| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | the lower legs and head since these are bony areas |
| Grooming a horse safely and correctly is a very | | | | and need gentler brushing. The currying brings dust, dirt, |
| important part of daily horse care. It is a great time to | | | | and dead skin to the top surface of the coat so that it |
| check over the horse for any issues on his skin, back, | | | | can be brushed away. Some horses enjoy a good |
| and girth area and to get an idea of how the horse is | | | | strong currying, and some horses hate it, so try to be |
| feeling that day. You should groom a horse before you | | | | gentle at first. To clean the curry comb, tap it against a |
| take it out for riding or exercising. It helps keep them | | | | fence post to make the dirt fall off. |
| healthy and looking good. | | | | Next, use a body brush to brush off the loose dirt and |
| First, halter and tie the horse to a ring or safety string | | | | hair. Brush in the direction of the hair growth to smooth |
| attached to something solid. If the horse pulls back, you | | | | the hair as you brush. Flick the brush at the end of the |
| don't want the horse's halter tied to something that will | | | | brush stoke to try to get all the dirt removed from the |
| swing or be pulled out of the ground. A ring on a wall | | | | coat. Occasionally, you will need to clean the brush |
| meant for tying or a solid fence post often works well. | | | | fibers by brushing them across the curry comb. Finally, |
| You can also use cross-ties if you have two rings and | | | | follow up with a soft brush to further smooth the hair |
| cross-ties. | | | | and spread the natural oils along the coat. This is what |
| Next, pick the horse's feet. This is one of the most | | | | makes horses shine. You can also carefully brush the |
| important steps, so do it first so that you don't forget. | | | | lower legs and face with the soft brush. |
| Stand on the horse's left side next to his left front leg | | | | For the tail, first use a detangler spray or gel such as |
| and face towards the horse's tail. Slide your left hand | | | | Cowboy Magic, Show Sheen, Mane 'n Tail Detangler, |
| down the back of his leg to the fetlock, which is the | | | | or EQyss Survivor. This stops tangled hairs from being |
| last big joint, and squeeze a little. The horse should pick | | | | torn out when you brush the tail. Some people think |
| up his hoof and let you hold it. Using the hoof pick in | | | | you should never brush a tail because hairs will be torn |
| the other hand, pick out any rocks and remove any dirt | | | | out. If you are careful and brush only a small section at |
| from the area around the frog and just inside of the | | | | a time while starting from the bottom, you shouldn't pull |
| shoe line. The frog is the softer, raised triangular area | | | | out many hairs. You can brush the mane without being |
| located in the center of the foot. You don't want to | | | | as worried since most manes are kept thin and short. |
| scrape or puncture this. You only want to clear the | | | | If you have a long-maned breed such as an Arabian |
| indented area of the sole of the foot. If a horse doesn't | | | | or a Friesian, you will want to treat it as carefully as |
| pick up his foot right away, you can cluck or say "Up" | | | | the tail. |
| to encourage the horse to pick up his foot. You can | | | | Also, use a clean, damp towel to gently wipe any dirt |
| also try leaning a little on the horse's shoulder to shift | | | | or dust from the eye area and the nostrils. Most |
| his weight off of the foot so it is easier to lift up. | | | | horses learn to appreciate this. You will appreciate it |
| After picking all four feet, take a rubber curry comb | | | | too because when the horse blows out his nose, he |
| and brush all over the body in a circular motion. Avoid | | | | won't get as much horse snot all over you! |