A rescue pony taken in by charity HorseWorld in one of the biggest animal welfare operations ever in the UK has gone on to thrive in her new home and even wow the judges in the show ring.In 2020 Aura was found with a group of 130 neglected and suffering horses living in appalling conditions. HorseWorld, along with other equine charities collaborated with the RSPCA to rehome the horses.When she was rescued she was very nervous, severely underweight and suffering from worms and a lice infestation (pictured top). Thanks to the expert care of the HorseWorld team, Aura was able to make a full recovery.During her rehabilitation programme staff identified that the gentle natured Aura meant she could be suited to join their Discovery equine team helping vulnerable young people cope with their social, mental and emotional challenges. Part of the equine training process for some of the younger Discovery equines is to spend time in a Foster home where they receive vital handling and some basic training.Rehomer Elizabeth Hembrow explained how her family came to meet Aura.I was looking for a pony for my daughter Coco and saw Aura on the HorseWorld website, available in their foster scheme, she said. When we went to see her, we loved her attitude to work and placid nature straight away and when I watched Coco ride Aura on our second visit it was very clear just by her face how happy she was.Since she came to live with us, Aura and Coco have formed a beautiful bond and an everlasting friendship. Coco suffers from OCD and ADHD but the time spent with Aura helps her cope and face lifes challenges. Together they have been out and about competing, joined The Pony Club and attend rallies. They have competed in a dressage series, fun rides and galloped across the Mendips, where they love unwinding together.Going to The Royal Bath and West show was a big step up for Coco and Aura. The show had a real buzz about it and I was very nervous for them both, but every time I checked in with Coco to see how she was feeling she just said, Im fine Mum, I know Aura is the best pony here and I trust her 100%.She was incredible and I am so proud of them both. Aura has stolen our hearts. She is simply perfect and we couldnt love her any more or imagine life without her.HorseWorlds Madie Cole said the team loves to see their horses and ponies thriving in their new homes.Were thrilled that Aura has found her perfect home with Coco and that the pair are so successfully flying the flag for HorseWorld rescued horses and others around the UK, she said. We feel an enormous amount of pride in the work we do at HorseWorld seeing these horses, who often have a very sad past, flourish in their new home. Our rehoming families are incredible.Visit horseworld.org.uk/rehome to find out more about rehoming a horse or pony through the charity.Further readingReady for his next chapter: Police horse Clover retires to HorseWorldInclusive showing series with London International finals to return for 2024Perfect your showing performance with nine tips from expert judgesThe post I trust her 100%: Rescued pony shines at Royal Bath & West Show appeared first on Your Horse.

For the last eighteen months or so, Ive felt my grasp on eventing journalism slacken in favour of something else something Id never planned. These days, I feel, I need to engage less and less in in-depth analysis of horse and rider performance; less, too, in unpacking the intricacies of courses. Probably, at this point, I dont even need to bother revisiting the FEI record database on the daily. Because since the advent of the 2023 season, all I am, really, is a bit of a crap weather lady.Now, frankly, my career is mostly just this.It rained again today, is the summation of basically every event report Ive written in that time period. Badminton 2023? All about the rain. Last years European Championships? Similarly, an event that gets referenced time and time again, purely because we talk about its weather and, as a result, its footing. Pau last year? Rained so hard it killed my camera. May it rest in peace in the big hard drive in the sky.And so, once again, here I am, talking to you about what else! weather, and the part it played in this mornings CCI5* cross-country at Luhmhlen.The day started early, at 8.45 a.m., in order to account for a stacked entry list in this afternoons Memer Trophy CCI4*-S (more on that, soon), and although we only had 41 starters to work through after the last-minute withdrawal of Great Britains Will Rawlin and The Partner, we somehow saw just as many weather fronts move over the Lower Saxony region. We started with a foreboding overcast sky; by the time our third starters, Swedens Christoffer Forsberg and Hippos Sapporo, got underway, the wet stuff had begun to fall, though in a non-committal sort of way.Well, you can call me a commitmentphobe all you like now, because when it decided it was all in, it was all in. For the next hour or so, the rain hammered down with such force that it became tricky to make out who you were actually looking at on course, so thank god for Luhmhlens penchant for bright fence decorations, because otherwise, the riders themselves may not have even been able to find their way through the courses numerous bends and loops.Lauren Lillywhite and Hacien in the midst of the first storm of the day. