7 Steps To Grooming Your Horse

Grooming is an activity that’s pleasing for you and your horse. It is usually a good opportunity to check for injuries as well as irritations. Try to make grooming an everyday routine. It is deemed an absolute must prior to riding your horse. Keep your grooming equipments arranged in a safe handy location. A wide pail might be most cost effective and best to put your brushes in, although there are lots of grooming boxes on the market that keep your tools arranged and handy.

You will need a curry comb or grooming mitt, a body brush preferably with fairly stiff bristles, mane and tail comb preferably plastic for it causes less breakage than metal ones, a fine soft bristled finishing brush, a hoof pick and a clean sponge or soft cloth. It would be great if you have grooming spray, which can provide protection from the sun as well as add shine to your horse’s coat. Hoof ointment if recommended by your farrier and scissors or clippers.

1) Thoroughly clean out all four hooves and search for indicators of injury or disease. Pull the hoof pick back to front to completely clean out round the frog. Note down any splits in the wall of the hoof so you can consult with your farrier as to what should be done. Slowly place the foot down on the ground and keep on until all 4 feet are done.

2) Use the curry comb or grooming mitt to disengage the dirt in your horse’s hair coat. Use vigorous spherical sweeps, being gentle over bony regions like shoulders, hips and legs. Many horses are receptive about having their bellies and between the back legs stroked. Be truly careful over these zones to use a light contact. A few horses are more delicate skinned than other horses so adjust the pressure given on the brush based on what they appear to appreciate. In case your horse responds by laying back his ears, or swishing his tail in frustration, he is letting you know that the brushing is too vigorous. As well as currying you’ll be looking for any kind of skin lesions or wounds.

3) Stay to the side while carefully brushing or combing through your horse’s tail. Move section by section, working your way up from the bottom part, then brushing downwards a couple of inches each time. A grooming spray that detangles hair would be nice to have, and makes brushing out the long stands much easier while cleaning, shining and safeguarding the hair.

4) Whisk away the dirt left in the course of currying with a rigid bristled dandy or body brush. The body brush is a bit more ideal for clearing the dirt off the legs versus the curry comb. This is an excellent time for you to check for lesions as well as skin irritations on the knees, pasterns and legs.

5) The finishing brush helps make your horse’s coat smooth and shiny. It additionally erases the last traces of dust and dirt. Use very long sweeping brushes over the entire body as well as wide regions of the face.

6) Check the eyes of your horse. A little bit of tearing at the corner of each eye isn’t unusual, but note down excess tearing, redness, or bloating. Clean around the dock and tail head. Examine the ears for stuck seed heads or mud.

7) Lastly, use hoof ointment to safeguard and also moisturize your horse’s hooves if at all proposed by your farrier. Apply fly spray or protecton from the sun if situations demand.

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