Grooming your horse is important for many reasons. The first reason is that it keeps the horse clean, which means they’re less likely to get infested with parasites or other illnesses. The second reason is that grooming helps you bond with your horse because you spend time together while doing it. And of course, there’s also a third reason: grooming makes your horse look pretty! Following the guide below will help you keep your horse beautiful and healthy.
#1 Brush Your Horse
Use a good quality brush. WHAL makes good quality brushes but if you are on a buget a grooming kit such as a Harrison Howard Horse grooming kit will work just fine. See supply list below.
Brush in the direction of hair growth, starting at the horse’s head and working your way down to its rear end. For example, if you’re brushing your horse’s mane, start at the top of its neck and work downward toward its belly. This will help prevent injury and keep mats from forming in places where they can be difficult to see or remove (like behind the ears).
Use soft brushes for brushing your horse’s body (chest and hindquarters), but use firmer brushes for brushing its legs; these stiffer bristles will remove dirt from deep within them without irritating sensitive skin or damaging hooves by pushing dirt too far into cracks between plates that support each foot as it stands on all fours (known as “frog” pads).
#2 Wash Your Horse
One of the leading shampoos is Cowboy Magic. Orvus WA paste is another shampoo that works great on horses with alot of white. Once you’ve decided on a shampoo, it’s time to prepare the horse. This step should be done with care and caution.
Begin by reading the manufacturers instructions on all your products then gather together any tools that will make this process easier such as:
- buckets of warm water (one for rinsing off the shampoo and another for washing)
- towels, sponges or brushes (for scrubbing)
- nail clippers/shears
You can include fly spray if needed and maybe even some treats if your horse seems nervous about being washed—the last thing you want is for him or her to get upset at being bathed! Make sure to rinse all the shampoo out to prevent skin irritation. You also might want to have someone nearby who can help keep an eye on things so that nothing goes wrong during this whole process; once again: safety first!
#3 Check Over the Body
Go over the body. Check for injuries, ticks or other parasites, cuts or bruises, swelling or inflammation and heat or cold discomfort. If you find anything abnormal then it’s best to have a vet look at your horse immediately.
#4 Check the Hooves and Feet
It’s important to check the hooves and feet of your horse regularly. This is especially so if you have a horse that is prone to getting stones, burrs or other foreign objects in their shoes. You should also check for cracks and chips as these can weaken the hoof which may cause a long-term problem for your horse. The angle of the hoof is another thing that needs checking; it should be at a 45 degree angle from ground level when viewed from above or below it. Your vet will be able to advise you on how to measure this angle if necessary.
When checking your horses feet, look closely at them for swelling, heat or pain (signs of infection), dirt, mud and manure (signs of thrush) and make sure there are no foreign objects lodged inside them causing discomfort or injury such as stones etc. Stones can increased pressure exerted against nerves located within foot structures during movement when weight shifts downwards onto the hoof. This can also create an imbalance that can affect the joints of the horse and if left untreated could lead onto larger problems.
Watch for abscesses due to infection caused by bacteria entering through cracks in damaged cuticle layers on top surface of skin around nail area where moisture collects. This is an ideal environment for bacteria growth/penetration into deeper layers beneath skin causing inflammation leading into deeper tissue areas resulting in pain due. to increased pressure exerted against nerves located within foot structures. Damage occurs very quickly and can be fatal if left untreated.
#5 Wash the Mane and Tail
The next step is to wash your horse’s mane and tail. You can use a sponge or cloth to clean each one, then use a brush in order to get out all of the dirt from inside the mane and tail.
You should also make sure that you are washing your horse’s body. This will help keep them smelling nice for as long as possible, which means that they won’t have to be groomed as often! If you want, you can even use conditioner on their coat after every bath if they have particularly dry or damaged skin.
Brush your horse again after drying using a product like Eqyss Survivor Equine Detangler. This is a very highly recomended product.
If you follow this guide you will have a clean, happy horse.
By following this guide, you will have a clean, happy horse. A healthy horse is a happy horse and a well groomed horse is a happy horse.
A quick note: I do not recommend bathing your horse every day. Depending on the breed of your horse and how much natural oil they produce (or lack thereof), they may need more frequent baths than other breeds or less frequent baths than others.
This is a very comprehensive guide and will take you through all the steps of grooming your horse. If you follow it step by step, you can be assured that your horse will be clean, happy and healthy!
Supply List
| Description | Price | |
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Wahl Professional Animal Equine Grooming Stiff Body Horse Brush,
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Harrison Howard Horse Grooming KitThis 11 piece horse grooming set offers all the essential brushes and accessories you need, with a range of brushes for grooming from head to tail, and hooves for all the care and attention they need, making your grooming a lot more complete. |
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Cowboy Magic Shampoo 32 OunceFAST working ingredients break down dirt and unwanted matter quickly without damaging hair |
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Orvus WA Paste Cleaner - 120oz.- Horse, Livestock and Dog Shampoo
Orvus is Hypoallergenic. Biodegradable and has no phosphates or dyes. Orvus is made in USA, HE Safe, and is Residue Free. |
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Eqyss Survivor Equine DetanglerSurvivor smoothes out tangles, mats and knots. It is excellent for manes tails braids or feathered legs it enhances shine softens coat, mane and tail and the Vitamin E protects hair. |