Ringside essentials

There’s no need to tote everything but the kitchen sink to the ring with you. Professional grooming expert Liv Gude’s ringside essentials will fit into a small bucket:

Hoof pick with brush.

Hoof polish/oil for touch-ups. Elastic bands to repair a braid, if needed.

Zip ties for emergency tack repair. Dry washcloth for last-minute wipe-down.

Damp washcloth to remove any slobber.

Bottles of water for rider

(and groom).

Some grooms also bring a cooler or sheet to toss over the tacked-up horse to keep the dust off until it’s time to enter the ring.

For last-minute touch-ups before entering the ring, Quarter Horse trainer Roger Daly relies simply on a clean, dry towel to wipe off any dust, and a comb to run through the mane.

“If you’re at a show by yourself, the most important thing is to check the feet before you go into the ring to be sure you haven’t picked up a stone or anything during warm-up,” Gude notes.