13 Steps to Grooming Your Horse
Grooming a horse keeps it clean, happy and healthy. Here is a complete set of 13 easy steps:
1. Tie the horse
Even a well-trained horse may need to be protected during grooming. It can be secured with a halter and rope or a lead rope, such as a quick release knot or cross knot tied to a nearby post, or someone can help hold the rope. This ensures that the horse is in the right position for proper grooming. At the same time, it is recommended to use a quick release knot, especially when combing. If a situation startles the horse into a flight response, releasing the knot quickly reduces the risk of a potentially dangerous situation.
2.Comb with curry comb
Starting at the horse's head and moving in a gentle but firm circle, comb the hair and dirt from the horse's body with a curry comb until you reach the tail. Take extra care where there are bones and avoid touching the horse's head, mane, tail and lower legs. With the grooming cycle, dirt particles on the horse's skin will surface, making it easier to clean.
3. Remove debris with a stiff brush
After the hair and dirt have been brought to the surface of the horse's coat, use a stiff brush to remove the hair, dirt and sweat from the ears to the tail in a straight flick motion. Make sure to press hard, but not tickle the horse.
4. Clean with a soft/body brush
Since the bristles of a soft brush or body brush are softer, they can be used on all areas of the horse's body, including the mane and tail. Start at the horse's head and work your way to the rest of the body in long, smooth strokes. The movement can be accelerated when brushing the lower leg, as this area is more sensitive to hard brushing. In addition, a soft brush or body brush can also be used to brush the bridge of the horse's nose and cheeks, but be careful to avoid sensitive areas such as the tip of the nose and eyes.
5. Pick the hooves
For starters, stand next to the horse and face in the opposite direction from where the horse stands. Place the hoof pick on the opposite side of the horse and gently run the hand near the horse along the front of the horse's leg until you reach the hoof. At the same time, lean gently towards the horse to encourage the horse to shift his weight to the other side in order to pick up the hooves. Support and secure the hoof with your hands. Start at the back of the hoof with a hoof pick and carefully work towards the front to remove rocks and dirt. Clean the V-shaped part of the hoof, the grooves on the sides of the frog, but do not dig too deep to avoid damaging the hoof. If it is your first time or if you are unsure, ask someone with experience for help.
6. Clean your face
Gently clean the horse's nose and eyes with a damp cloth or sponge to make the horse feel clean and fresh. After cleaning the face, take another damp cloth or sponge and wipe the area under the horse's tail. This area is very sensitive to many horses and should be handled with extra tenderness and care.
7.Brush the mane and tail
After the horse's hooves, body, and face are cleaned, the mane and tail are brushed. Stand to the side of the horse to avoid being kicked, and first brush the worst parts of the mane and tail with a wide tooth comb or brush, then carefully brush in sections. Hold the top of the hair firmly with one hand and brush with the other to avoid pulling on the horse's skin. Hair curlers or lighteners can also be used to prevent unnecessary pulling or damaging the hair.
8. Use spray
Flies are quite a nuisance to horses, especially in summer. Finish the grooming routine with fly repellent spray on the horse's body, but avoid the face. This reduces the risk of infection and the horse being bitten and prevents the horse from experiencing pain and discomfort.
9.Check the skin condition
During or after grooming, carefully examine your horse's skin for signs of abrasions, bumps, rashes, or parasites. If any abnormalities are found, a veterinarian should be contacted in time for diagnosis and treatment.
10. Trim long hair
For too long or messy hair in the horse's mane and tail, it can be carefully trimmed with appropriate scissors to make the hair more neat and beautiful. But be careful not to cut too short or hurt the horse's skin.
11. Massage and relax
Massage the horse's body with a gentle hand, especially in areas of muscle tension. This not only makes the horse feel comfortable and relaxed, but also helps improve blood circulation.
12.Provision of nutritional care
After grooming, the horse can be provided with some nutrient-rich feed or supplements to maintain the health of the horse's coat. For example, a diet containing Omega-3 fatty acids can make a horse's hair brighter and softer.
13. Cleaning and combing tools
Clean the used grooming tool to remove hair, dirt and bacteria. Keeping the grooming tool clean ensures that it will not cause an infection to the horse's skin the next time it is used.
Do you have questions about grooming or providing other care to your horse?
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