Doesn’t everyone like to play dress-up? And what horse lover hasn’t spent at least a few hours fussing over a pretty pony? By participating in a horse show costume class you will get the opportunity to have some creative fun with your horse, yet still enjoy the competitive challenge of competing for a ribbon. Here are some helpful tips to get you going.
Once you’ve settled on a concept, take a trip to the local craft store. The easiest fabric to use for costumes is felt, which you can purchase by the yard. Felt comes in a variety of colors and is inexpensive and durable. At the same time, shop for any embellishments you might need that can’t be found around the barn or lurking in your back closet. Feather plumes and boas, washable water-based paints, spools of ribbon, holiday decorations and artificial flowers can all contribute to a festive costume. If you’re planning to use props, make sure you can gather them up long before you need them. Otherwise, you’ll be frantically searching for hard-to-find items like a giant baby bottle or a pair of silly plastic sunglasses the night before the event.
As you hunt for the perfect costumes, don’t neglect safety issues. If your horse will be wearing any sort of mask, be certain the eye holes are large enough so they don’t impair his vision. Refrain from using any prop that has sharp edges or rigid metal rods, just in case you or your horse take a tumble. Don’t use any item that is toxic (your horse might get the munchies during the judging procedure) or could be caustic to your horse’s skin or hooves. Glitter, for example, should only be applied using glue that will wash off with mild soap and water, or use glitter spray and hoof polish designed specifically for horses.
Finally, do a dress rehearsal. The costume class is not the place to discover that your horse is adamantly opposed to wearing a Batman cape, or that he will not tolerate ribbons festooning his tail. Because horses are herd animals, if one determines that a costume class is a very scary place the event could explode into a wild melee.
With some imagination and planning, you can keep your costume class adventure fun—and safe!
Further Reading
Halloween on Horseback
Horses in disguise
Cool!
Costume classes are great! I dressed up my horse as Little Red Riding Horse one year and I was the wolf dressed as the grandmother. Great article!
thanks for the great advice!
Sounds like so much fun!
I have competed so many times in costume class. This year with my horse i was a taco and mary had a monkey like whiplash from taco johns on a mexican blanket. We won alot in the shows. It is really fun. You guys should try it!
i never thought to use the glue gun. hopefully now i can start puting the dumbo out fit together. i can’t wait the other horses will probably spook when they see the huge ears moving.
Great ideas!
Great Tips!
Does anyone have any great ideas for a horse barn theme at fair this year. Looking for some really cool ideas.
hello i have a questions about the costumes is there a spasific non toxic paint to use on horses. i know they make it but where do i find it. would i find horse paint at the craft store or a pet store or a horse store. where?
hey jill richmond why not make him look like hes in a stall or make him look like hes a giant a cant fit in a barn by making a barn to put over his mack and it almost reaches the ground
I have always wanted to do this!
My horse would hate this, but boy would it be fun!
Cute 🙂
I would love to enter a costume class one day:)
I did a Halloween class at my first horse show three years ago. I must say, a dress rehearsal is a must. The horse in front of me spooked at his sombrero as the Mexican jumping bean, and things got crazy fast. Even though my first try was a bust, I would love to do it again.
my friend was doing a costume class and she was some kind of spanish girl and the horse was a camel and our other horses were trying to run away from him and he’s just standing looking lazy. It was so funny and crazy!