Grooming 101
Grooming is one of the most important aspects of horse care. Not only does it make your horse look clean and smart, but it also has many other important benefits. Firstly, it is one of the best ways for you and your horse to get to know each other. Through grooming you can learn how your horse responds and reacts to things. You can find out where he likes to be touched and where not, and you can find his ‘scratchy spots’, which are great for rewarding him or just for creating a better bond.
On top of this, if you groom your horse regularly, you will notice when something is slightly amiss, and detecting early signs of potential issues makes all the difference. It may just be that you notice your horse is slightly ‘offish’ today or doesn’t seem quite as bright as usual, but these signs can be key indicators of an illness or issue brewing. On a more obvious note, while grooming you should also check your horse for any lumps, bumps, swelling, heat, wounds or unusual sensitivity. Grooming is also vital for keeping the skin in good condition, and improving circulation and muscle tone through the pressure of the grooming brushes against the large muscle areas.
“When I worked as a groom in England, I became able to spot the signs of illness so much more quickly. This was simply through grooming my horse myself and observing his stable habits. It’s the tiny things that hold the clues!”
Equipment
There are many grooming products available on the market. We cover the main ones here, but bear in mind that there are plenty of variants and you should sample a few to see what works best for you and your horse.
You also need to remember that each horse is an individual; for example, some are more ticklish than others. Thoroughbreds, for instance, are typically much more sensitive than other horses. Some individual horses also have certain areas where they are especially sensitive. Once you know your horse you can customise your routine to suit him, because, as with everything with horses, a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach just isn’t going to cut it. Your horse will really enjoy his grooming sessions with you if you take the time and trouble to consider his needs.
Items in a grooming kit
Body brush
This brush is vital and we would recommend you have a few in your collection. It has soft bristles to remove dirt and grease. It is the mainstay of any grooming kit.
Plastic curry comb
This curry comb has short, stiff bristles to remove mud and loose hair. It can be used to clean brushes. This brush has had a lot of bad press recently, as it has been shown to cause damage to the horse’s coat. We would, therefore, advise that you only use plastic curry combs directly on your horse when absolutely necessary, and instead use a rubber curry comb.
Rubber curry comb
This curry comb has short, rubber teeth to dislodge grease, loose hair and any accumulated mud from the coat. It is considered much better for the coat than a plastic curry comb.
Metal curry comb
This curry comb is NEVER to be used on the horse. It has sharp metal teeth that are used to clean brushes ONLY.
Mane comb
This metal or plastic comb with long teeth is for combing out the mane, but beware – lots of horses hate having their manes combed, and a gentle approach is definitely required!
Water brush
This brush has medium-stiffness bristles for bathing the horse and laying the mane flat to one side. It is sometimes also used for cleaning any stains off the coat that are difficult to remove. As the name suggests, it is generally used wet.
Dandy brush
This brush has stiff bristles to remove mud and dirt. It must be used sensitively over any areas where bone lies close to the skin (for example, on the legs).
Flick brush
This brush looks similar to a dandy brush and has long bristles to remove dust and grease.
Sponges
You will need several sponges for cleaning the eyes, nose and dock. Sponges are also used when bathing the horse.
Stable rubber
This is a cloth or towel that is used to wipe off dust and grease, and to help make the coat shine after the bulk of the grooming is completed.
Hoof pick
This is to remove mud, stones and dirt from the horse’s feet. You should use this to clean your horse’s feet out at least twice a day.
Sweat scraper
Generally made of plastic with a rubber edge, it is used to remove excess water from a horse’s coat after bathing or rinsing.
Mane and tail brush
It looks similar to a human hairbrush and is used for brushing/detangling the mane and tail.
Caring for grooming equipment
It is, of course, easier to get a horse clean if the implements you use are clean. It is important to wash brushes regularly in an antibacterial soap, to remove any bacteria that may build up. It will also help make the grooming kit last longer. It is also important to have a separate grooming kit for each horse to avoid spreading infection between one horse and another.
