a shiny coat and good overall health. The horse will also be exercised regularly, either in-hand or under saddle, to develop good muscle tone. Before the show, usually within 12–24 hours of the class, the horse will be bathed and hair on its mane, tail, legs and head trimmed or clipped to meet the style standard for the particular breed of horse. Often special conditioners are used on the hair to make it extra shiny or silky. While precise styles vary by breed, the hair on the horse's lower legs, jaw, ears, and throatlatch usually is closely clipped, in North America, it is common to trim the whiskers on the muzzle and sometimes the eyes. Usually a "bridle path" is cut, depending on breed, removing a length of mane behind the ears where the crownpiece of the halter or bridle goes. Competitors need to be familiar with class rules, grooming and style details for the breed of horse and style of tack and clothing they choose to use in the ring. A style preferred for a particular breed or style, such as braiding, may be considered illegal by another. Depending on the breed of the horse and the style of tack used, the mane might be braided, left loose, or "banded" (having small rubber bands put around small sections of a short mane at the roots in order to help it lay down). Horses shown with loose, flowing manes sometimes have their manes put into 5 or 6 large braids the night before, taken out just before the class and brushed to give an attractive, wavy appearance. Tails of horses shown in hunt seat style may be French braided at the dock in classic show hunter style. Some breeds allow false hairpieces to be added to a tail, other breeds prohibit fake tails. Horses required to have naturally long tails sometimes have them kept "up" when not showing, the long hairs braided up to the bottom of the dock, then the braid rolled up, with a bandage or old sock put around the hair to keep it from breaking off and to keep the tail clean. When taken down and brushed out, a tail kept in this manner is wavy and flowing in the ring. If kept up at all other times, a tail may grow so long that it drags on the ground. On the day of the show,