Your horse's prep before the big shoot day is just as important as your own. We don't do photoshoots everyday, at leats one of these images will be going on the wall for years to come. Therefore, it's important they are looking as best as they can because trust me, the elbow grease will be so worth it. Remember that our horse's mean so much to us, and are the whole reason you have booked in for a photoshoot, so it's 100% their time to shine too ( quite literally)
Pre shoot bath time
✔️ Deep Cleaning Bath – A thorough shampoo session up to 48 hours before the shoot helps remove dirt and grease buildup. For dark-colored horses, a color-enhancing shampoo like Carr & Day & Martin Gallop Colour Enhancing Shampoo to intensify their natural tone is fabulous. For greys, Cowboy Magic shampoo is truly a life saver. .
✔️ Mane & Tail Perfection – If you can get deep down into those mane roots in the bath and make sure the shampoo removes all the grease buildup, this is the first step to having a glossy mane. Plaiting is completely up to you, and if something we will cover in our consultation. A dusting of Mane and Tail Spray can be perfect on the day of the shoot to ensure a tangle free mane and tail!
✔️ Hoof Shine – A finishing touch! A high-gloss hoof polish like Fiebing's Hoof Dressing gives that elegant, show-ready shine.
✔️ Face & Muzzle Glow – A little touch of baby oil or a specialized highlighter like Absorbine ShowSheen Finishing Mist can enhance your horse’s features, making their muzzle and eyes pop.
Bridles & Head Collars:
✨ Smart Leather Bridles – A sleek, well-fitted bridle can be perfect for this smarter shots, or when we go for a wander off the yard. Making sure the bridle is clean, especially the bit, and inside if reins, can give a smart and polished finish to your images.
✨ Leather Headcollars - Often mixed with a bridle throughout the shoot to create both a casual, and a smarter look. A well fitted leather headcollar, alongside a neutral and clean lead rope, is the perfect combination for shots around the yard.
Other Elegant Touches:
- Subtle Browbands – A touch of bling can work if kept classy—think simple and smart. I love bling but huge amount of it can distract the eye from the real moment captured in the image
- Clean reins/ lead ropes - These are essential to keep your image looking elegant. Most of the time, reins will be over the head, and led ropes will be in tidy bundles, however any grease/hay stuck to them will act a distraction to the viewer.
Extra grooming tips, especially For Autumn/Spring
- Clipping - Many people prefer to have their horse clipped for their shoots, especially if their shoot is at a time of year when the coats are changing, or they are in woolly mammoth mode. Clipping can look super smart, however please aim for it to be done at least 2 weeks before your shoot, and make sure any lines are nice and neat if you do not go for a full clip.
- Hot Clothing - This can be an awesome option for clipped horses, and for those colder shoots where bathing is harder. Hot clothing with oils such as those from Neighked Horse, or just some classic baby oil, can give your horse's that top level of shine beforehand.
- Plaiting - Plaiting is something completely up to you. If you do a lot of competing, and want a super smart section in your shoot, plaiting can be an awesome way to take your portraits to the next level. However, please bear in mind that mind the crazy mane that comes after plaits. To avoid this, we can start the shoot in our casual outfits, and finish with the plaited up ones, and will work this into our scheduling to allow enough time to get plaited up!
