Old clipper blades make wonderful tools to thin manes for that natural look. A rinse of one cup of apple cider vinegar in five gallons of water sponged onto your horse's body after bathing will cut any missed shampoo film and help in repelling flies. Or use setting gel to tame those stray or short wisps. Toss them in the wash with the rest of your horse towels and they're ready for the next show. Towels swirled around in a mixture of baby oil and water and then rung out and dried make great polishing cloths, and they will bring up the shine of a healthy coat.
Baby oil is also good for rubbing inside ears that have become chapped or irritated from clipping.
Massaged full strength into the base of the tail, Listerine will help those horses who insist upon doing their own tail styling by rubbing on fences, posts, and the stable walls. . Mane Attractions Mane styles are important for halter and breed classes, and the extra time and care in preparing your horse's locks will certainly attract that second important glance from the judge. Special clips will not only enhance your horse's appearance but can be used to highlight specific conformation. Banding is fashionable for Quarter Horses, stock horses, Paints and Appaloosas. Roaching , seen often on the three-gaited Saddlebred, emphasizes the long, slender neck characteristic of the breed.