Page "Dressage" Paragraph 40

Hoof polish is usually applied before the horse enters the arena.

The horse is thoroughly clean.

The horse's saliva often forms " foam " about the horse's lips, which is generally considered to be a sign of the horse's submission and acceptance of the bit.

Some riders believe that foam should not be cleaned off the horse's mouth before entering the arena due to it being a sign of submission.

Conversely, some riders choose to wipe the foam from their horses ' mouths prior to entering the arena, as foam can land on the horses ' chests and legs.

It should be noted that the presence of foam does not necessarily indicate the horse's acceptance of the bit, as certain metals such as German silver may cause the horse's salivation to increase without full acceptance of the bit.