Shiny Happy Horses- Horse Care Blog | Lucky Braids for Top Turnout

Shiny Happy Horses

June 30, 2022

0 Comments


How-to For Stain-Free & EASY to Groom Greys

People always ask me how I get Henry so sparkly white. Truth be told, there is no keeping this over sized piggy from his beloved mud, and I don’t have a magic trick… but I do have something close. I used to scrub Henry on almost a daily basis with purple shampoo, only to find him covered in stains that wouldn’t...

Continue Reading >

October 22, 2014

0 Comments


Horse Resists Clipping?

Learn How To Help Your Horse Accept  Clippers

Clipping can be comfy.  Many people inadvertently teach horses to dislike being body clipped...

Continue Reading >

October 06, 2014

0 Comments


Is That Horse Body Clipped??!

Waiting for Scores

YES!!! Freshly clipped and SHINY!!!

I get a lot of questions about Body Clipping. This image was taken last week. The horse had its FIRST CLIP of the fall a week earlier. Does the coat look ruined??? That is great grooming. It's a HIGH COMPLIMENT is when someone asks, “Is that horse clipped?

This horse gets groomed vigorously daily, before and after work.  This keeps the hair fine.  Currying exfoliates and stimulates oils.  Grooming pulls natural protective oils down the hair shafts, to close the end.  That is why this horse does not have the wire brush look.  Instead, he looks like satin!

The Ace of Spades Treatment

Normally, Ace of Spades is bathed once a week, sometimes more often. He also got a soap bath before and after clipping. The barn only uses the shampoo that instead of stripping the coat, actually enhances natural oils: This Lucky Braids shampoo is all you need to achieve that great coat.

This TopTurnout Salute goes out to the great groom Martha Briseno and all of Snowbrook with trainer Kimberly Prince. Their horses are always meticulously managed.

I just love to honor and celebrate EXCELLENCE in HORSEMANSHIP!

~Ruthann


 

October 02, 2014

0 Comments


The Painted-On Look

Painted-On Look

Amanda Steege's Top Turnout

We call this the PAINTED-ON LOOK. People talk about numbers of braids. A great braider knows what's REALLY important is that the:

  • Bottomline of the mane is perfectly straight.
  • Mane braids are sized so they sit well on the neck.
  • Cheat the angle so braids are longer toward the poll than the withers, and the neck looks rounder.
  • Maintain a really uniform and/or gradual visual rhythm to the braids and they carry your eye down the neck.
  • Braids are comfortable and sturdy. Braids that look painted-on won’t jiggle to distract the eye, nor go askew with scrubbing crest releases.

This is a topnotch braid job by Jeff Claxton, is yet another way Amanda Steege distinguishes herself and Ashmeadow Farm for *EXCELLENCE IN HORSEMANSHIP.* Consider this another Top Turnout Salute!

Braid like a pro

If you want to braid like this, lots of tips are posted in the Grooming Resource of this site.  Get the formula down and your manes can look like this every time.  I suspect this took about 35 minutes. Here's how to learn to braid like a pro.

Enjoy,
Ruthann

*This grey is SHINING IN THE DARK for Lucky Braids All-In-One Shampoo.