What does a normal show routine look like for you in the Midwest during summertime? What products do you love/can’t live without to keep your horse feeling it’s best?
Has anybody used Velocity? Welltex products? Liniment baths/rub downs? Do you wrap legs? Pack hooves with Magic Cushion? What does a normal show day routine look like for your horse to keep them feeling their best?
The only product that I consistently use at every Midwest summer horse show is flick’s fly spray. At least in my experience, it’s been the best at somewhat keeping the bugs at bay. 
Outside of that, the products that I use are dependent on what the schedule is like, how the footing is, how well or poorly my horse’s stomach is reacting to the show hay, etc.
For a general schedule though, I like to get my green bean out of the stall at least 3 times a day when we are at a show. Typically 2 long walks/grazings and 1 ride.
4 Likes
I think the biggest thing you can do is get your horse out of the stall. I like to tack walk/very lightly hack in the very early morning and do my best to hand walk/graze a minimum of an hour daily on top of that, spread out across a few walks through the day. Full haynet 24/7. Pack feet if the ground is hard. I used to do sore no more gel on the legs but I’m not sure if it does a lot more than make my hands smell nice. Prefer no bandages - I think judiciously applied ice boots, cold hose or a Game Ready do way more. Think about how the top human athletes recover - they’re going to eat well and make sure they move around a little bit.
9 Likes
I’m in the midwest and agree that hand walking/grazing is a big part of my horse’s day. After our ride, I also have IceVibe boots with extra gel liners, so I ice/buzz all 4 legs. (I do this most days that I ride him year-round).
full hay net and plenty of bedding are essential. I see many horses with not nearly enough bedding in their stalls. I usually start with 5 bags for a 10’ square stall and sometimes add another halfway through the show. I can tell my horse appreciates it based on the shavings in his tail!
I also take toys for him because he enjoys them (usually a Likit, molasses flavor), and stall guards so he can stick his head out and get attention. He’s a ham and absolutely loves shows and being the center of attention all day!
He abhors being braided, so I redo his braids as close as possible to my ride times daily, and they come out right after.
6 Likes
This. And a halter walk with a lot of grazing. That seems to help them relax after 10 or 15 minutes.
I make it a sightseeing tour as well. It’s ironic, but think about what your horse gets to see of the show grounds. Even the arenas. Horses like to feel that they know their surrounding landscape, but at shows, they may not get to see anything but the path to warm-up, and from warm-up to the show ring.
Especially the greener horses may be a bit skittish when they first get to walk around just to see things. Everything could be hiding wolves, panthers! But finding a place that they can graze a bit, especially near a ring they will be ridden in, can help them relax and decide that none of the surrounding are that important.
Anyone who can lead a horse can take them for a grazing walk, as long as they can do it safely. So it’s also a good way to get someone who is accompanying the group, but maybe not riding, included in a way that they will feel is meaningful but not that demanding. People like the feeling that they are making friends with an animal on a led walk.
6 Likes
This is essential, I agree! I always bed very deep because I want my guys to lay down and get some good rest, which can be very hard in a busy, strange environment. It seems to work- the shavings in the tail are always a good sign!
I like to have a regular hay net and one stuffed with alfalfa, too, when we are on the road (and at home, actually). Alfalfa is so good for their stomach. My younger guy had some ulcer issues and is now on Relyne as a daily preventative, so he’s good, but I like to give my older guy Outlast for his gut.
1 Like
I go overboard on the shavings. For a Fri-Sunday show weekend ( 2 nights) I do 10-12 bags of Shavings. It’s a 12x12 cement walled clay bottomed stall. So I bed deep and then bank the sides. I also do 4 days of gastroguard or is it ulcerguard ? Hand walk. Ride around the grounds every morning. Most of my classes are late afternoon. So I walk. Then leisurely ride … WTC to knock the cobwebs off. Then wash ( he’s grey. Always needs de pooped ! Relax. A crap ton of free choice netted alfalfa and straight Timothy hay.
2 Likes
I’m curious, on the bedding topic, does anyone here use the stall mats that look like wresting mats? Like these, although I’ve seen a variety of similar brands:
https://kandnequinesolutions.com/product/signature-stall-mats/
In theory, they seem like a portable solution for concrete stalls - but I wonder if they’re acting like a sure foot pad (except they’re on them all week/weekend)?
