Learning About Horses - Grooming a Horse

Properly Grooming a Horse

It is crucial to properly groom your horse

• promote bonding relationship
• promote healthy and durable coat
• proper horse maintenance

Supplies 

• lead rope
• curry comb
• hard stiff brush
• soft brush
• mane and tail brush
• hoof pick
• cloth
• fly spray

Steps to grooming your horse

Step 1 use a lead rope to secure your horse 

properly secure horse using a quick release knot

Step 2 use the curry comb to loosen excess dirt and mud

begin using the rubber curry come in small (about the size of your palm) circular motions  loosen excess dirt and mud start at neck work way down each side of horse avoid using the curry comb on the face, spine, and legs SENSITIVE DO NOT USE METAL COMBS

Step 3 use a hard/stiff brush to remove dirt and mud

Start at the neck of the horse work way towards the rear use short, brisk strokes remove excess dirt and mud that was loosed with curry brush avoid face, ears, legs

Step 4 use soft brush to remove any remaining dust and remove sensitive areas

use soft brush to remove last layer of dust from horse's body use this brush to groom sensitive areas face and legs gently brush face with smaller soft brush brush horse's entire body beginning at head and working way to rump on both sides of the horse

Step 5 use sponge or washcloth to clean your horse's face

gently clean around horse's eyes & nose with wet/damp sponge/washcloth use a DIFFERENT sponge/washcloth to clean around the dock area (tail) DO NOT use same cloth on different horses

Step 6 use wide-tooth comb or mane and tail brush to brush out mane and tail

WARNING DO NOT STAND BEHIND HORSE run fingers through horse's mane and tail to work out large knots take a fist full of mane or tail and use the other to gently comb through it keep touching horse so it knows you are there detangling spray helps detangle the mane or tail

Step 7 use a hoof pick to clean horse's hooves

lift horse's hoof after lifting hoof, use hoof pick to scrape from the heel of the hoof towards the toe to remove rocks, mud, dirt AVOID scraping frog VERY sensitive

Step 8 use fly spray when necessary to protect your horse

during fly months spray horse with fly spray to protect him from these pesky insects DO NOT spray face