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Then, just as abruptly as it had started, having had its fill of torturing everyone and topping up the water jumps, the dark cloud passed and an unrecognisably sunny spell kicked into play.How nice, we all thought how delightful! A real return to the Luhmhlen we all know and love, where we pull our shorts out and get a bit of a tan and drink Pimms by the arena and sweat, gently or quite ferociously, all week. A little treat! A touch of nostalgia.lol u thought, typed the weather, having at this point morphed into nothing better or more fulfilling than a troll in a comment section. sike! it continued, giving no regard at all to the fact that thats actually probably meant to be spelled psych.A big sad. Photo by Tilly Berendt.So then it gave us the big one, just to put us back in our place. Ive since seen the whole thing slightly overexaggerated on the internet by livestream viewers, who have referred to it as a hurricane that shut the show down and sent fences flying, and, look, it wasnt quite that. But it was bad; not only did the rain return, but it brought with it black skies, extraordinary wind that sent umbrellas and marquees and advertising boards flying and had small children clinging onto the nearest solid object for dear life, and thunder and lightning that struck a tree on site and forced the local fire brigade, whod been busy trying to have their annual summer party, to come out and attempt to safely dismantle it.Hunkered under a tree at the final water complex, with a pack-a-mac wetly slapping me in the face, I did briefly consider that I might be about to have a very bad time indeed. Would I be skewered by a flying umbrella? Struck by lightning, which would only be fair since Id chosen to hide under a tree while holding a long metal monopod? Would the sausage van sadly sizzling away downwind come loose from its moorings and pork me to death, but not in, like, a fun way?I reckon a few of the riders, whod been unlucky enough to draw late start times in this class, and found themselves held while we all waited for the storm to pass, probably felt much the same way. Tom McEwen and his second ride, overnight runner up Brookfield Quality, were held in an avenue of trees just after the second water, and Tom describes the experience as being like one of those polytunnels that cyclists train in against the wind. I mean, literally, I was lying on his neck and we were getting smashed by acorns. I think the trees were coming down, and I did think for the first ever time in my life, should I just stop and tell them its dangerous, and Ill start from here again?Red on right, white on left, no thanks in the middle.But all this chat is so relevant to the broader business of reporting on horse form at events, and not just as a scene-setting bit of frippery. Tom and Brookfield Quality were restarted once the storm passed, but retired just a couple of fences from home when the horse started to have a nosebleed. Whether thats in any way connected to the storm and the hold is something well never really know but Irelands Susie Berry and her second ride, Kilcandra Capitol, also ended up retiring on course after being caught up in it all, and Swedens Christoffer Forsberg and Con Classic, whose final preparations were disrupted and their start time was prolonged due to the hold, ended up picking up 51.2 time penalties when they did make it out on course.Its easy enough to judge a horse and rider by numbers on a page, especially when youre looking back over an FEI record, which loses so much of the context of the day itself but when you factor in the realities of eventing, and all its strange variables (I once saw a good five-star horse pick up about a minutes worth of time penalties, because it got caught up in the roping on course, and who can forget Kevin McNab picking up about the same when trying to reattach a broken rein to his horses bit at Pratoni?) you often find that it all gets a bit hard to quantify.Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Photo by Tilly Berendt.But, I suppose, if the numbers were going to say anything about todays competition before it started, it was that last years Pau winners, Ros Canter and her quirky Izilot DHI, were the most likely to find themselves still in the top spot on the leaderboard after todays competition, despite an early retirement at Badminton when the 11-year-old got overfaced by the buzzy atmosphere of the lake.And theyd be absolutely right. The pair, who put a 24.9 on the board in yesterdays dressage, added just 2 time penalties during one of the days dry spells and will head into tomorrows showjumping with an 8.6 penalty lead. Thats two rails AND a second of time in hand which isnt too shabby for a horse whos only ever had one rail in his international career, and that was at his first ever CCI2*-S five years ago.Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Thats tomorrow, and tomorrows story, though, and todays all about cross-country, and also sock-wringing, a little bit.Hes an incredible horse hes so athletic and he has such a careful but scopey jump, says Ros. So if hes settled and concentrating, then he often gives me the most amazing feeling and makes my life very easy.Ros, who also won Blenheim CCI4*-L with the gelding last year after a tricky summer saw them lose Bramham thanks to a spook and run-out at fence three, was delighted with her horses brain today, but very slightly frustrated with herself.To be quite honest, there were a couple of places where I felt I could have ridden a little bit better, but that was more of the plain fences than the complicated ones, she says. But he was just amazing to sit on today.Producing Isaac to temper his quick reactions has been a steady process, but one that Ros is reaping the rewards of now.Its the time we put in every day at home with them. Eventing is all about the partnership you have with an animal, and Izilot is a fine example of that, she says. Hes quite a sensitive horse, and so its all about reading and understanding his personality. Theyre just like humans, theyre all different. As much as we are trainers and riders, were probably also psychologists as much as anything else, so I think its all about trying to understand their personalities, and its our job to interpret that and to learn from it and get the best out of them.Having two rails in hand on a very good showjumping horse doesnt mean that Ros is feeling complacent going into the finale tomorrow, which will begin with the final horse inspection at 7.30 a.m. (6.30 a.m. BST/1.30 a.m. EST).I think if anything, its puts the pressure on me really to try and get the job done, she laughs. He can be spooky at any moment. But, I think after todays test that hes done, hell probably be quite settled, and hes super careful at the jumps. Its a privilege, really, to sit on him, and hopefully I can do him justice tomorrow.Jennifer Kuehnle, pictured riding twelfth-placed Sammy Davis Junior. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Were making great headway on the fourth CCI5* of the year, and already, were starting to see a theme for the year and that is the inexorable rise of young Irish talent. At Badminton, second place went the way of one-horse rider Lucy Latta, who was making her five-star debut and logged the quickest round of the day in the process. Tonight, second place at Luhmhlen is held by 22-year-old Jennifer Kuehnle, also making her five-star debut. She rode two horses here today, but it was her first ride, the sharp, clever Polly Blue Eyes, who partnered her to the first clear round inside the time of the day, boosting them from 22nd after dressage to overnight runners-up on a two-phase score of 35.5.If someone actually told me Id be sitting second after cross-country at my first 5*, I think I would be laughing at them, says Jennifer, who also holds 12th place with Sammy Davis Junior after adding 14 time penalties in his end-of-class round.Pollys very good in the dressage, and she does all the movements very well, but shes just sometimes not rewarded as she should be but in the cross country I knew shed catch up, continues the former Irish Junior and Young Rider team member, who made her Senior debut at last years European Championships with the sixteen-year-old. Shes an amazing little mare across country, and no matter what or where you put her, shes always trying to get to the far side of it. Im just so proud of her today.Its particularly nice to see Jennifer make this major career step in Germany: her father, Hans Kuehnle, was born and raised in Germany, and while he was the first horseman in his family, hes created a special legacy in his new homeland of Ireland, where he runs Tullibards Stud. Polly Blue Eyes isnt Irish-bred, though she was born in Germany too, not far from Luhmhlen.We were in Germany looking at jumping horses, and dad said that we should try a friends horse that she had up for sale, says Jennifer. When I tried her she was very spooky, and she was actually annoying me a little bit. Then Dad made me take her and since she came home, I just absolutely loved her. She was very good to ride and the way she was brought up into eventing, she was just so well-trained and schooled that it made my life very easy.Since then, theyve made the move together from Juniors to Young Riders to Senior level, and now