Grooming

Grooming is a vital aspect of horse care. It not only prevents disease and injuries from tack it helps promote a healthy coat, which protects the horse from the cold, rain and sun. Grooming can take from five minutes up to several hours. The more often the horse is groomed the less time it takes to do a good thorough grooming.

Old tradition taught through the Pony Club states that the long groom should be done after a horse is worked. This is because the pores are more open, allowing shedding to be done easier. However doing the same grooming routine before and after riding can give a horse that 'horse show gleam' all the time. Below you will find a very thorough grooming routine. It can take up to a half hour the first few times but once the horse becomes cleaner deep down the time will shorten considerably.

While grooming remember to keep your eyes open for wounds, heat in the legs, or sore spots!!!!!!

Steps to a Show Quality Groom Daily

Step One:
Pick out the feet. It is important to pick out the feet properly. Doing it first in your grooming routine will ensure time for things like hoof dressings to dry, and to prevent the horse from standing on rocks etc. on hard ground if you are grooming outside the stall in cross ties etc. The proper way to ask the horse to pick up the feet is simple. When picking out the feet you should be facing the horse's back end, standing parallel to him. For the front leg slide your hand down the back of the leg. When you reach the fetlock squeeze the tendons right above it with an in and up motion with your fingers. If your horse still does not pick up the hoof leaning against the horse will shift the weight off the hoof. Once the hoof is picked up hold it in which ever hand is most comfortable for you making sure it is not held too high and that the horse is comfortable. Using the hoof pick clean out the hoof picking away from you. Lightly clean into the frog of the hoof, making sure there are no rocks, etc. imbedded in the hoof. When finished placed the foot to the ground and release. For the back leg it is the same routine except that you run your hand down the front of the back leg, around the inside to squeeze the tendons. This insures your arm is out of the way if the horse is to kick. Also when he picks up the back hoof walk it forward (for you, back for the horse) one step to make it more comfortable for the horse. If the hooves are dry hoof dressing may be applied to the coronet band and the hoof sole/frog. Do not apply it to the hoof wall as this weakens it.

Step Two:
Using a good curry comb, grooming mitt, or any other deep reaching grooming tool this stage gets the deep down dirt to the surface, also giving the horse's muscles a good massage.. The grooma groomer is a great tool for this stage. The large fingers of it work down deep into the coat. For very sensitive skinned horse's the grooming mitt is best as it doesn't stimulate the skin so much. Start at the neck using a circular motion. Every few circles clean out the brush by banging it against the floor. Do this over the neck, shoulder, barrel, and rump of the horse on both sides.

Step Three:
Cleaning off the dirt that stage two brought up is the point of this stage. Done with a stiff curry comb use a flicking motion over the entire length of the horse to remove the dirt off the horse. Work from the neck back. In this stage include the legs, and if the horse allows (or is very dirty) include the head as well. For muddy areas on the leg and head a back and forth motion will help remove the dried mud. If your horse is very sensitive and shows he's uncomfortable with this brush skip to stage four.

Step Four:
Using a soft dandy brush go over the entire body with the same flicking motion as before. Again clean the brush ever few strokes by brushing it against a curry comb. The idea of this stage is to get out the rest of the dirt, dandruff that was left over by the stiff brush in the last step.

Step Five:
Spray the horse's coat with a hair moisturizer. I like healthy Hair Care's Moisturizer, or Miracle Coat's Lustorizer. Do not use things like show sheen as the silicon base makes the hair unnaturally slippery, and will not allow the horse to fluff the coat to keep warm in cool weather. Avoid the head and ear area of the horse. Spray the tail very well with the moisturizer. For the tail Show sheen can be used.

Step Six:
Using a soft cloth, cactus cloth, fuzzy mitt, or a body brush (not quite as good) go over the horse with long soft strokes. This removes the last bit of dust, puts a gleam on the coat and spreads out the moisturizer. Include the face in this step. If needed spray some of the moisturizer onto the cloth before wiping the face as this will help remove dust.

Step Seven:
Using a wide toothed comb brush out the tail. Starting at the bottom lightly remove any tangles and knots. This is the one place that show sheen is a god sent. It helps keep out those tangles. Make sure that the hairs on the dock are well brushed. This stimulates the tail and helps it grow. It also removes itches from the dock before the horse needs to scratch them. A cat slicker brush also works great for this stage. It only removes old dead hair and is great at getting out tangles. Using the comb also come out the mane.

Voila your done, your horse is gleaming clean!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you do this daily before and after riding it gets much much quicker. In the end if done daily it can be done in ten minutes. This simple seven step grooming routine leaves the horse looking good enough to walk into the show ring almost any day. As always tailor it to the individual horse. If your horse is petrified of towels use a body brush instead. If your horse doesn't like stiff brushes skip that step or use something softer.

The Tools To Use

Body Brush: For the removal of dust and scurf from the coat, mane and tail. It is made with a wooden or plastic handle and short soft bristles.

Body Brush Curry Comb: Made of metal for cleaning the body brush. The plastic or rubber curry combs are used for removing mud and bringing up the dirt from the horse's skin to the surface.

Metal curry, plastic curry and rubber curry. Dandy Brush: REmoves heavy dirt, mud and dust. Stiffer brushes are good for horse's with thick coats but clipped or sensitive horses should only have soft dandy brushes used. The bristles are longer then that of the body brush.

Dandy Brush Hoof Pick: Picks out the hooves. Ones with bristles are most useful as it helps in cleaning the hoof. Should be light and comfortable for the rider to hold.

Hoof Pick Mane Comb: Large toothed comb it is used to take out tangles from the mane and tail. Used carefully it will not pull out hair. Smaller combs are used braiding and pulling of the mane/tail.

Pulling mane comb, Larger every day comb. Cloths: Used for a final polish on the coat. Old soft towels are perfect for this.

Soft cloth Coat Spray: Conditioner or show sheen types it gives the coat a nice shine. Used before brushing or before the final polish with a cloth.

Sponges: Used damp to clean the dock, eyes and nostrils one separate sponge for each area so that infections/bactiera do not spread to the other area.

Sponges