Horse Grooming Should'nt Be A Job. It Should Be A Joy.

Finally The SECRETS To Gorgeous Horses!

"Now You Too Can Grow Long, Thick, Luxurious Manes and Tails and Make ANY Horse Stunningly Gorgeous Amazingly Fast!!"

Click Here!

Horse grooming is a necessary task for the well-being of your horse. Not only does it benefit him, it can also help establish a bond between you and your horse.

I love grooming my horses. It allows me to spend time and bond with them one by one. Each one gets their own quality time to just get pampered.

In the wild, horses groom each other. This is how they build bonds and friendships within the herd. You will often see horses grooming, biting and playing with each other. They will even sometimes try and groom you, but don't let them, it doesn't feel quite as good to us humans. Horse grooming is best left strictly for the horses.

Grooming a horse is important for a number of reasons, and should be done on a daily basis, especially in senior horses. In addition to building a relationship between you and your horse, it is also a perfect time to check for hidden ailments.

Some puncture wounds, cuts, scratches and ticks may not be visible at just a quick glance. That's why it is also important to have your horse first aid supplies on hand at all times.

A great place to shop for supplies is Jeffers Equine. They have the most reasonable prices and a complete supply of Clippers & Grooming Supplies.

Always begin your daily horse grooming session by cleaning your horses feet. If he has picked up a rock or stick in his hoof, you can get it out easily. This will head-off any problems that could arise from it being left there over a period of time.

After you have cleaned his feet, the next step in grooming your horse is the curry comb. I like the rubber ones best, because the metal ones can scratch his skin if to much pressure is applied.

The curry comb should be used in a circular motion. Not only does it feel great to your horse, it loosens dirt and caked on mud. Do not use this on his face or lower legs. Quick tip: When grooming a horse, always keep your free hand on him at all times. This not only comforts him, but it lets him know where you are and where your going next.

The next step in your horse grooming regimen is the stiff bristle brush. Start at the neck with short flicking motions to remove the loosened dirt and hair. Start at the top and work your way down.

Be especially careful when brushing under his belly. Do not squat or kneel down. It could be harder to get out of the way if your horse gets spooked.

A soft bristle brush will be used next on his face, ears and lower legs. The soft brush will also remove any dirt and debris left over and flatten his coat to bring out the shine.

Quick tip: Be sure and check your horses ears regularly. Ticks will bury themselves down in their ears. If allowed to remain their, they can cause a lot of problems.

The mane and tail should require a little extra care. There is nothing more pleasing to the eye than to see a horse with a beautiful, flowing mane and tail.

I think horses (or mine, anyway) know when they look good. Every time I finish grooming my mare, she prances around the paddock like she is the Queen of Sheba. Although, she thinks she’s the Queen most of the time anyway.

When grooming horses, start at the bottom of the mane and tail and work your way up. Pull out any sticks, burrs or other debris.

Hold the tail about two or three inches above to keep from breaking or pulling the hair. If it is extremely tangled or has what I call “dreadlocks”, apply a detangler. I like to use Sante Fe Instant Detangler. It works great. It leaves their mane and tail soft and easy to manage for days. It saves time in your horse grooming process by making the mane and tail much easier to comb out.

Bathing a horse is also a horse grooming necessity every now and then. Especially if you plan to take him to a horse show. Dirt can build up on their skin and in the root-bed of their mane and tail. This could lead to skin problems, such as dermatitis, or mane and tail rubbing.

If you have never bathed your horse, make sure that he is not afraid of the water. You may have to desensitize him to the water and/or the hose. Don’t be fooled by their size, horses are big scaredy cats when it comes to anything new and out of their comfort zone.

To desensitize a horse to the water, start by spraying the water on the ground 4 or 5 feet away from him. Once he is comfortable with that, gradually bring it closer to him.

Do not try and make him stand still at this point. If he needs to move let him move. Just keep doing what you’re doing until it’s his idea to stop and stand still.

When he stops, immediately remove the water and praise him. This lets him know that he did the right thing. Quick tip:

Whatever a horse is doing at the second you stop the pressure, is what you are teaching him to do. If you remove the pressure while he is still moving, you’re teaching him to move.

After you have praised him for doing the right thing, bring the spray a little closer. Repeat this process as many times as it takes for him to stand still while you spray the ground all around him.

When he is completely comfortable with that, start again by spraying his front legs. He will more than likely start the whole song and dance routine again. Continue, as before, until he decides to stop and stand quietly.

Remember when he stops - you stop! Praise him when he does the right thing. Continue this process until you have covered his entire body. Do not spray him directly in the face. It is best to clean around his eyes and nostrils with a wet cloth.

Use the shampoo of your choice and lather him up. Pay special attention to the mane and tail. You should flip the mane to its opposite side, making sure to get the shampoo down into the root-bed. Use a wide tooth comb to insure that the shampoo gets worked in well.

Repeat the same process for the tail. Apply directly to the tail-head and scrub vigorously to remove embedded dirt.

Quick tip: Old mustard bottles or condiment dispensers work great for holding shampoo and conditioners. This ensures that you get it where you want it.

When you’re finished scrubbing him down, rinse well. This is a very important step. Soap residue left on a horse will dull and dry hair. It also aids in the build-up of dirt, causes skin problems and tail rubbing. So rinse well, then rinse again.

Apply a good conditioner to the entire body, beginning with the tail and mane first. Brush your horse as you would normally would in your regular horse grooming process. This helps the conditioner get down to the skin. Comb through the mane and tail with a wide tooth comb. Again, rinse well.

Use your sweat scraper to whisk away excess water. This makes him dry faster. Use your hands to perform the same action of his legs.

Bathing is just another part of horse grooming. We want our equine friends to have the best possible horse care we can give them. If you are a horse lover like I am, then you will want your horse to look and feel his best at all times. Horse grooming is a very important part of horse-keeping.

As you can see, there is a lot more involved in horse care than just feeding horses and riding them.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter and receive tips, updates to our site and more exciting horse information.