onto five-star, with the help of Hans and Irish Olympian Cathal Daniels, who is Jennifers boyfriend.Hes been by my side now for a few years, and he helps me a lot on cross country, she says. In Millstreet two weeks ago was actually my first time to make the time in a 4*, so coming here I didnt think Id make the time in the 5*, but Ive been going from strength to strength. I have a lot of people helping me, and Im just so thankful for that. Hopefully we can go a bit more strength by strength and we will be at the top soon.Making a five-star debut is a big enough task, as is riding two horses at this level but doing both at the same time is a formidable challenge.They are two completely different horses, adds Jennifer. Polly is a Thoroughbred, so shes very quick across the ground and shes very easy to set up for me, whereas Sammy, hed be double the horse. Hes a big, rangy horse, and he takes a bit more setting up to do, but theyre both equally as honest and good across country. They both had two completely different rounds, but they were both very nice rounds, I think. I couldnt be prouder two horses in the top 12, and Im so thankful that theyre both healthy in their stables this evening. Tomorrow is another day, and hopefully it all works out well.Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney dArville jump the last. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Belgiums crown jewel, Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, is making her return to five-star a very, very good one indeed. She last rode at the level here in 2017 with Alpaga dArville, but in the years since, her focus has been on team pathways and the steady, impressive rise of the Belgian front.But this summer, with five horses qualified for Paris and everything coming up roses for Belgium, Lara wanted to keep herself sharp and push for a new challenge or, more precisely, the revisiting of an old one. And so she decided to aim her homebred Hooney dArville, the daughter of her former Junior, Young Rider, and then World Championships and five-star ride, Nooney Blue, at a step up to the top level.They began their week in sixth place after dressage on a score of 35.6, and today, headed out of the start box in the rain not the really heavy stuff, but the noncommittal stuff to deliver a quick, capable round that added just 4 time penalties to their scoresheet.Now, theyll head into tomorrows competition in third place an extraordinary honour thats the culmination of plenty of hard work, both over Hooneys ridden career and in their round today.I had a lot of doubts coming to fence one, admits Lara. Then I took a forward shot to fence 2, and then finally, I did all the mistakes I needed to do by fence 3, and then it was good! She was fantastic.I rode her mother, and we bred her, and the last show I did with her mother was here where she had a [career-ending] injury, so it was quite something for me to bring this one here, she continues. When I crossed the finish line, I was just relieved that I paid justice to her mother, and to this one. Hooney has been a rocky road to our run here, but a lot of fellow riders told me how special she was. A couple of times, I maybe wanted to give up, but I kept thinking it would work one day. But I never expected her to be third overnight after cross country!Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney dArville. Photo by Tilly Berendt.What made Hooney tricky for so long was twofold: partly, it was a lack of focus, but also, more deeply-felt, it was an emotional pressure that cycled back and forth between horse and rider, Lara says.She wasnt always logging the fences, and she was a bit spooky, so I dont think she understood the rules of the game very easily. I was pregnant in the beginning of her career then afterwards a lot of things changed she changed riders, from my groom, to [my husband] Kai here and there, to me, she explains. I think none of us were riding quite the same way. I also think I expected so much from her, because she was the daughter of Nooney Blue, and that wasnt fair, maybe, in her development. I didnt take her just as one of the horses I had in my yard it needed to be this horse who needed to step up. So I think maybe [her being tricky], it was more my mistake.But now I accept that she cannot be under too much pressure. I accept that shes sometimes a bit spooky. I accept that she jogs in the walk, and I think because she feels Im not getting upset she tries harder, while before it was just like, she thought, anyway, shes never happy with me! I dont think I was ever not happy with her, but I think she disappointed me. I was much more emotional about her. The other horses, theyd jog, and Id say, okay, they jog. I go do the job, I finish, its fine. Ive got all the time in the world for them, whereas with her it was always like, why didnt she do it right?Now, though, Lara has learned to manage