1 Like
Start by picking a venue that has good, large stalls. I have a larger horse who likes to sleep laying down for long stints, so we make sure he’s very comfy. We also keep it as similar a set up to home as possible–hay all day, same feed, electrolytes, lick-it toy that’s his version of a pacifier, etc.
Apart from morning hacks (which are a great barometer for how a horse is feeling on the day and what it needs), we make sure to do handwalks or tackwalks depending on the venue and the weather. I usually like to break it up into a couple 30 min walks throughout the day. If it’s outdoors and weather is nice, there’s at least an hour grazing break in there.
@fordtraktor I have the icevibe boots for all 4 legs, too! I really like them, as does my horse. He falls asleep when they’re on 
We just got a Bemer blanket for the barn. I have no idea what my sentiments are about it, but the horses seem to really like it. Mine falls asleep with it on and going.
We do ulcerguard as a preventative measure. If we’re gone for two weeks, he gets massage in between those weeks. Also, I’m sure some folks out there won’t agree with this, but I’m not opposed to NSAIDs if it seems necessary for any horse that seems sore (they hit a fence weird; it was a long two weeks; older horse; etc). Like most things, use discerningly and in moderation.
7 Likes
Same here. I don’t like them as a default given to every horse in the barn - but I mean come on, I take Advil at shows myself! 30 minute handwalks don’t compare to the 24/7 turnout my horses get, so appropriately dosed NSAIDs at a show doesn’t bother me.
We pack feet starting day 2, ice or cold hose after jumping, and I like to liniment, poultice and wrap, even if it’s just for my own sake and to keep legs clean 
. Poultice washes off, poop stains don’t.
I bed deep and honestly cart my horse around like a dog - if I’m running to check rings or watch someone go I’ll take a horse along. It gets them out and walking, and they get to see the sights and sounds. I also have horses that like to be involved, so they seem to enjoy watching the warmup rings.
Ulcergard and/or sucralfate, unlimited hay, and wet feed.
5 Likes
I am legit on NSAIDs every day of a show if I’m doing all my own work and not full service 
Same approach at home as well. Like if a horse is sore and you know why, don’t just let them be in pain; help them out. It’s part of recovery routine. 
7 Likes
If I’m taking Advil, there will be times that my horse would likely appreciate a moderate dose of NSAIDs. Fair is fair.
Same.
The pain isn’t helping anything. They deserve to be comfortable. IMO.
4 Likes
Does anyone feed Purina Replenimash or something similar as a “treat/dessert”?
I got a sample that I gave my horse after a 6-mile trail ride that was off-property (and he was the perfect gentleman for his first time doing anything like that!), but I haven’t been to a show with him/experienced how it might affect him off property in a performance setting.
Also following along for tips for ice boots - my barn doesn’t have a freezer both at shows and at home, so I’m really looking for creative ideas to keep them cold! Can I throw them in my Emotional Support Beverage Cooler and get near the same results?
2 Likes
I have a plug in car refrigerator (Euhomy) that can get well below freezing. If I end up needing ice boots it is going to be an awesome addition! Has been a glorified cooler for my drinks and snacks so far. Can be plugged in to a regular outlet or plug in the car auxiliary outlet.
1 Like
I have a separate smallish soft cooler. I take them to the hotel at night and fill the cooler with ice from the ice machine in the morning on the way out. It keeps the ice all day.
I would not want them in the same cooler as my food, both because they can get a little dirty and I don’t want turkey deli meat germs on them!
2 Likes
I love the EQU Streamz magnetic bands. I bought my first set years ago for a horse that is prone to stocking up when we have to stall for a weekend show (despite frequent hand walking) and these dumb little things work. So now I have a set for every horse. I love that they can have them on even in the heat of summer.
So if I could pick one “hack” for summer shows, it would be that! I use them anytime I trailer or they are going to be tied to the trailer for any length of time, or stuck in a stall at a show.
I really hate that in so many cases, it is not possible to simply look at a webpage for a product without agreeing to allow cookies to be placed on my computer to ‘update your marketing preferences’, or some such. The “accept all” or “reject all” choice has closed off a lot of information. No cookies are necessary to simply view a page.
5 Likes
