Tips In Grooming Your Horse

July 20, 2010 · Posted in Uncategorized

Grooming is surely an activity which is pleasant for both you and your horse. Also, it is a good venture to search for injuries and irritations. Make sure you make grooming a regular routine. It is, in fact, a must before riding. Get your grooming equipments and tools organized in a safe handy spot. A large bucket could possibly be most affordable and easiest to place your brushes in, though there are many grooming boxes available on the market that keep your tools arranged and nifty.

The following are the tools you need for grooming your horse a curry comb or grooming mitt, a body brush with pretty stiff bristles, mane and tail comb preferably plastic for it causes less breakage than metal ones, a fine soft bristled finishing brush, a hoof pick and a clean sponge or soft cloth. It would be nice if you have grooming spray, which can provide protection from the sun and also add shine to your horse’s coat. Hoof ointment if advised by your farrier and scissors or clippers.

1) Clean out all four hooves and see symptoms of injury or disorder. Draw the hoof pick back to front to wash out throughout the frog. Make a note of any breaks in the wall of the hoof so you can consult with your farrier as to what should be done. Lightly place the foot down on the floor and keep on until eventually all 4 feet are done.

2) Make use of the curry comb or grooming mitt to dislodge the dirt in your horse’s hair coat. Use strong circular sweeps, being gentle over bony regions such as shoulders, hips and legs. Majority of the horses are sensitive about having their bellies and between the back legs stroked. Be careful over these areas to use just a light contact. A few horses are more sensitive skinned than other horses so adjust the pressure given on the brush in accordance with what they appear to like. In case your horse reacts by laying back his ears, or swishing his tail in agitation, he is telling you that the stroke is too vigorous. As well as currying you’ll be looking for any lesions on the skin or wounds.

3) Stand to the side while lightly brushing or combing through your horse’s tail. Move section by section, working your way up from the bottom part, brushing downwards a few inches at a time. A grooming spray that detangles hair is nice to have, and helps brushing out the long stands easier while cleaning, shining and safeguarding the hair.

4) Whisk away the dirt and grime left while currying with a firm bristled dandy or body brush. The body brush is a bit more helpful for clearing the dirt off the legs versus curry comb. Take this as a good time for you to check for skin lesions as well as skin irritations on the knees, pasterns and legs.

5) The finishing brush can make your horse’s coat sleek and shiny. It additionally eliminates the last traces of dust and dirt. Use very long sweeping strokes over the entire body and broad parts of the face.

6) Examine your horse’s eyes. A little bit of tears at the corner of each eye is absolutely not abnormal, but take note of excess tearing, redness, or lump. Clean across the dock and tail head. Check the ears for lodged seed heads or mud.

7) Lastly, apply hoof ointment to protect and also moisturize your horse’s hooves if at all suggested by your farrier. Apply fly spray or sun screen if situations call for.

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