--Showing Tips-- So What do We Feed? Fitting a Show Halter. Braiding with Ribbon. Bad Harness. Modern ShetlandTail Exercise Daily. Clipping for Shows. Its all in the Gel. Park Harness Tails. Fancy Turnout Bridle Path Length. Polishing Hoofs. No Slinkies! Eyes & Nose.	Training/Handling Having much success in the show ring with their own horses, Laurie was hired by Daleo's Miniature Horse Farm to fit and show their horses. Since then, she has had the opportunity to fit and show many miniatures and shetlands for clients and also catch handle at local, regional and the national shows. 98% of our Client horses have earned their HOF within 1 show season. On a National Level - National Grand Championships, (driving & halter), numerous National Championships, Reserve National Championships, and hundreds of Top Tens. With Laurie working full time and showing their own horses, Laurie is only able to accept one or two horses for outside clients during the show year. Our training practices are safe, our 8 acre facility includes a 60' solid steel round pen, 100'x55' indoor arena, walker, and treadmill. Thirty covered 8x10 stalls with runs. Horse are turned to pasture weekly. Our fees are reasonable. Evaluation of your horse and your goals is a must. References Available. Also available for Clinics. Email Us for More Information. Links to X-tra Special Friends and also Some Past Clients whose Ponies we have Led and Drove into the Show Ring Bended Knee Miniatures Dial by Design Doubleday Farm Lilac Meadows Mini Persuasions Farm Magic Mist Miniatures NJ Pony Farm Outlaw Miniatures	From Miniature - to Shetland -- From Halter - to Driving - From Local Shows - to Nationals -
News | Ancestry | Stallions | Mares | Geldings | For Sale | Training | Home | LVGFX | Email | Copyright 1989-2012 Pheasant Run Stables' This site was created and is maintained by LVGFX All rights reserved.

Showing, Conditioning - Do's and Don'ts - (will be adding photos soon) -

DISCLAIMER: Remember - This is what "I" do for my horses, this does not necessarily mean it will work for you or your horses. These are also things that "I" have learned along the way from various talented horse people and trainers. If you ask 10 people the same question about horses, generally you will get 10 different answers - this doesn't mean any one of them are wrong - this is just what works for them. The more you listen and watch, or read and learn, the better a horseperson you will become. Soak it all in and do what works for YOU.  ALWAYS Consult your Veterinarian when changing your feeding program, administering wormer, and vaccinations.

--What Do We Feed--

Not rocket science - always READ the manufacturers directions (yes feed is labeled with directions). We feed an average of 1% of the horses' total body weight in grain - grain - ONCE a day. Pregnant-Lactating mares get a bit more, as the same with breeding stallions. Soaked Beet Pulp will make up 45% of our horses grain diet, the other 55% is a combination of Omelene 100, Equine Jr, and Crimped Oats. We also add Stongid-C daily, a salt block is available in their paddocks. When taking grain on the road to shows we add a pinch of salt to their grain-and still soaking beet pulp at the shows. Our horses wether at home or at shows are also fed good timothy GRASS in the morning and at night, 1 to 2 lbs per serving (again depending on body weight). In the summer months our horses (non-show) maybe put to pasture for an hour or two - when this occurs they only get HALF of their hay ration at night. Remember all horses are different - like people they have a different rate of metabolism - watch their weight and add or cut back accordingly. Why do we feed beet pulp? Helps put weight on their backs without adding weight to their bellies. Gets our show horses used to drinking water away from home that may be different tasting - since we are soaking the beet pulp with the local water source.

--Fitting a Show Halter for Conformation Halter Classes--

Find a halter that FITS your horses face type. A thin nose band on a long nosed horse will just make their nose look longer. A thicker nose band will break up the noses length. A thick nose band on a very short nosed horse will make it look shorter and thicker. Pick a color that flatters the horse. The judge will remember a pretty horse as well as try to forget an awful neon pink show halter. The sides of the halter need to come BELOW the horses cheek bones by 1/2 inch to 1 inch - not any longer or shorter. Make sure the sides come 1/2 way around the horses nose - any longer and the halter is too big -- and shorter and the halter is too small.

