subject: Horse Grooming Kit [print this page] While it might seem that grooming a horse is purely cosmetic, its in fact a necessary part of the horse's care. By caring for your horse's coat, you not only make him look better, but make him feel better too. Spending time with him while grooming can also be a wonderful method to bond using your horse, letting you get to know him in the mutually enjoyable setting.
For basic grooming you may need several various kinds of brushes. The following are some of the most common brushes:
Curry comb - a plastic or rubber brush with raised bumps on one side plus a strap or loop on the back to hold your hand in
Hard brush - a wooden or plastic backed brush with bristles which are hard to the touch and not terribly flexible
Medium brush - a wooden or plastic backed brush with bristles which are firm, yet flexible
Soft brush - a wooden or plastic backed brush with soft, long bristles which can be very flexible
Finishing/Dandy brush - a wooden backed brush, oval in shape, with short bristles that are tightly packed to be firm, yet soft to the touch
Hoof pick - a metal hook-shaped implement (seems like a bent screwdriver) designed to remove dirt from the hooves, sometimes carries a brush on one end, could have a metal or plastic hand hold
Mane comb - a large-toothed plastic or metal comb of variable length
Pulling comb - a large-toothed metal comb, about 4 long and with 1 long teeth
Shedding blade - a long, thin metal bar that is bent back upon itself, one edge smooth, the other serrated
To groom your horse, it is safest to tie him securely either on crossties or in the stall. While you can groom a horse loose in his stall, unless you realize the horse well, tying is safer.
Start with the curry comb. Curry your horse in a circular motion so that the comb strokes follow the direction of the coat. Feel free to use a fair bit of pressure as this acts like a massage for the horse. The curry comb brings all the dirt to the surface and loosens any shedding hair. Rubber curries are best for the summer months, while plastic ones are better for long winter coats. Avoid currying the legs and face as they're more sensitive and need a softer brush.
Next take the medium brush and brush the whole coat inside the direction of the hair growth. Use short strokes and flick the brush at the end of each stroke. This dislodges the dirt and removes it from the coat. You need to use a tough brush on the legs if necessary to break up any caked on mud, but generally hard brushes are too firm for the rest of the coat.
A medium brush can be utilized on the face, but most horses prefer a soft brush. The soft brush is used over the horse's entire coat and is used to flick off any remaining dirt and dust. It produces a nice shine and for everyday grooming is the perfect finishing touch. If you're showing, you might want to use a finishing or dandy brush to finish the job.
The mane should be combed out regularly with a mane comb. Pulling combs work well too, but may break more hair than a plastic mane comb. You can comb the tail with a mane comb if you'd like, but many horse owners like better to use a brush. You can buy specialty brushes for horses, but brushes made for human hair work just as well and often cost less.
Finally, every time you groom, you should pick out the horse's feet. Start out at the point where the frog meets the heel, and clear out the grooves beside the frog. Make sure you clear the grooves thoroughly as stones wedged inside the groove can bruise the frog and cause lameness. Then clean the rest of the sole, clearing any dirt packed around the shoes (if any). If your hoof pick has a brush on it, you need to use the brush to sweep the rest of the dirt from the hoof.
Horses should be groomed daily if at all possible. If you are riding, its important to groom both before and after every ride, paying careful attention to the feet. A well groomed horse is a healthy horse. Both you and he will feel better for a good grooming.
