When Tarneit’s Rachel Craig steps out with Prince Tarrent, she pays more attention to the gelding’s make-up than her own.
“He has to look great, I only have to look good,” she says.
The pair will compete at the Royal Melbourne Horse Show at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre this weekend. It’s Australia’s largest horse breed show, running from Friday to Monday, with more than 4000 horses and 40 breeds competing.
Craig, 22, is competing in dressage, which she says is all about how well the horse looks, the bond between horse and rider and how the horse responds to commands. She spends hours plaiting the tail of her Arabian-warmblood cross and creating rosettes in his mane, while using make-up to accentuate his features.
“I wash him with a glow-white shampoo, then use white chalk to emphasise his markings, black kohl around his eyes and more.”
