Start with your curry comb, making circular motions all over your horse's body, except below the knees. The curry comb will bring up any dirt that might still be in the coat.

• 7

  Use your dandy brush to brush in the direction of the fur in short, quick motions. These motions should apply enough pressure to pull up any remaining dirt. You can use this brush below the knees.

• 8

  Comb your horse's mane down flat. If there are uneven sections or the mane has become too thick and overgrown, you will have to pull the mane. Take the longer sections, wrap around the comb, and tug down, essentially pulling those strands out of the mane altogether. If only a small amount of mane maintenance is required, use your scissors to trim the mane so that it lies flat and is straight. The object is for the mane to look as neat as possible.

• 9

  Take your finishing brush, or soft brush, and give your horse's coat a once-over in long, smooth strokes in the direction of the fur. Brush the entire body with the finishing brush, which is perfect for your horse's head.

• 10

  Brush your horse's tail. It is better if you grab the tail beneath the bone in order to prevent pulling it. Once you have the tail in hand, brush the remainder. If the tail is looking messy, you can give it a European-style crop. Cut with your scissors straight across the tail so that it lies on the back end of the hocks. Give a final spray of Show Sheen on the tail for extra shine.

Finishing Touches

• 11

  Take your horse out of its stall, if you haven't already. This will prevent shavings and dirt from attaching to your horse. Pick your horse's feet with your hoof pick. Use the brush on the other end of the hoof pick to brush the inside of the hoof clean, and be sure to pick everything around the frog out. Brush the outer surface of the hoof, then apply hoof polish.

• 12

  Tack up your horse so that your saddle, girth and martingale are in their proper places. Take a towel, spray Show Sheen directly onto the fabric and wipe down the remaining areas of your horse. Use the towel to lay down the mane as well.

• 13

  Apply aerosol fly spray. This will give the coat an extra sheen. Now you're ready to enter the show ring, confident that your horse is well-groomed.