Tips and Tricks of the Trade is an article series that gives you the industry secrets from the best grooms in the country, and it is brought to you by Athletux.
At any show impeccable turnout is essential. From your tack to the braids to the sheen of your horse’s coat, how you present yourself and your horse makes a lasting impression. Want to up your game? Make a note of the three things world-class groom Kathleen Murray wouldn’t head to a show without:
Kathleen and Ballynoe Castle RM. Photo via BDJ's Facebook Page.
My Quarter Mark Brush - A good quatermark finishes your look, and you want it to last. It all starts with your brush. You want a brush with very stiff, short bristles. My favorite is the Haas Kinderwurzel brush.
Witch Hazel – Traveling from show to show means new stalls, shavings and places to roll! This also means the word we all dread: hives. Worry not, witch hazel can save the day. I keep a spray bottle of witch hazel and mist it over the horses in their daily grooming to keep skin problems at bay.
Braiding Kit – Stand out braids start with the right tools. Compile a kit, and leave it in your trailer so you’re prepared at all times. Here’s what I always include:
Whether you’re at a schooling show or riding down the centerline at Rolex, turnout is of the upmost importance, and the right tools make all the difference! Happy showing!
What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.
Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.
As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.
There is so much more to proper grooming than keeping your horse picture-perfect for the horse inspection. Good grooming practices are critical to proper horse management, no matter if you are planning for your next FEI appearance or your Starter level debut. To help you maximize your knowledge of grooming practices, we opened up the opportunity for USEA members to submit any questions they might have on our Instagram and Facebook stories. In this week's episode, Host Nicole Brown sits down with three of the highest-regarded grooms in this industry, Max Corcoran, Emma Ford, and Stephanie Simpson, and asks them all of your questions and more to help you perfect the art of grooming.