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Grooming Tools and Their Use.....
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So many grooming tools . . . bunches of brushes, scores of scrapers, a plethora of picks, countless curries and a myriad of mane and tail combs . . . where to begin? What to choose? This week's tip will help you select grooming tools to get the best results.
Grooming is part of the natural social interaction within a horse herd. It serves many purposes, but is generally a mutual interaction that establishes friendship. When humans enter the picture, the benefits can also be mutual. Vigorous grooming is not an easy task, but it can give you a good workout and keep arms and upper body in good shape. It affords a chance to inspect for skin irritations, parasites, and other problems that might otherwise go unnoticed. It also serves to strengthen the social bond between you and your horse.
There are a few common tools that are necessary to properly groom your horse: 2 brushes, a curry, mane and tail comb, hoof pick, sweat scraper and sponge.
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CurriesThe first step in grooming your horse is to loosen any large chunks of caked on mud and other debris. A curry is a deep cleaning tool with fixed or extremely firm, large teeth. Some curries are made of rubber, some are of metal. Both have their benefits. Rubber curries should be used in a circular motion. This also helps to remove loose, shedding hair and doubles as a massage.
Metal curries have two to three rows of small saw-like teeth. They are less time consuming to use than other curries, but may also break the hair as caked on dirt is removed. The best results are obtained by taking short strokes that follow the direction of hair growth. They also serve as a shedding blade. Metal curries should be used on the body only. A rubber curry or body brush can be used to clean lower legs and sensitive areas. Excessive use or too much pressure may irritate the skin and some sensitive horses may object to the extra harshness of a metal curry.
Brushes
There are usually three different types of brushes on the shelves at your tack store. The difference is in the firmness of the bristles: hard, medium and soft.
The second step in grooming your horse will be to start with the hardest brush, referred to as a body brush. This will loosen and remove larger pieces of dirt and dust. A hard brush can be used to clean legs, but a softer brush should be used for the face. Brush in short vigorous strokes in the direction of the hair.
The medium brush is not essential, but is often part of the groom's kit. It provides an intermediate step between removing chunks of dirt and finishing the coat. Going over the coat with three brushes instead of two helps to remove more dirt and deep clean the coat. Sometimes, a medium brush may be used in place of a finishing brush.
The next step in grooming is to use a soft brush. This brush is often referred to as a finishing brush and is used to remove the last bits of dust and loose hair. The soft bristles also help to shine the coat. It is also a good brush for sensitive areas like the face.
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Brushes come with a variety of bristle types. Basically, they are divided into synthetic and natural fibers. Synthetic brushes are often offered in rainbow colors. Natural fibers may be hair or plant fiber. Synthetic brushes are easier to care for and inexpensive. Natural fiber brushes are generally more durable.
Mane and Tail Combs
The next step is to tackle the long haired portions of your horse. There are a variety of styles in mane and tail combs. The longtime standard is a small metal or plastic pocket sized comb similar to a large toothed human comb. It works well for horses that are groomed often, have short or thin manes or, unlike most horses, don't get tangles. When used on tangled manes and tails, hair is often broken or pulled out. Although comb style is a personal preference, usually, smaller combs work best for the tedious job of detangling and removing knots.
Other combs and brushes on the market look more like stiff human hair brushes. They generally have long teeth that easily pull through thick hair and light tangles. Removing knots and severe tangles requires time and patience. Practice will make the task easier. After removing tangles and knots, a quick brushing with a stiff body brush will help smooth and shine the mane and tail.Regardless of which type of comb/brush you prefer, start at the bottom of a small section of mane or tail and work upward towards the hair roots. Starting at the top creates worse tangles and more knots.
DetailingThe next step is generally left for horses entering the show or sale ring, but if nothing else it serves as the culmination of a job well done. Detailing can be a simple vigorous rub down with a stable cloth or even a handful of clean straw. It removes the final film of dust and shines the coat. Most stable cloths intended for this purpose are treated with a light application of body oil or coat shine product.
Feathering on legs and fetlocks should be brushed out and an application of corn starch or baby powder will brighten white markings. Simply apply a thorough coating to clean legs and brush lightly to remove any excess.
Cleanup clipping makes your horse look finished without removing its protective devices. Fetlocks and coronary band hair lines can be clipped for a smoother leg appearance. The under line of the jaw often has a shaggy look that can be trimmed up. Ears also may have some straggles of hair. Folding the outer edges of the ear together and running the clippers lightly up the edges will smooth out the appearance without removing the hair that keeps insects and dirt out. A bridle path may also help your horse look sharper. If you are trimming a bridle path for the first time, you should re-check bridle fit when you are finished. Especially in thicker maned horses, trimming off that thickness may make the bridle too long allowing the bit to hang improperly in the mouth.
Don't Forget the HoovesThe final step in good grooming practices is to clean up the hooves. Using a stiff brush removes caked on mud and dirt on the outside of the hoof. Then you will need a hoof pick to remove dirt from the bottom of the hoof.
Sponges and Scrapers
Bathing is not a daily part of grooming, but you will want to be prepared for warmer days when your horse sweats excessively or needs a bath. There are large and small sponges, bathing mitts, horsey loofas, and brushes with sponges in the middle. All of these work well for bathing your horse. Selection will be a matter of personal preference.
Sweat scrapers are offered in plastic and aluminum and are handy for many tasks. Following the lines of the body, you can scrape excess water from your horse's coat when you bath him, or dripping sweat after a hard ride. Scrapers also come in handy for mixing feed and supplements. Plastic scrapers have rolled edges and are not sharp if they break. There are also scrapers with rubber edges that fit tighter to the horse's body and tend squeeze more water out of the coat.Just Some Additional Thoughts . . .
Try out grooming tools before you buy. Put them in your hands, feel the bristles, make sure that they fit your style and need. There are a variety of sizes and shapes in all grooming tools, select those that work best in your hands.
© Sue Baker, Russo's Tack Shack 2004