| Good grooming can act as a preventative measure | | | | to use a curry glove (a rubber glove with stubs |
| for your horses health, picking hooves can help keep | | | | teeth) instead of the comb - this is on personal |
| thrush at bay but just as importantly the attention | | | | preference. |
| you give a horse during grooming means that you | | | | Next you use the dandy brush (stiff body brush) this |
| are more likely to notice any changes or signals | | | | is used can take the dirt and hair loosened with the |
| meaning you pick up on potential problems before | | | | curry and remove it from the horse - so don't brush |
| they get chance to manifest. A full body groom helps | | | | the horse down or you will just pack the dirt back |
| you notice indicators such as loosening horseshoes, | | | | into its coat. Use a flicking movement (similar to |
| excessive warmth in a region, minor swelling, rain rot, | | | | brushing the yard) and make sure to follow the grain |
| nasty bug bits, abrasions, lesions, rashes....well you get | | | | of your horses hair - you should see a slight cloud of |
| the idea!! | | | | dust with each stroke. Use this alongside a metal |
| When done correctly grooming can be an incredibly | | | | curry comb - after several strokes of the dandy |
| bonding and calming experience and play an important | | | | brush draw the brush across the teeth of the curry |
| part in keeping your horse healthy and creating a | | | | comb to remove the dirt. |
| good bond between horse and owner. Having a good | | | | Finally you want to finish your horses coat using the |
| grooming regime can help build up trust between | | | | body brush (finishing brush). This is designed to |
| horse and owner and that respect will transfer to the | | | | smooth down the hair and get rid of any traces of |
| performance you get out of each other. Horses | | | | left-over dirt. You use regular brushing motions to |
| attitudes to grooming are individual some horses will | | | | flatten the hair. Using a body brush can give your |
| enjoy it and remain docile and relaxed whilst others | | | | horse a shiny, clean appearance - but only when the |
| would prefer to be doing anything but - a bit like | | | | brushes are used in this order! |
| babies and bath time! | | | | The last step is to use stable rubber, sheepskin or |
| Grooming methods change depending on the horse | | | | chamois leather to really give the coat a shine. |
| and whether it part of daily upkeep or show | | | | Having finished your horse's body it's now time to |
| preparation. But here is a guide to the basic tools, | | | | pick up his feet and clean them thoroughly with your |
| skills and techniques needed: | | | | hoof pick. (You should first have your instructor |
| BASIC GROOMING KIT | | | | show you how to pick up a horse's feet). Be sure |
| Essentials: | | | | not to pick up the horse's foot too high, or he might |
| Dandy brush | | | | loose balance. When you use the hoof pick, always |
| Body brush | | | | scrape away from you, just as you would if you |
| Rubber curry comb | | | | were using a carrot peeler. You don't want to |
| Metal curry comb | | | | accidentally injure yourself or your horse if he |
| Sponges (two different colours) | | | | suddenly moves or pulls his foot away. It is important |
| Stable rubber | | | | to thoroughly clean out the hollow areas on both |
| Sweat scraper | | | | sides of the frog, and around the sole of the foot. |
| Hoof pick | | | | Remember to carefully sponge out the eyes, nose, |
| Hoof oil brush | | | | muzzle and dock |
| Hoof oil | | | | Now on to the tail and mane - With the mane and tail |
| Tack box - (for me this is key to keeping | | | | there is such a variety of techniques and tips |
| organised when it comes to grooming!) | | | | depending on personal preference and the style you |
| GROOMING STEP BY STEP | | | | are trying to achieve, whether you prefer a long |
| Start your grooming process with the curry comb. | | | | flowing mane or a shortened mane. As a general rule |
| The curry comb is used to break up and loosen dead | | | | tidy the mane and tail with a body brush. Please see |
| hair and dirt. Use gentle circular motions as these are | | | | our blog next month for all our favourite tips and |
| effective at loosening the dirt and at calming your | | | | techniques whatever your preference! |
| horse. Be careful when using a curry comb on bony | | | | End every grooming session by rewarding your horse |
| areas like the spine and legs as it can cause the | | | | with a big rub on the neck and a treat (if desired) for |
| horse discomfort if not gentle. Never use a curry on | | | | standing still while being groomed. (I usually give him a |
| a horse's face; it is not comfortable for the horse | | | | carrot and me a chocolate at this point! |
| and too near the sensitive eyes! Some people prefer | | | | |