Horse Care is a vital element in the bond between man and horse. How well a horse performs for its owner is greatly influenced by the calibre of its stabling, care and feed. The follow article will help to give understanding of the basics of horse care.
Daily Grooming
The purpose of a daily grooming routine is to remove any dust, dirt or other material such as burs or dried sweat from the horse’s coat. Daily grooming also helps to massage the skin and promote blood circulation. Therefore it is important to understand that it is not just something that you do before a ride but it actually helps promote not only the health and wellbeing of your horse but helps its performance as well.
In the wild horses will actually groom themselves on a daily basis by rolling as well as scratching and licking each other. However with the domesticated horse and especially one that is kept in a stable it is the responsibility of the horse owner to ensure that their horses are properly groomed.
The basic elements of a grooming kit include a hoof pick, a hard and soft brush, a curry comb, a comb and bush for the forelock and tail as well as a sponge and a squeegee for after your horse has been washed.
Before you begin grooming your hose it is important for safety that its head is tied in a way that will control the horse but allow it to be released quickly in the event of an emergency. This can be done with either a quick release stable knot or a panic clip.
Firstly the coat is gently scuffed with a hard brush to remove any hard crusts of mud or dried sweat. It is advisable to keep this technique for fleshy areas of the horse and not areas such as the face. Once that is completed the horse should be cleaned with a soft brush, working from head to toe and following the grain of the hair. As you are brushing it is important that you continually tap the brush clean to ensure that you are not removing dirt from one area and depositing it in another.
To finish off the horse is either wiped with a cloth or hosed and dried off with a squeegee to remove any last traces of dust.
With a wet sponge you can then gently wash out the nostrils, corners of the mouth as well as the underside of the tail and the anus. Ensure that you use a different sponge for the different ends of the horse.
Main And Tail
To properly care for your horse’s tail it should be brushed on a daily basis to remove any foreign matter that has been tangled up. When brushing the tail ensure that you grip the tail higher than the area that you are brushing so that you do not pull out too much hair. The tail can be washed as required with a little water and a suitable shampoo. The mane and forelock are combed or brushed flat with a damp brush.
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