--Braiding with Ribbon--

OK - so now the rules say your horse can wear ribbon in their forelock and 1st part of the mane in driving classes. You will need to make sure you have clipped your forelock properly as to not have a bulky huge bulge of hair to braid. I generally go for 1 inch square or 1/2 inch square of hair. Start with 3 stripes of ribbons, cut them at least 3 to 4 times longer than where you want it to end. What looks nice is two ribbons the same color - one a contrasting color. Either a helper holding the ribbon at the top, or surgical clamp, or a rubber band keeping the ribbon snug and to the very very top of the hair. Start braiding. Make sure you have split the hair up equally and small enough so that the ribbons are showing more so then the hair, if your ribbon is wide enough, and you started with just enough hair - you can trap that into the ribbon itself. Braid all the way down near to the end. 2 inches from the bottom, wrap another rubber band around the end. Fold the ribbon in half and cut an upside down "V" on each of all the ends. Do the same braid with the smallest amount of mane right where your bridle path has ended.

--Bad Harness--

Make sure your harness fits correctly. Most accidents happen because the harness is not properly fitting the horse. Breast Collar - should not be choking off your horses wind pipe (too high), nor down around his chest (too low). Make sure this is placed right where the neck comes out of the chest. Saddle - should be sitting right up a bit behind the withers. Saddle girth - should not be hanging loose, nor so tight your hand can not fit through. Crupper - this little guy must be snug up under the tail - make sure you have gotten all the tail hairs out the way - this does not just hang there - but fits snugly- and don't adjust the crupper strap so tight that you can create harp sounds with the strap to the saddle. This should be taught but not where your raising up the horses' tail with it. Wrap straps - these need to be made of leather - if you got biothane take it off and get leather wrap straps. Again make sure these are adjusted properly and snug - not lose, nor over tightened. Shaft Loops - these need to be adjusted to the cart shafts run even with the breast collar and tugs - not LOWER (all your weight is now on your horse), if you get in and they are lower - buckle them up a notch. Shafts...these DO NOT extend beyond the horses shoulder. The horse also needs room to move out - don't hitch up and pull your horses' rear end right up to the cart. Blinders need to be adjusted and should not be sitting on your horses eyes or blocking their ability to look forward. They are there to not let them see behind them. Always use a cavesson that is not connected to the bridle. Bit should fit correctly and be a non-pinch bit. Horses' conformation and skill level will depend on whether you use and overcheck (holds up and out) or a side check (holds up and in). I do not use a running martingale. I personally feel this prevents the ability of the check rein to work properly and interferes with my use of the reins.

--Exercise Daily--

Why are your horses in shape? Have muscle definition? Have stamina? They are exercised DAILY. No we don't do the same thing day in and day out. They are free lunged in our 60' round pen, they are lunged on a lunge line, they are put on a walker, they some times get 15 minutes on the treadmill, and most importantly - they are given time to run in pasture and just be a horse.

--Clipping for Shows--

I clip the entire horse a week out before a show. #15 blade top to bottom. Day before the show, I use #50 blade on their nose, below their faces up to the cheek, above their eyes, inside their ears, bridle path, I make a box around their forelock and try not to shave it all off - but just enough to gel, fetlocks and hairs on their cornet band. I use a #30 and #40 blade on their faces to blend the #50 from their noses up and accentuate the muscles/bone structure on their faces.  Blend Blend Blend. I do not clip off their eyelashes. I only razor when necessary, not at all the shows I attend -- this generally will depend on the competition and the other trainers' present and whether or not they are planning to razor. We always razor at the National shows and sometimes twice if the horse is showing early and then later in the week. When we do razor - we only do above the eye to give them a larger look, and with the nose we like the look as if they horse just dipped its nose in water - we do not razor up to the show halter - we want a natural appearance.

--Its all in the Gel--

Gel Gel. I use Fructose (green tube - clear gel) brand gel. On their forelocks I generally goop them so they hang together and straight down the face. I like the forelock down the center of the face. I do clip off most of their forelock, maybe leaving 1/2 inch square to gel after clipping. I also will use this on their manes to help hold down and keep off the shoulder so the judge can see the horses shoulder on both sides. I will also use a bit on the top of the tail to help manage any wild and crazy tail hairs. I do not wrap my horses tails, nor keep them braided 24/7. They only get french braided after the bath and are not done up again after they have shown in their halter class.

