Start With the Schedule, Not the Shampoo

It is tempting to begin show preparation with a bucket of warm water and a bottle of whitening shampoo, but the calmest and most successful exhibitors start with the schedule instead. Read it properly before you enter anything. Check the class definitions, the age or height restrictions, whether the class is in-hand or ridden, and whether the judge is looking for a hunter, a riding horse, a mountain and moorland pony or a family pony. Entering the wrong class is the quickest way to waste an entry fee and unsettle a young horse.

Confirm the practical details too. Note the closing date for entries, the start time of your ring, and any paperwork the organiser requires. Most venues will ask to see your horse's passport, and many insist on up-to-date equine influenza vaccinations, so check the vaccination page well in advance rather than the night before. Check that your hat meets current safety standards for ridden classes and that your rider's insurance and body protector, where required, are in order.

Build Fitness and Condition in the Weeks Before

A local show is not a three-day event, but a horse that is fit and well-muscled will cope with the day far better than one that has been resting in a field. Aim for four to six weeks of consistent work before the show, gradually increasing from walk and steady trot to short bursts of canter. Twenty to thirty minutes of purposeful riding four or five times a week is usually plenty for showing classes, and hill work will build the topline and hindquarter muscle that judges like to see.

Sort out the practicalities early:

• Book the farrier two to three weeks before the show so hooves have time to settle, and ask for a neat, balanced trim or a fresh set of shoes.
• Keep up with worming and check that your horse is in the correct condition — not fat, not tucked up — and adjust hard feed and hay accordingly.
• Arrange a dental check if your horse has been quidding or losing condition, and speak to your vet about any niggling lameness before it becomes a reason to withdraw.
• Practise loading the trailer or lorry in short, calm sessions so travelling is not a battle on the morning itself.

Daily grooming pays dividends. It keeps the skin healthy, gets the horse used to being handled all over, and means there is far less to do on show day.

Plan the Turnout Before the Day

Turnout should suit the type of horse and the class entered. A native pony in a mountain and moorland class is shown naturally, whereas a hunter is traditionally plaited and trimmed. Decide on your approach a fortnight ahead so nothing is rushed.

Plaiting is best practised well before the show. If your horse has never been plaited, do a few at a time over several days and reward patience. Manes should be pulled or trimmed to a sensible length the week before, not the night before, and tails banged to a neat length. Whiskers, ear tufts and jawline can be tidied as appropriate to the breed. Legs are usually left unclipped for showing, but heels and fetlocks should be clean.

Clean your tack properly — strip it down, wash the leather, clean the stitching and polish the metal. Check every strap for wear and make sure the bit and bridle fit. Have a spare set of reins and a spare hat, and prepare a small repair kit with plaiting bands, thread, needle, scissors, hoof oil and a stain remover. Pack a smart, well-fitted numnah or saddle cloth that sits neatly under the saddle rather than bunching up.

Practise Ringcraft at Home

Ringcraft is a skill, and it is learned at home. Set out a few markers in the school and rehearse the movements you will be asked for in your class. In-hand horses should walk away from the judge and trot back on a loose rein, standing square and walking out briskly beside the handler. Ridden horses should be able to walk, trot, canter and give a short individual show on both reins, halt promptly and stand still.

Teach your horse to stand quietly while a stranger walks around it, and get a friend to run their hands lightly down the neck and legs as a judge would. Practise trotting up in hand in a straight line, with the handler at the shoulder rather than in front. Ten minutes of ringcraft three or four times a week is far more effective than one long session. Finish every session on a good note and never carry on until the horse is tired and resentful.

The Day Before and the Morning Of

Bath your horse the day before, not on the morning. A thorough wash, followed by a rinse that removes every trace of shampoo, gives the coat time to settle and the natural oils to return. Use a stain remover for any stubborn grass or stable stains, and band or bag the tail to keep it clean overnight. Plait in the evening if your horse will tolerate it, or early on the morning of the show if it prefers to be fresh.

Pack the lorry or trailer the night before. Take hay and water from home, a spare bucket, a haynet, a grooming kit, a sweat scraper, a cooler rug, a first aid kit, your passport, your entry confirmation and your hat. Load a couple of spare rugs in case the weather turns. Allow more time than you think you need on the day — arriving flustered is far worse for your horse than arriving early.

In the Collecting Ring and Beyond

Warm up calmly and sensibly, keeping out of other riders' way and staying aware of what is happening around you. Keep your horse listening and relaxed rather than galloping about for twenty minutes. Go into the ring with a plan, ride positively, and accept that local showing is a learning experience for both of you. If the day does not go to plan, finish on a quiet, positive note and take the lesson home. There is always another show, and a horse that trusts its handler is worth far more than a rosette.