Grooming!

I love to come to the barn and spend up to an hour just grooming my lease pony. Grooming is great for bonding! It also helps your horse have a shiny coat because it spreads the natural oils in its skin. That's why you should be careful not to bathe your horse too much, because that takes those natural oils away!

This post is going to introduce the MAIN grooming tools used:

Hoof pick:  It's a good idea to start with the hoof pick because it's most important, especially if you're in a rush. The hoof pick keeps your horses' hooves clean and free of rocks. Cleaning your horses' hooves also helps you notice signs of lameness and thrush.











Curry comb: This brush comes in many different styles. Its used to bring up loose dirt and hair. It's used by going along the horses' body in a circular motion. DO NOT use on your horses' sensitive face and legs!

Dandy brush: This brush is hard bristled and should be used on the BODY ONLY. It's too stiff to be used on your horses' sensitive face and legs. It's usually used after the curry comb to sweep away the brought up hair and dirt. You should brush along the way your horses' hair grows.

Body brush: The body brush is soft and is used to finish the job of the dandy brush and to brush the horses' legs.











Comb: Used to brush out a horses' mane and tail. If a horses' mane or tail is really tangled though it would be better to use your fingers, because with a comb the hairs may break. It is also used to pull manes.














Face brush: A very very soft brush (usually pretty small) that is used for the face.









There are a lot more grooming tools used today, but these are just the essentials. It's a good idea to groom your horse every day to help them have a healthy coat. It's also fun to figure out where your horses' "itchy" spots are! :)