Owning an animal is a big responsibility. You have to make sure that they are fed, have an appropriate living space, and are as healthy as can be. It can be pretty hard work, but it is rewarding.
What can make this responsibility even more challenging is owning a big animal, like a horse. Horses are great creatures that many people love to own and be around. They are beautiful and powerful, though they take a lot of work. One very demanding task that comes with owning a horse is grooming a horse.
Like grooming a dog or a cat, grooming your horse is an essential part of owning one, and it can be a hard task that takes a lot of time. But how exactly do you groom a horse?
How to groom a horse?
The key to grooming a horse is to secure it, brush it, clean the face, mane, tail, hooves, and apply fly spray.
1. Secure your horse.
Before you start grooming your horse, you need to make sure that your horse is secured. You will most likely want to use a halter and lead to do this.
2. Brush your horse.
The first part of grooming your horse is making sure that you brush them thoroughly. To do this, you are going to need a few different kinds of brushes including a curry comb, a hard or stiff brush (sometimes called a dandy brush), and a soft brush (sometimes called a finishing brush or a body brush).
You are going to start with your curry comb. The curry comb is designed to loosen up the dirt and gunk that builds up on your horse’s coat over time. You should use circular motions when brushing your horse with a curry comb.
The next brush you are going to want to use is your hard brush, or dandy brush. This brush is going to help your break up any dirt or grime that is stuck on to your horse that your curry comb couldn’t get up. Be careful using this brush over any sensitive part of your horse’s body such as its legs and face.
The final brush you will use is the soft brush. This brush is often called a finishing brush or a body brush. The bristles on this kind of brush are super soft and do exactly what it says it does- finishes the brushing task.
3. Clean your horse’s face.
Once you are done brushing your horse’s coat, it is time to make sure that your horse has a squeaky clean, and beautiful face. Because your horse’s face is a sensitive part of its body, you want to be very careful. I you use a gentle washcloth that is slightly damp with lukewarm water.
4. Brush your horse’s mane and tail.
Now that your horse’s face and body are perfectly clean, it is time to brush your horse’s mane and tail. You will want to make sure that the comb you use for this step isn’t a human one. This is because human combs have bristles that are too close together. If you are unsure of what kind of comb to use, be sure to reach out to other horse owners in the area or even your vet!
As you probably know, horses have big willys. They can sometimes become infected, so your vet might recommend that you clean it a couple times a year.
5. Clean your horse’s hooves.
Another important step to take when you groom a horse is to make sure its hooves are clean. To do this you are going to need a hoof pick. Gently use the hoof pick to scrape out any gunk that has built up in your horse’s hooves. This will help keep your horse’s hooves healthy and free of infection.
Remember that every four to six weeks you will need to have a farrier out to see your horse. A farrier is a person that specializes in trimming horse’s shoes and hooves. They will make sure that your horse has the healthiest feet!
You can also help keep your horse’s hooves clean by having a proper horse stall mat.
6. Use fly spray.
Now you are done grooming your horse! Yay! Before you step back and admire your handy work, take a look at the weather. If it is going to be a really hot day, your horse might appreciate it if you spritz a little fly spray on him. This will help keep the flies from bothering your horse all day, making the heat just a little more bearable.
If your horse does have a lot of fleas or parasites, you should check out my article on the best dewormer for horses.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to groom your horse properly, there are a few safety precautions that you need to be aware of.
- Never stand behind your horse! Standing directly behind your horse could end up with you being severely injured if your horse gets startled. Always stand off to the side.
- Always keep one hand on your horse. This will keep your horse’s attention on you and keep it less likely to get startled.
- Always approach your horse from the side. Your horse has a blind spot directly in front of its face and can be startled if you approach it from the front.
- Finally, always stay calm. Horses can sense and pick up on your energy. If you are anxious or nervous about grooming your horse, your horse could become skittish. A skittish horse could lead to injuries to both you and your horse.