her own emotions and expectations, and together, the pair have forged a new level of trust and confidence in one another, which came well into play today when they powered through their slightly off-kilter start.Last year a rider fell off here at fence 2, and I did exactly the same mistake he did today and I was like no, youre not going to do this!, she laughs. But then I think maybe it helped her, because fence 1 Id overprotected her, maybe, and fence 2 I was like, now were going to go for it, and she went for it too much. But then, I thought she was just really paying attention to every question and also to my body language. She was excellent.Whatever happens tomorrow, Lara, who jumped the final fence in happy tears, says shes living her dream, and has rediscovered her love for this level of the sport. Now, shes eyeing up the next challenge which, she says, shed love to undertake at Maryland, but for the tricky scheduling clash with the Young Horse World Championships at Le Lion dAngers.Right now, I really think I want to do five-stars again, she says. It took me a couple of years to really want to do it, and I enjoyed doing it today. This morning in the warm-up. I was so pale. I saw Julia Krajewski and I said, wwhy are we doing this? With the accident of Georgie [Campbell], and I have two children, and Im just wondering why I always put myself under so much pressure. But then you do this, and those emotions are just worth so much.Tom McEwen and CFH Cooliser. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Tom McEwen is down to one horse in this class after Brookfield Qualitys retirement, but his remaining ride, pathfinder CHF Cooliser, is in a very good place indeed: she sits fourth going into the final day, having added just 5.2 time penalties across the country to retain the place she held after dressage.Eliza started off really well I know her pacing well and where shes at, and actually, she just needed some bigger fences to help me roll on home a little bit. But she was smooth, shes great, and shes come home fantastic, says Tom.Setting off first today might not be everyones cup of tea, but Tom found it a useful asset for sharp Eliza, who benefited from the calm start.Sometimes it really helps with her actually it keeps her really relaxed, he says. No one has started, the tannoys havent revved up. I actually managed to get on her and start the course without having to mount up in the start box!Burghley runners-up David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed delivered a characteristic masterclass across the country, looking smooth and rhythmic en route to delivering the fastest round of the day, some seventeen seconds inside the time. Thats moved them from first-phase 25th to fifth, while last years third-place finishers, Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ, also came home inside the time to leap up from 28th to sixth. Young British rising star Alice Casburn and her homebred, Topspin, moved up from 32nd to seventh with their clear inside the time, too, and go into tomorrows finale laughing: theyre among the strongest jumpers in the field and have even tackled puissance classes together, so Luhmhlens notoriously big and tough showjumping track should be right in their wheelhouse.Its been a heck of a day for the Brits across the board in this class: eighth place is held overnight by Kirsty Chabert and Opposition Heraldik Girl, who added 4.8 time penalties to move from 26th place after dressage.Samantha Lissington and Lord Seekonig. Photo by Tilly Berendt.British-based Kiwi Samantha Lissington and her five-star debutant Lord Seekonig were particularly impressive in the heavy rain, adding 8.8 time penalties to step up from 18th to ninth, while Irelands Ian Cassells and Master Point round out the top ten, having added 10 time penalties and moved up four places.Emily Hamel and Corvett. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Both US competitors completed the course: Emily Hamel and Corvett stepped up from 35th to 16th after adding 14.8 time penalties, while Katherine Coleman and Monbeg Senna slipped from 16th to 31st after picking up 20 penalties at the broad brush corner at 5C, and added 43.2 time penalties while battling some of the worst of the days weather.Katherine Coleman and Monbeg Senna, somewhere in this rain cloud. Photo by Tilly Berendt.There were plenty of surprises on Mike Etherington-Smiths track today, which saw problems scattered evenly across the course and no one fence causing more than three issues. The most prominent drop was that of overnight runners-up Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality, who didnt complete, but problems popped up on course for several riders in contention: Laura Collett and Hester, third after dressage, dropped to 23rd after picking up 20 penalties at fence 14A, the first of two angled brushes in the LeMieux water, as well as 20.8 