Archive for October, 2010

We all know what it’s like to stand on the rail at a horse show and ogle the fine specimens before us.  After all a horse show is one of the few places where you cannot only count on seeing impressive performances but also impeccably turned out horses. In fact it doesn’t matter what discipline you participate in – good turnout never goes out of style (and every horse can look like a winner with a solid pre-show grooming routine.)  Have you ever wondered what it takes to take your horse from shaggy pasture ornament to red carpet ready?  Let me walk you through my deceptively easy, eco-friendly makeover that will turn heads in or out of the ring!

Step 1:  Prep-work

You may be surprised to find that the first step in this makeover doesn’t include a hose!  I’m all for a good bath, but before I drench my horse I like to do a little leg work first to save myself precious energy (and valuable tail hairs!) 

I’ve learned the hard way that if you have dirt, burrs, shavings etc. in your horses mane or tail before you get it wet, there is a good chance it will be there after you get it wet.  No one actually likes a “make work” project so why not take some time at the beginning of the makeover to use an intensive detangling treatment?  Not only does this rid the mane and tail of the offending parties, but it also saves you the hassle of trying to shampoo dry, tangled hair.  Apply De-Stress Intensive Reconstructing & Detangling Treatment from root to tip on the mane, tail and forelock, being sure not to go overboard (this product really packs a punch and a little goes a long way!) 

In a perfect world, after I’ve applied the detangling product I would take some time to allow the product to penetrate the hair shaft – this will not only moisturize the hair but also prevent breakage when you are ready to shampoo. 

At this stage of the game I would begin carefully finger combing my horses mane and tail, starting with small sections at the base and working my way down.  Red carpet worthy manes and tails take hard work and patience!   One of my favourite tricks of the trade is to keep a large banana or claw hair clip with me to clip sections of detangled hair out of the way as I make my way through.   Now I know! I know!  Finger combing can be arduous (especially when your horse has a full, thick tail that forms dreadlocks easily) but resist the temptation to cut corners and rake through your horses’ hair.  That’s right ladies…back away from the comb!  Absolutely no raking allowed!  This is mission critical if you still want to have a tail after you’ve done your makeover.  For all you Friends fans out there…“If you feel resistance, pull the Q-tip out!”  

 In all seriousness though the bottom line is that it can more than a year to replace a full-length tail hair so don’t be hasty!  Combs are part of my grooming kit but the only time I run anything through those precious tresses is after I have the lions-share of the tangles and knots out (and even then I tread lightly to avoid breaking any hairs.)

 If you are a real keener like myself you may choose to take your pre-show leg work one step further and do the De-Stress Intensive Treatment the day before you plan to begin your makeover.  It really does take your horses’ tail from “drabulous to fabulous.”   If not, now would be the ideal time to move onto to Step 2.  Finally!

Step 2:  Time for a trim

It’s important to present your horse at his/her best, which I feel should align with the standard specific to you sport.  As far as I’m concerned, there is no need to present a horse that is radically shorn  – keep it neat and discreet.  Think of trimming your horse as a chance to tidy up – removing the long hairs on the heels, under the jaw line and the tufts of hair that protrude from the ears really goes a long way.  You also can’t go wrong with a modest bridle path (some breeds call for longer but just wide enough to allow your bridle to lay flat is standard.)    Whether you bang tails or pull manes depends on your discipline but I would like to offer a word of caution:  when in doubt keep all excess clipping and trimming to a minimum!   If you are naturally inclined to do “just a little bit more” like myself, you know all too well that it can be extremely tempting to get a little scissor happy!  I’ve cut my fair share of bowl-cuts and trust me, once you get started there’s no going back.  “A little off the top” soon turns into a rat race trying to even out a botched thinning job.  Shorter hair does not necessarily equate to being easier to work with.  Not only does it end up looking sloppy but can also be particularly difficult to conceal, even if you’re a seasoned braider.  Better to leave 4” of thick mane to braid than 2” of thinned out, choppy mane…even the most beautiful horse has hard time rocking the G.I. Jane look.  

