Lindsey Taylor works as head groom and barn manager for Boyd Martin in Cochranville, PA. She manages 25-30 horses and travels to events throughout the U.S. almost every weekend. She has also  groomed at several international events including Rolex, Burghley, Boekelo and the 2012 London Olympics. She’ll be sharing what she’s learned on the job in her “View From The Barn” posts here on EN.

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Sometime during the last 24 hours, the Bromont horses have arrived in Quebec, Canada, gearing up for a weekend of intense competition at one of the most beautiful venues in North America. Upon arrival, the ground jury has done their initial assessment of each horse, checking temperature, pulse and respiration and running their hands down each of the legs of the 103 entries. This initial assessment provides a baseline status of health, which provides the FEI veterinarians with a background to compare to throughout the weekend, as the horses fulfill the demands of this challenging competition.

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This afternoon, first on the formal agenda, the CCI horses and riders will present to the ground jury in a trot up. The ground jury will assess the soundness of each horse, and any horse that is deemed unsound will not be allowed to compete. That being said, the riders go all out to make a good first impression on the ground jury, dressing to the nines and grooming their horses with an impeccable amount of detail.

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Just how do you groom a horse for a formal jog? While consistent, day-to-day elbow grease will always win out in the long run when it comes to maintaining the health and luster of your horse’s coat, at a trot up grooming products are essential, and will become your best friend. You want dark, shiny hooves (Fiebring’s Hoof Oil does the trick), a glistening coat (Healthy HairCare Hair Moisturizer), a polished face (baby oil on the nostrils and on the insides of the ears if they are clipped), and a tidy tail (an ace bandage keeps the top of a pulled tail in place, and Vetrolin Shine creates a shiny, flowing tail). The braids should be small and numerous; at a three day event, I usually aim for 20 to 25 braids to give the illusion of a long, elegant neck. The bridle should ideally not have a flash, the number should be placed on the left side, and as always, the leather should be clean and the bit should be polished and sparkling.

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As the time nears for the start of the trot up, it is a good idea to get your horse out of the stall and walking around for about 30 minutes before he presents to the ground jury, giving him time to loosen up. If you have to decide whether to brush your horse’s tail one more time or give him two more minutes of walking, remember the purpose of the trot up in the first place: to present a sound, limber horse to the ground jury. Yes, the horse should look beautiful, but if the horse does not trot sound, your weekend is over. When time is of essence, keep things in perspective.

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When leaving the barns, I pack a backpack or a bucket with essential items that might be needed. For the trot up, my essential items usually include a hoof pick, hoof oil, a towel with a dab of baby oil on it, Vetrolin Shine and a tail brush. While most of the grooming and preparation should occur in the barns, these items provide a finishing touch if needed. If the weather is inclement, dress your horse in the appropriate clothing; a rain sheet if it is raining, a dress sheet if it is chilly, or even a heavier rug if wintry weather threatens your otherwise beautiful trot up day. Use boots to provide protection for your horse’s legs; I try to avoid wraps because they are time consuming to take off and become quite a hassle if your horse will not stand still.

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When all is said and done, you will hopefully return to the barns with a sound horse that has been “accepted” and will move on to think about your dressage test and the rest of the weekend. If you used any products on your horse in preparation for the trot up that might irritate or harm his skin, make sure you bathe your horse promptly to remove any unnatural substances from his coat. Now is not the time for a skin irritation, but rather the time to think about and gear up for the competition ahead.

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Good luck to all horses, riders and grooms this weekend! Go Bromont.

Featured Product: Majyk Equipe XC Boot by Boyd Martin (Majyk Equipe)

The Majyk Equipe Cross Country Boot by Boyd Martin was just recently launched at Rolex Kentucky, and was such a success that the entire first batch of production sold out that weekend. Because I work for Boyd, I have to say that I am a bit biased in my recommendation of these boots, as I personally tested many of the prototypes and recommended changes based upon my preferences. Nevertheless, these boots are lighter, more breathable, and fit better than any other boots I have tried, and I am seriously impressed by the extensive research and development that inspired their production. Representatives of Majyk Equipe have backgrounds in human athletic textile engineering, and have used the knowledge gained in production of products at companies such as Adidas and Nike to develop this boot with the comfort of the horse in mind.

These boots feature an integrated strike zone over the tendon which provides flexible comfort for the horse without compromising protection. In fact, the protection of these boots is second to none, as shown through vigorous impact testing done by a third-party company, Biokinetics of Canada. This impact testing measured the amount of blunt trauma force able to pass through different models of cross country boots and results showed that the Majyk Equipe model outperformed other manufacturer’s boots by as much as 40%.

Not only do these boots hold up to strict performance testing, they fit horses’ legs of any shape and size better than any other boot I have used, eliminating rubbing and preventing any dirt and debris from accumulating between the boot and the horse’s leg. Other advantages include their ability to repel water, keeping them lightweight; their durability, standing up to machine washing and use on multiple horses; and their breathability, preventing any sort of heat buildup against the horse’s leg during a long cross country run. These boots are my top choice for eventing at all levels, with performance features that make them ideal for four star cross country courses, and a price tag that makes them affordable for everyday use.

Kentucky Boots (Kentucky)

Kentucky Boots prize several key features found in many modern cross country boots including high performance shock absorption, waterproof qualities, protection without heat and a tailored fit. Several noted professionals throughout Europe, Australia and the US have tested and developed these boots, which makes their design stringent and reliable. I am especially impressed with the new Solimbra D3O Eventing Boot, which fits the needs of top riders throughout the world.

Another product available through Kentucky is Tendon Grip which I use at all three day events, especially on horses with sensitive, newly-clipped legs, regardless of the choice of boot. Tendon grip eliminates the worry of boot rubs by providing a soft layer under the boot, takes up any space between the boot and the leg to improve the fit of a boot, and also helps to provide some support to the tendon. Tendon grip makes Sunday morning trot-ups easier by eliminating the concern over irritated skin caused by boot rubs.

Premier Equine Boots (Premier Equine)

Premier Equine Boots (PEi), developed in the UK, are popular among professionals at many of the events on the East Coast. The most notable feature of these boots is their patented “Aircooled” technology, which eliminates buildup of heat under the boot, allowing cold air to pass through several vents in the front and side of the boot, keeping the tendon cool and thus reducing injury. They have a sporty look, and have stood up to intense field testing.

Nunn Finer Boots (Nunn Finer)

Nunn Finer boots have been around for over 20 years. I have seen many pairs more than several years old that are still in great shape even after their use on several different horses. They are not as lightweight as other newer models, and in my opinion, don’t cool the horses’ legs as effectively as those listed above, but they fit the horse’s legs well and I would still wholeheartedly recommend the use of these boots at the lower levels of eventing.

While Porter Boots were traditionally the choice for upper level event riders, because of their light weight and breathable qualities, there have been so many additions of new cross country boots to the market in recent years that porter boots have almost completely been replaced by models that are less time consuming to use and easier to maintain.

When choosing a cross country boot for your horse, look for something that is lightweight, breathable, prevents heat buildup, fits well and is made with materials that will not irritate your horse’s skin. I would advise against boots made with neoprene, as it has been known to irritate the skin of sensitive horses. The cross country boots that are newer to the market have steered away from the use of neoprene, and have made the comfort of the horse their top priority. Research and development at companies such as Adidas and Nike has assured the comfort of human athletes for decades, and now our equine athletes can also benefit from these extensive studies.