time penalties, while local rider and overnight fifth-placed Nicolai Aldinger and Timmo were desperately unlucky to add 20 penalties to their tally at fence 26B, the final element of the last water complex and just moments from the finish line. They now sit 21st. Compatriots Libussa Lbbeke and Caramia 34 dropped from 7th to 19th after activating a safety device at fence 10A, the upright rail at the coffin complex, and Frances Julie Simonet and SursumcordOr slipped from tenth to 19th after adding 26 time penalties. Former Luhmhlen winner Mollie Summerland also dropped out of the top ten with her debutant Flow 7 when the leggy gelding had a green run-out in the main arena, but there was still much to celebrate: just three years into his eventing career, he looked every inch a five-star horse.And so, we move into the tension of the final day, which will begin early doors tomorrow morning with the final horse inspection at 7.30 a.m. (6.30 a.m. BST/1.30 a.m. EST). Then, well head into the five-star showjumping from 9.25 a.m. (8.25 a.m. BST/3.25 a.m. EST). There are 33 competitors left in the hunt, down from 42 who started the competition.Keep it locked on EN for a full report coming soon from this afternoons CCI4*-S, which serves as an important final selection trial for the Olympics and was actually sunny. I promise not to write more than one sentence about that.The top ten following cross-country in an influential and deeply, deeply soggy day of competition in Luhmhlens CCI5*.ENs coverage of the Longines LuhmhlenHorse Trials is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, your go-to source for science-backed nutritional support across all types of horses, disciplines, and needs. Click here to learn more about what KPP can do for your horse thank you for supporting our wonderful sponsors!Longines Luhmhlen:Website | Entries | Timetable | Live Scores | Tickets | Livestream | ENs Coverage

Ocala, FL The $62,500 Wheels Up & 55 Trading Grand Prix CSI2* was the highlight event of the week, welcoming a competitive field of 32 horse-and-rider combinations from 11 different nations to compete over Andy Christiansens (ECU) challenging track. At the end of the night, Maya Denis (MEX) and her own Callypso De La Hamente Z (Chellsini Z x Kashmir Van Schuttershof) emerged victorious[...]Read MoreThe post Maya Denis and Callypso De La Hamente Z Soar to the Top in the $62,500 Wheels Up & 55 Trading Grand Prix CSI2* appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

Keep your horses coat healthy and happy year-round with these 10 horse grooming tips and hacks from two professional grooms.When you list whats in your grooming box, have you ever mentioned a hair dryer, laundry detergent, or dryer sheets alongside your favorite brushes?Drawing on our personal experiences as grooms for show jumping Olympic medalists Anne Kursinski and Kent Farrington, Lindsey Trockenbrot and I compiled this list of grooming hacks. While they may seem obscure, they will help you promote your horses coat health.1. Hot TowelingHot toweling is a great way to clean your horse without the wash rackespecially in winter when the dust goes deep and the weather is too cold for a bath. All you need is a bucket of hot water, two towels, and a bottle of your favorite coat conditioner or coconut oil.Hot toweling can take the deep-down grime out of a coat when you cant give a full bath. Photo by Shelley PaulsonSoak the first towel completely and wring it out well. Rub the rag over the horses body like you would with a curry comb, going gently against their coat to get beneath the hair.Once youve gone over your horse once, soak and wring out your second towel. This time, spray your coat conditioner of choice directly on the towel. Now go over the horse again, spraying additional conditioner on the towel as needed. Be mindful that you are not applying coat conditioner to the saddle and girth areas if youre planning to ride that day.To bring out that extra shine after hot toweling, go over your horse with a hard brush, followed by a soft brush.2. Hair DryerWhen the weather is too cool for a bath, taking a hair dryer to your horses woolly winter coat (desensitizing him first, of course) will dry out his sweat marks in no time. Any household hair dryer will do the trick for this hack.Once the hair is dry, just curry and brush it out. Theres no need to wait hours for your horse to dry when you can hair dry him!3. Waterproof OintmentIf your horse has soft hooves, you live in an area where the humidity is high, or your horse gets frequent baths and/or his legs washed, this hack is for you.To help prevent your horses hooves from absorbing water while being rinsed or bathed, apply Corona ointment or Vaseline to the walls of his hooves before you bathe him. This seals the hooves so the water will bead right off of them.4. Dryer SheetsWhen the air is particularly dry, does your horses staticky