Showing is where equestrians show the skills they have learned and they compete for ribbons or money. In order to show you will need proper show attire. In this week's post I will go over what show clothes are and what you will need for the horse.

    First we will start with proper show clothes for the competitor, we will go from top to bottom. Starting with the most important, you will need a black protective helmet. I use a Samsheild helmet. If you have long hair you will either need a hair net that is the same color as your hair or two bows if you are under the age of 12. For your top you will need a white show shirt with buttons and a collar. You will also need a black, navy, or hunter green show coat. For your pants any kind of tan knee patch breeches like the Dublin Knee Patch Breeches located on my website. A black belt and long socks will also be needed. For your shoes you will either need tall boots like the EGO7 or paddock boots that go right above your ankle (this is only needed if you are 12 and under). If you use paddock boots you will need garter straps otherwise known as jodhpur straps, these straps will help keep your breeches down while riding. Last but not least you will need a pair of black gloves. This will complete the look for the competitor.

    Now for your horse or pony you will only need a few things. A bridal (the head pieces with reins), a saddle, girth (the piece that connects the saddle from each side of the horse) and a white fitted show pad that is in the shape of the saddle. This will complete the attire for your horse or pony.

If you have any questions about the proper show attire for you, your horse or any other questions about riding send us an email on our contact form and we will help you out

When I was a young rider my very first trainer taught us the ins and outs of the equestrian world but one thing in particular really stuck with me. Polishing your boots is something everyone should know even if it's because you're showing, trying to put those final touches on a professional look, or learning a new skill to share with others. In this blog I will go through some short steps to give you that perfect mirror shine on your boots.

To get started we need to make sure you have the right materials. You will need the right color boot polish, I prefer the Kiwi brand boot polish that you can pick up at your local walmart. You will need an applicator brush, buffer brush and a microfiber towel that you can easily order on amazon. Last but not least you will need a lighter (yes an actually lighter). 

1. Once you have gotten all your materials you will need to clean your boots with any kind of leather cleaner, Lexol is always a good choice. 
2. Once they are cleaned you are going to take your lighter and light the boot polish (in the can) on fire so it can become a liquid (this allows the polish to spread easier). 
3. Once the polish is soft you can then apply the polish on your boot making sure you do not go above the ankle on the inside because the polish will rub on your horse and saddle pad. 
4. When the boot is covered in polish you will now take your lighter and burn the polish into the boot. You will see the polish become shiny again just like it was when you light the can of polish on fire. 
5. Once the polish on the boot is shiny you now take your buffer brush and do short but rough strokes all over your boot and you will see the boot become shiny. 
6. You may need to repeat these steps  up to three times depending on the type of leather. 
7. Once you have created that mirror finish you are going to “spit” shine your boots with your microfiber towel, now you may actually use your spit but you can also use a bucket of water and flick the water on your boot with your finger tips. This will put the finishing touch on your perfectly polished boots. 

This method is nothing new, it is actually how the Queens Guards polish their boots. Instead of using a lighter they pour lighter fluid over the boots and put them into a furnace. We used to light a small campfire and use that to burn the polish into the boot, but please use whatever you are comfortable with. This  method is only needed every now and then because the polish is sitting inside your leather rather than on the surface so in between rides you will just need to wipe the dust off and they will stay shiny for a couple weeks. 

If you have questions about polishing your boots or any other questions about riding, send us an email on our contact form and we will help you out.