--Park Harness Tail/Modern Shetland Tail Set-up--

Now they make the rule that minis can have pookie up tails like the big fancy moderns, but no one is making these, and you can't just buy them....luckily as of 2005 Dale Lutke of Lutke Harness IS making the cruppers ($95-no hair included).(I did buy one at Nationals, but haven't tried it yet)...however in 2003 and 2004 I had made and shown in my own. I took a crupper, attached a sturdy wire to the top with zippie ties.....shaped it....purchased a ladies straight hair fall on a clip to match the horses' tail and waalaa - a Modern tail! (cost was $75 for the ladies hair piece). I did use some spray adhesive to lightly spray the ladies hair to the horse's tail - so they didn't separate while driving. Below is a sequence for attaching a false tail. #1 shows the crupper on, with the two wire prongs; #2 is attaching the hook over inside the prongs; #3 shows it hooked ready for the tail; #4 attaching the tail (which is secured to the piece with shoe laces-often too an empty soda can in placed and tied inside for more stability; #5 shows the complete tail set up.

--Fancy Turnout--

So here is a class you don't see everyday-Fancy Turnout. Since the 50s the ASPC has had this class. Usually/generally this class is offered at the Shetland Pony Congress, World Show, and Mini Nationals. If you look in the ASPC/AMHR Rule Book, this class does have definite rules, and is listed under the Modern Shetland Performance Division-it is a Park harness type class for the mini exhibitor. 50% of the class is judged on "children's attire" - it is a class for the youth. Participants" is one girl and one boy 14 years of age or younger. To be shown in a viceroy. Mares & Geldings only. Specific attire is required for an afternoon class and entirely different attire for an evening class. Below are two photos - one shows the "complete" picture of an evening participant. The other is a photo of the "hoop" wire frame which is fastened to the viceroy, which the young ladies' skirt shall attach to. The skirt itself is attached separately to the hoop frame and the young lady is placed "into" it. The best idea I have seen is this entire frame is fitted to a "false seat", as not to be bolting this to your actually buggy. It is also tradition that the young lady give her gentleman a kiss upon the placing of the class.

--Bridle Path Length--

Is it an ears length? NOT. Although I know some that go with this horseman's rule of thumb.....what you really want to do is SHOW OFF your horses' neck. OK so some may not want to show off their necks.....you need to clip your bridle path to accentuate the beauty of your horses neck. Some look good short - some look better longer......and don't worry....IT GROWS BACK! Take a little off - step back and LOOK.  

--Polishing Hoofs--

Why is there horses' hooves shinier? Well first you need to start with a healthy hoof. Good farrier maintenance and feed is must. Find a good farrier. Please don't trim them so they look like elves feet - they are not elves they are horses and should have a ROUND hoof appearance and they need a heel! I sand them with a palm sander. This keeps the hoof wall flat and uniform and at one plane even surface. I do not take off very much hoof wall. Doing this can harm your horses feet - and a little goes along way. I then use the Farnam's Hoof Black. Paint their feet (including the heel) and let them dry thoroughly. Once dry I spray them with Hoof Polish Enhancer (or hair spray). On the way out the stall before going in the gate I check them - touch up and re-spray with the polish enhancer. I also know Arab trainers that rub conditioner on their feet.  Then only use black shoe polish and buff them out like patent leather shoes. White feet-- I only spray with Polish Enhancer and use no black on their feet UNLESS - still have a yellowish tinge to them - nothing looks worse than yellow tinge on white feet.

--No Slinkies!--

Sorry I don't use them. Not even on my WHITE horses. (Cowboy Magic!) I bath my horses (with ivory soap no less)...ShowSheen them entirely..let them dry COMPLETELY...french braid their tails (no tail bag)....and put them in their stalls with some chow. Guess what? They don't roll! They don't spend all night trying to get that itchy thing OFF. Took me years of buying and repairing slinkies by the dozen to finally figure out -they don't like wearing them! Before their class.....I blow them off with a vac N blow. I will use a wet cloth on the black/dark horses followed by show sheen. The white spots that may get a spot of manure - Cowboy Magic = Happy Show Horses!

-- Eyes & Nose --

Doing a good job with your #50 blade is important for the top lid of the eye and nose. Make sure the eyes have been done evenly and very much look the same - one not being smaller or bigger than the other.  Right before you head into the gate - BABY OIL GEL.  Above the eye and on the nose.  If you have a white horse - well NO GEL - would be the rule.