hairand tail in particulardrive you crazy? Try taking a dryer sheet and rubbing it all over his mane, tail, and body. This will help lessen the static in no timeand it also helps keep bugs away!In dry weather, beat static using a dryer sheet rubbed on your horses coat and tail. In the summer, an added bonus is that they keep bugs away. Photo by Hannah Waroway5. Apple Cider VinegarWhen the sun and bugs are out in the heat of the summer, rinsing your horse in apple cider vinegar will become one of your favorite tricks in the barn. Apple cider vinegar is one of the most beneficial ways to help cool a horse down and keep the bugs away.Add enough ACV to cover the bottom of a bucket, then fill the bucket with water. Use a sponge or rag to generously douse your horse in the mixture. Dont worry about rinsing him offjust sweat scrape and youre done.While your horse may smell a bit like a salad, he will thank you for helping them keep the bugs away and helping him cool off!6. Laundry DetergentIf youve tried every product under the sun to rid your horses white tail of stains or are trying to brighten white legs, try using detergent. Yes, as in the one you use to wash your laundry!Dilute the laundry detergent just as you would with regular shampoo (just a glug in a full bucket of water), scrub, rinse, and voila, your horse will be blindingly white.For extra-stubborn white leg and tail stains, a good scrub with diluted laundry detergent can help get to the bottom of stains. Photo by Hannah Waroway7. MouthwashHave you seen your horse rubbing his rear on his stall, feeder, or water buckets? Mouthwash might be the solution you are looking for.Dilute Listerine mouthwash 1 part mouthwash to 4 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray liberally and work into the roots of your horses mane or tail.You can spray this solution daily or as needed. This hack should not replace washing your horses tail, but is a helpful addition to your grooming routine.8. SocksPutting socks on your horse while riding him in sand arenas, alongside currying and keeping his legs clipped below the fetlock, may help minimize fungus on the back of his pasterns.There are socks specifically made for horses, but a pair of human crew socks will also do the trick. Simply cut the foot of the sock off, leaving the tall part intact, and pull the sock over your horses hoof so that it covers their pastern and fetlock.Tip: Try putting a gallon-sized Ziploc bag over your horses hoof to make putting the sock on easier.To help keep the sock in place while riding, use a pair of hind boots. Socks are also a great way to keep your horses white legs clean overnight at a horse show. 1 of 2 Cut off some athletic crew socks to protect your horses pasterns from abrasive arena sand. Use brushing boots to help keep them in place. Photo by Hannah Waroway Cut off some athletic crew socks to protect your horses pasterns from abrasive arena sand. Use brushing boots to help keep them in place. Photo by Hannah Waroway 9. VacuumingNot to be mistaken for a household vacuum, this vacuum is designed for horses. While these units will cost you a pretty penny, youll find them to be worth every cent.Vacuums allow you to get your horse looking his best without the hassle of a bath. From cleaning sand, dust, and even feathers, vacuums have a tremendous impact on your horses coat health. They are particularly useful for removing sand and dust, which will help keep fungus from developing on your horse in humid climates.For optimal results, curry your horse thoroughly beforehand to loosen the dirt on their coat. Be sure to desensitize your horse before vacuuming.10. Olive, Coconut, and Baby OilWhile nearly everyone has a bottle of olive oil in their pantry, not many equestrians have olive oil stashed in their tack box. One of the biggest benefits of olive oil is that it can help keep your horses hooves conditioned. Simply applying it to your horses hooves with a brush or rag will help condition the hoof wall and procure a polish-like shine.Grab some olive oil from your pantry to give your horses hooves a deep-condition and high shine. Photo by Hannah WarowayNext time youre looking to add shine to your horses coat at a show or at home, try combining coconut oil with water in a small bucket or a spray bottle. While being mindful of areas where your tack will sit, spray or use a damp towel to apply the coconut oil to the horses coat. After applying the oil, use a soft brush to go over your horses coat and enhance the shine.Additionally, baby oil or witch hazel can be used to soothe recently clipped areas on horses, especially around more sensitive areas, such as the muzzle, face and legs. Wipe your horse down with a damp rag and oil, focusing on these sensitive areas.While these hacks will never replace the benefits of traditional grooming, they are excellent additions to your horses grooming routine that will