Step 1: Rubber Curry Comb
Used in big circular motion on large body, down to knees and up to head. This step stimulates the skin and gets blood circulating while bringing dirt up to the hair surface. It also loosens dried mud and hair.
Used in big circular motion on large body, down to knees and up to head. This step stimulates the skin and gets blood circulating while bringing dirt up to the hair surface. It also loosens dried mud and hair.
Step 2: Summer: Medium Brush Winter: Hard Bristeled Brush
In the winter when coats are thick and dried mud is more prevelant, the brush with stiffer bristles does the job better than a medium brush. This step will remove most of the dirt, dust, and mud from your horse's coat. Sometimes if I am in a hurry, I will skip Step 1 with the curry comb and Step 3 with the finishing brush and only do this step. It does a good job.
In the winter when coats are thick and dried mud is more prevelant, the brush with stiffer bristles does the job better than a medium brush. This step will remove most of the dirt, dust, and mud from your horse's coat. Sometimes if I am in a hurry, I will skip Step 1 with the curry comb and Step 3 with the finishing brush and only do this step. It does a good job.
Step 3: Finishing Brush
Using this brush last will remove all left over dust from your horse's coat and really make it shine! These brushes are usually very soft. Sometimes, the will have short bristles like the ones pictures and sometimes they will be longer so you can really "flick" off the dust at the end of your brush stroke.
Using this brush last will remove all left over dust from your horse's coat and really make it shine! These brushes are usually very soft. Sometimes, the will have short bristles like the ones pictures and sometimes they will be longer so you can really "flick" off the dust at the end of your brush stroke.
Step 4: Hoof Pick
Some people do this step first, some last, some in the middle. Wherever you do it doesn't matter, it just has to be done. I like the hoof picks with the brush on the end so I can brush off mud on the front of the hoof too while I'm picking out the bottom. Every horse person has a ton of hoof picks laying around, I can guarantee it!
Step 5: Mane and Tail
My single most important tool when grooming mane and tail is my Oil Sheen Hair Spray by Isoplus! It can be purchased at any grocery store that sells African-Amerian hair products. This product is really cheap, like 2-3 bucks for a can, and it works wonders! It smells great, helps tangles tremendously, and puts a nice shine in hair. It won't dry out tails either! I will NOT brush my horse's tail out without this because breakage is a lot more prevelant when it isn't used. I also use a human hair brush for mane and tail because I think it offers less breakage than a tradition horse comb, especially when you use the oil sheen. There are horse products similar to this oil sheen and they smell exactly the same. But why pay 20 bucks for the same product when you can buy it for 3 at the grocery store? ....Just sayin.
My single most important tool when grooming mane and tail is my Oil Sheen Hair Spray by Isoplus! It can be purchased at any grocery store that sells African-Amerian hair products. This product is really cheap, like 2-3 bucks for a can, and it works wonders! It smells great, helps tangles tremendously, and puts a nice shine in hair. It won't dry out tails either! I will NOT brush my horse's tail out without this because breakage is a lot more prevelant when it isn't used. I also use a human hair brush for mane and tail because I think it offers less breakage than a tradition horse comb, especially when you use the oil sheen. There are horse products similar to this oil sheen and they smell exactly the same. But why pay 20 bucks for the same product when you can buy it for 3 at the grocery store? ....Just sayin.
Step 6: Face Grooming
I always do the face last for some reason. I use a soft rubber face curry and then use the finishing brush to brush away the dirt lifted up by the curry. Then, I take a damp cloth and wipe the nostrils, around the eyes, ears, and anywhere else that needs a damp cloth to take off dirt.
So, that's my full routine. Granted, I don't do every single step every time I ride, but this is my most used routine.
I always do the face last for some reason. I use a soft rubber face curry and then use the finishing brush to brush away the dirt lifted up by the curry. Then, I take a damp cloth and wipe the nostrils, around the eyes, ears, and anywhere else that needs a damp cloth to take off dirt.
So, that's my full routine. Granted, I don't do every single step every time I ride, but this is my most used routine.
If you do this routine with your horse, I can guarantee your pony will look fabulous!
Happy Grooming!
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