Horse Grooming

Your grooming kit may be sparten; a dandy brush...a body brush...a hoofpick...or it may be elaborate...However what you have...is less important, to how you use it...

Grooming your horse or pony gives you a daily opportunity to check it over...and make sure theres no cuts, sores, scrapes, swelling, bruises, or skin problems etc...It's aim is to promote health, prevent disease, maintain condition, and ensure cleanliness...

If you groom thoroughly every time you ride...you may pick up changes in your horse or pony's legs, such as heat in a joint...or a slightly mushy tendon...The attention is mainly given to the coat, skin, mane, tail and feet...

When grooming a stable kept horse or pony...begin by picking out the feet with a hoof pick...working downward from the heel towards the toe...making sure you remove all dirt...and checking the condition of the shoes...

When grooming the body...begin by using the dandy brush...giving extra attention to the saddle region...the horse's head...and the hocks, fetlocks and pasterns...

Then work over the whole body...including the mane...with the body brush in one hand...and the curry comb in the other...

Try using short circular strokes...rather than just up and down...Taking precautions in sensitive area's...After a few strokes, clean out any built up dirt...Use a sponge for the eyes and around the nose...

When grooming an outside kept horse or pony...best not use a body brush over it's body during the winter month's...as it may remove essential oils...Just stick to a dandy brush to take away the caked dirt on it's legs and belly...But make sure the eyes, nose and dock regions are sponged daily..

Grooming kit items

Dandy brush...is a stiff brush good for removing caked mud and sweat...

Hoof pick...used for picking out mud and stones from the feet

Mane comb...removes tangles from the mane and tail before plaiting...

Body brush...has fine bristles that removes dust and dandruff from the coat, mane and tail..

Curry comb...made from metal or rubber and removes the dirt from a body brush...

Sweat scaper...removes sweat or water after washing horse down...

Water brush...used on mane, tail and feet when dampened...