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How to Groom your Horse
Ian Williamson
Grooming is an important part of keeping your horse healthy. It
involves more than just brushing its hair. By grooming you get a
chance to inspect your horse up close for any injuries, and it
provides a good chance to bond with your horse. Also, it is very
important to do this before riding your horse, as sand between
the saddle and its back can cause sores.
To groom your horse you'll need several tools. They are a hoof
pick, rubber curry comb, stiff body brush, fine finishing brush,
mane and tail comb, and soft cloths. You can keep all these
neatly organized in a large bucket.
Before you begin, make sure your horse is securely tied. Make
sure the horse is tied to a secure object and use a quick release
knot in case of trouble.
Start your grooming session by lifting up each of your horse's
hooves and pick out any dirt or manure that is stuck to the frog
or sole of the foot. When doing this make note of any hoof cracks
and make sure if your horse is shod to see if the shoes are
properly fitted. Alert your Farrier to any problems.
Next take a curry comb to any areas of your horse's coat that are
dirty. Be careful, because a curry comb can be irritating to a
horse's sensitive areas, and in the bony areas like the shoulders
and legs.
Then with a main and tail brush remove any dirt or tangles from
the main and tail. It is best to start from the top of the main
or tail and work your way down. Sometimes if the hair is really
tangled you can use a grooming spray to help untangle the hair.
When grooming the tail be sure to stand on the side of the horse
and not directly behind to avoid being kicked.
Now with a good body brush, brush your horse from head to toe.
this brush will help to remove all the dirt and dandruff brought
to the surface by the curry comb. Use short sweeping strokes, and
try to use enough force to get the bristles all the way to the
skin. Do this all over your horse's body.
With a soft finishing brush, groom your entire horse now to help
bring out the shine in your horse's coat. A soft brush will help
remove the finer dust particles not already removed by previous
brushing.
Finish your horse's grooming session by using a rag and gently
wipe your horse's ears and nose. Also, you can apply hoof
ointment to your horse's feet to help keep them shiny and
healthy. By performing a good grooming session each time you ride
your horse you are helping to keep your horse healthy and clean.
For more Pet Articles by Ian Williamson please visit
http://www.real-articles.com/Category/Pets/57
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