Heritage Farm's Gerardo Escalera shares best practices for maintaining arenas. Good footing is pivotal to keeping horses sound. Twenty years running one of the most successful show stables of all time has revealed some surprises...
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!
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
“Horsewomen are always several notches above riders....”
– Judy Richter
Photo credit and THANKS to: Linda Umla. — with Norfield Stables LLC at the New Albany Classic