Equine Grooming: Equestrian Grooming

Equestrian Grooming
Today, I'm going to address some of the basic elements and techniques of equestrian grooming, with a particular emphasis on beginners and basic knowledge that may be overlooked in some cases.

There are essentially two reasons for equine grooming:

-Health, comfort, and safety of the animal: In order for a horse to be happy and healthy, it must be routinely groomed (just like you). Frequently grooming your horse can prevent a dizzying number of ailments that can result when horses are not groomed as they should be.

-Show: There are strict grooming requirements for show horses, which vary greatly from breed to breed. Because the techniques involved with this can vary greatly from breed to breed, as well as from show to show, and because these horse grooming tactics are not always 100% good for your horse, they will not be addressed within the scope of this article. There are plenty of equestrian grooming websites on the internet that give clear guidelines for this.

Horse Grooming Supplies
For the non-competitive horse owner, there are only a few horse grooming supplies that are really necessary to keep your horse in top shape. You’ll need a hoof pick, for picking debris out of the hoofs, a currycomb to cull out dirt, debris, and loose hair from the horses coat, a hard brush and soft brush, for brushing out the matter kicked up by the currycomb, and a grooming rag.

Horse Grooming Technique
To brush your horse, begin with the currycomb, moving in a circular motion along the body of the horse. Avoid using the currycomb on the head or the legs, as these areas are quite sensitive. After you have freed all the debris, follow with the hard brush, then the soft brush, working back from the shoulder to the hindquarters, going with the grain of the hair. Then finish with the grooming rag to put on a “polish”, clean up any loose hair, and remove any lingering sweat stains. Brushing your horse can be a great bonding experience, and the physical contact has a wonderful effect on their demeanor and temperament with people.

In addition to brushing your horse, you will want to pick out the feet, using the hoof pick. This step cannot be overlooked, or undertaken more frequently. Picking the hooves is arguably the most important task in equine grooming. Thrush is a very serious concern, which if left untreated can lead to lameness. Stone bruises and winter “snowballs” are also common but serious problems which can be prevented by picking your horses hooves. Experts recommend that you pick once per day, although some owners pick twice per day. Always stand to the side of your horse, never in line with the hoof you are cleaning to avoid a serious kick. Pick from heel to toe, paying very close attention to the area between the frog and the bars, which is an area especially prone to thrush. It is a good idea to frequently coat the hooves with hoof dressing, to prevent drying, cracking, and other serious moisture issues.

Horse Clipping
Unfortunately, horse clipping is one of the most complex tasks related to equestrian grooming. In general, horse clipping is purely a cosmetic task, undertaken for show reasons. The main areas that are clipped are the body, bridle path, face, ears, and legs, and tail. The casual pet owner should not have a reason to clip the ears or tail. While some show breeds require clipping the ears, this interferes with the horse’s natural defense system for bugs, parasites, and dust, and this task should always be done with caution and by an appropriate professional. Similarly, the tail is a mechanical defense system against biting and disease-carrying flies, and therefore should be interfered with as little as possible. Just an occasional light trim of the ends should be plenty for the casual pet owner. Horse owners who clip the body do so exclusively for cosmetic reasons. This horse clipping generally consists of removing the winter coat. While this process does make the horse appear sleeker and cleaner, it is important to remember that this task comes with responsibilities. In removing the horse’s defense against the elements, you agree to care for it in a much higher degree, stabling it in chilly weather, and providing it with clean blankets frequently.

In my opinion, horse clipping is not a task which should be undertaken by the amateur horse owner, both for reasons of experience and of necessity.

Equine Grooming
Although it may seem daunting, equestrian grooming is really not complicated, and can provide a wonderful bonding experience between you and your horse. Thanks so much for reading my equine grooming and equestrian grooming post!