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Regular grooming is important not only for a horse’s general cleanliness and well-being, but also for detecting any skin problems or injuries before they have a chance to get worse. While grooming a horse may seem like a difficult task at first, when you have the basic tools and know the simple steps to follow, the process will quickly become routine.
If you are grooming more than one horse, it is a good idea to keep a separate set of tools for each. This will prevent the spread of skin fungus or other such problems from horse to horse. It is also important to clean the tools regularly.
In order to avoid missing any areas, it is helpful to start at the top of the neck and work your way back the horse’s body, then repeat the steps on the other side. Don’t forget the underside of the belly.
The first step involves using a rubber curry comb to remove dust and loose hair. Metal curry combs should be kept only for cleaning brushes, not horses. The curry should be used in a circular motion on the body, using care around the bony areas like the back and shoulders. The curry is too rough for use on the face and legs.
Next, a dandy brush with soft bristles should be used in a sweeping motion on the body. Flicking the brush away from the coat will lift the dirt away and prevent it from being pushed back under the horse’s coat. The sweeping should follow the direction of the hair, with one section of the body being completed at a time.
After the entire body has been groomed with the dandy brush, a body brush should be used over the coat to smooth the hair and remove any dirt that may remain. A body brush is usually made of horse hair and has very soft bristles.
The final step for the coat is to polish it with a towel. This will remove dust and sweat marks to result in a shiny coat.
The tail is groomed in sections using a mane and tail comb to separate the hairs. Plastic combs result in less breakage.
A stiff brush is useful for removing any dirt at the base of the main.
A small cloth or soft brush should be used on the horse’s face and legs.
Hooves should also be cleaned regularly to reduce the risk of infection. When picking up the horse’s feet, it is helpful to run a hand down the leg and gentle squeeze the ankle. Be careful not to throw the horse off balance by picking the foot up too high. A hoof pick is the best tool here, and should be used to remove anything in the hollow areas of the hoof and around the sole of the foot. Allowing anything to remain in the crevices could result in a thrush infection.
Other tools which may be needed occasionally include a mud brush with stiff bristles and a shedding blade for loosening extra hair as coat sheds with the changing seasons.
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