It is also important to note for those of you who have horses or ponies of Baroque decent (or that participate in Native Breed classes) that you should tread especially lightly through this portion of the makeover.  Excessive trimming can spoil the natural beauty of the breed and end up backfiring in the ring.

Stay tuned for part 2 & 3 of our Comprehensive Guide to Make Your Horse Red Carpet Ready!

Naturally yours until next time!
Megan

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

Check out the latest press mention of EcoLicious Equestrian in the Gaitpost magazine. EcoLicious is IN!  Thank you Danielle Macey – the editor of Gaitpost - for featuring our product in the Buyer’s Guide section in the November issue.

If you’re looking to buy/sell a horse in Canada, Gaitpost is a perfect tool to help you out with that! You can check it out online at : www.gaitpost.com

Ride Green!

The EcoLicious Equestrian
Your Horse. Your Earth. Your Choice.

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

Do you remember Black Forrest William aka the “Dirty Willy”- the Gypsy Vaner stallion from Cyclone Farms and our first EcoLicious Beauty Makeover subject?

If you don’t remember or if you weren’t around yet, here is “Dirty Willy’s” Makeover Video and before and after pics.  Cora and Karl – the owners and operators of Cyclone Farms got hooked on our products after the makeover and now they are one of our moth faithful customers.

So what’s up with William now? Cora was so kind to keep us posted about the new developments with this super sweet handsome boy. William was shown at The Oklahoma State Fair Gypsy and Draft Horse Show this September as well as at the Heartland Feathered Classic, Danville Indiana. His most notable achievements were:

Amateur Gypsy Halter 1st out of 10
Gypsy In Hand Best Traditional Movement 4th out of 14
Gypsy Color Class- Patterned 2nd out of 14
Gypsy & Drum In Hand Obstacle course 3rd out of 18

And of course we cannot forget the Best Groomed & Conditioned Class. That’s after all what we are all about. William placed second and according to Cora  he would have done better. “When we were blow drying him, we missed a spot under his mane. It was still damp when we went into the ring and it cost us valuable points. I’m convinced that if it wasn’t for that William would place first. Thanks to EcoLicious!” And we add to that : thanks to your hard work! We know first hand how much elbow greese it takes.

We asked Cora what it took to get William Red Carpet ready and here’s her How To: “ William was dry scrubbed with Green & Squeaky Clean straight from the bottle in the especially dirty spots, then his feathers were rinsed and also scrubbed with Green & Squeaky Clean. He was then completely hosed down and scrubbed with Green & Squeaky Clean again (how can you tell I love this stuff). He was then rinsed off and  In Control was applied to his mane, tail and feather and allowed to sit for a few minutes before brushing through. The whitener (to be launched soon) was then applied to his feather (the whitener is amazing, it even removed the pink stain in William’s feather caused by the red dirt in Oklahoma).”

We’re proud of William and we can’t wish for a better “face” for EcoLicious Equestrian. After all if our products can get a horse like Dirty Willy squeaky clean and looking  fabulous, imagine how stunning they would make your horse.

Check out this artistic shot of William in his harness. Courtesy of Marianne Boone, Featherwind Gypsy Horses. Thank you also goes to Valerie Peppers Kennedy from Cosmopolitan Farms for allowing us to use her photography. Thank you ladies!

The EcoLicious Equestrian
Your Horse. Your Earth. Your Choice.

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

You have a fancy grooming kit with all kinds of brushes and curry combs to keep you horse looking spotless and shiny, but does your grooming kit need a little beauty makeover as well? Clean grooming kit means a clean horse!

Prevention:

Make sure you regularly curry your brushes throughout and
after grooming to prevent the dust and dirt from
accumulating.

Cure:

Fill up a large bucket with warm water. If your brushes
are super yucky, run them under the water to remove
the worst of the dirt.  Add a mild eco detergent from
Method, Seventh Generation etc…. 

Soak your brushes in the warm water until all the dust
and dirt loosens up and follow with a rinse with clean water
to remove any leftover debris. If you have a wooden brush,
do not submerge it completely.

Brushes should be dried bristle-side down on a flat surface.

Enjoy grooming with your clean tools!

The EcoLicious Equestrian
Your Horse. Your Earth. Your Choice.

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com