help promote a happy and healthy coat.These 10 grooming hacks and tips appeared in the May 2023 issue of Horse Illustratedmagazine.Click here to subscribe!The post 10 Horse Grooming Hacks appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Ocala, FL Entries and stall reservations open June 15 throughSaddlebook.comfor the Labor Day Barrel Blast, held from August 28 to September 2 in Indoor Arena 5 at World Equestrian Center Ocala. With over $38,000 in added prize money, this event is the perfect opportunity for youth and teens to showcase their skills. The Labor Day Barrel Blast will feature two dedicated categories: Youth[...]Read MoreThe post Entries and Stalls Open June 15 for the Labor Day Barrel Blast Held August 28 September 2 at World Equestrian Center Ocala appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

Adamstown, Md. The countdown to The Maryland International & Horse Trials hosted at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Maryland on July 5th through the 7th has begun. With competition for all FEI divisions from CCI1* to CCI4*-S, as well as national levels Training through Advanced, local riders will be able to compete alongside the best of the best.Celebrated CCI5* course designer Ian Stark will be designing the CCI4*-S track and will be hosting a course walk on Thursday afternoon, after the course opens at 3 p.m. All FEI cross country courses will run through the rings by the Vendor Village, allowing spectators to keep a close eye on the action without having to walk out on the course. The CCI4*-S track includes exciting new terrain features, like the triple bank complex at the water, new coffin, and leaf pit track. The FEI riders will be awarded a total of $10,000 in prize money split between the divisions.The USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships will also be hosted the same weekend as The Maryland International with divisions from CCI1* to CCI3*. There will be a full awards ceremony and podium for the Young Riders on Sunday after the completion of competition. On Saturday night the Young Riders are invited to The Highland Games, which includes ax throwing, stick horse steeplechase, zorb balls, a paper toss, and more.Awards will be given to riders and grooms alike, including the Ride EquiSafe Best Save Award, Best Turned Out, the Achieve Equine #Supergroom award, and more. Stay tuned for more information on how to nominate a rider, groom, or horse for these awards on Eventing Nation as the competition draws nearer.Riders, owners, and grooms are invited to a party sponsored by Triple Crown on Friday night following competition. Catering and beverages will be provided. Stop by to kick off the competition right with friends, food, and fun times.The Maryland International will also host Irish exchange rider Godfrey Gibbons. Gibbons won a scholarship funded by the Maryland Horse Industry Board, which was also won by US Young Rider Maddie Temkin. The scholarship allowed Temkin to compete at the Millstreet Horse Trials, where she placed in the top ten on Sportsfield Guarantee arranged by Caroline Pamukcu, provided by Kelley Hutchison, Hutchinson Sport Horses. Temkin competed in the 4yo Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Qualifier. She won her scholarship at last years Maryland International, where she was the highest placed young rider.Now, its Gibbons turn to take advantage of the opportunity to compete here in the United States. A highly accomplished young rider, Gibbons has been working with horses since I could walk. I came up the ranks through ponies then moved onto Juniors with my mare Milchem Free Spirit where I traveled twice to European Championships in Sweden and Britain. I was part of a silver medal winning team in Britain in 2022, then moved into Young Riders last year. We won a team Silver again in Italy. I was fortunate enough to travel to Lyon, France for the 7yo World Young Horse Championships with my mare Milchem Miami.Spectators can purchase VIP tickets to watch all the action unfold from The Highland Club. Highland Club PLUS members are invited to watch from the Highland Tower, which is exclusively limited to just 20 ticket holders. From the tower, spectators will have a 360 degree view of the cross country course, both rings, and the Vendor Village. Highland Club members will also have access to refreshments during the event. All spectators will have access to Charm Cars shuttles for convenient transportation from spectator parking up to the main showgrounds.The vendor village, known as the Highland Shoppes, is back this year and better than ever. Spectators can shop the village to enjoy saddles, saddle pads, clothing, and more. Vendors include safety expert Ride EquiSafe, Dubarry, and more.Entries for The Maryland International close on June 18th. Enter here.Omnibus | Website | Entries | Young Rider Championships | The Highland Club | Coverage