Horse Grooming

Grooming Instructions For The Professional Groomer

Written by Trudy Holloway - Cutheal Field Sales Rep and Professional Groomer

Before I start grooming a horse I first take a good look at how much dirt is on the hair.  When I look at the horse's coat I can make a decision on what tools to use. There are six tools that I use when grooming a horse.

1.       Semi-hard brush
2.       Bath towel
3.       Soft body brush (very soft like a horse hair brush)
4.       Comb for mane and tail
5.       Soft rubber curry
6.       A great grooming product (Smart Choice which is not greasy)

Remember that when you are grooming your horse you are being aware of the attitude your horse is showing.  If I choose a tool to use on the horse that makes him or her pin its ears then I must find out why.  Horses pin their ears for many reasons and you can read your horse to find out what makes that horse happy or mad.  I look for the sore spots on the horse by pushing in many places and when I touch the spot where the horse pins its ears and I know what to do.

Grooming horses gives you a chance to learn all you need to know about how well they are doing.  Plus your horse will bond with you because this makes them feel good so they look forward to seeing you.

Another thing that can happen to a horse is rib soreness from the saddle not fitting the horse well.  Again, checking the equipment on the horse is very important.  Dirt under the saddle pad can cause skin sores.  Many people who don't groom (I mean groom, not just brush) do not get the dirt out from under the saddle.  People believe a bath is grooming and this is not the case.  You cannot remove the dirt from under the hair because the skin has natural oils like a duck to repel most of the water.  But over bathing with the shampoos can wash natural oils from the hair and skin and it is easier for them to get sunburn or dandruff or both. Be careful of what grooming products you use because you can destroy the skin on any animal with harsh products. When you use products that leave greasy residue on your horse you may be clogging pours and preventing the natural oils in the skin to come through to the hair. You can wash the natural colors out of the hair by using the shampoos that are on the market. The hard water stain can coat the hair and cause a yellow tint to all color yet we only see it in white hair. 

If the coat is full of mud I will use a soft rubber curry (a plastic and metal curry will not only damage the skin it will do damage to the bones and other parts inside the body that is unseen), mist the horse with Smart Choice and then use a circular motion over the body on the horse removing the entire top dirt from the hair. When using a semi-hard brush, mist the brush with Smart Choice brush all the dry mud off the horse. Brush with the lay of the hair so the horse will not get skin sore.  I will never use the hard brush on the legs of any horse because it could scratch bone and cause many leg problems in the future.

Next, take the towel and spray the towel with Smart Choice until it is slightly damp and rub the horse in a circular motion against the lay of the hair to remove the dirt under the coat and bring up the natural oil.  The closer to the skin you get with Smart Choice the cleaner and shinier the hair gets.  Spray all stains with Smart Choice and towel them off (you don't have to soak the stains).

Next, mist the soft brush with Smart Choice and brush with the lay of the hair leaving the hair soft and shiny with no greasy residue.  You can use the soft brush on the face and legs on the horse.  The more you soft brush the more you bring back the color of the horse's hair.

Always spray Smart Choice on the legs and use a thick towel to towel off the mud and dirt. NEVER  use a hard brush on the legs. It could cause damage to the bone. 

Saturate Smart Choice in the mane and tail down to the roots and comb out.  On yellow mane and tails you spray heavy and let dry while you are working on the body of the horse and then go back to the mane and tail and re-spray then take a towel and towel through each piece of hair removing all the yellow color.  Just remember ALL hair no matter what color the hair is has yellow stain in it.  The water from fairgrounds to fairgrounds will be from different water sources and may have minerals or lime or something in it that comes out like a rust color when you first turn on the water and it will change you colors on your horse to a dull look.  People then believe that putting something on them will bring back the shine.  I can see an unnatural shine, which is so greasy that it collects dust and dirt, which is harder to wash off  later.  Think about you own hair trying to wash out hair spray or jell is not easy and in most cases impossible and a build up, which makes the hair feel brittle and hard to brush, breaking the hair.

You can't over use the product and you can use it everyday.  Although you will find the horse will stay cleaner longer and easier to clean.  Stains towel off the next day sometimes without using the any Smart Choice.  Mud and dirt comes off the next day by just brushing.

Grooming your horse everyday should take only take 15 minutes and the rest of the time bonding when you use Smart Choice.  Bathing takes to long and a waist of time because horses like to roll.  The reason some horses like to roll is because the can straighten out there backs after a work out and pregnant mares like to roll because it puts the baby into position for birthing.