If you want to level up your grooming routine, our Equine Marketing PR Team have worked with some of the best international grooms in the industry, from showing, dressage and eventing. In this equestrian blog, we share some of the top grooming professionals’ secrets and horse grooming expert tips we have picked up along the way so you can give your horse a glow-up!
The Right Grooming Tools
Your horse grooming kit must contain various tools to tackle mud, dirt and hair. Even the most basic grooming process will involve these grooming tools: a dandy brush, plastic curry comb, soft body brush, tail brush (can be a human hairbrush) and hoof pick. These form the basics for a thorough grooming session. You can add more tools to your grooming kit, such as a mane comb (for tidying up the mane and tail hair) and microfiber cloths (for hot clothing and another exclusively for wiping eyes and nostrils with warm water).
Your horse’s grooming needs will change over the seasons and be dictated to by their breed, lifestyle, and even colour! Due to manure stains, A grey horse may require more baths and grooming than a bay horse. If your horse has a thick winter coat, you’ll need lots more elbow grease to remove mud than on a clipped horse or a horse with a fine summer coat. Given their long flowing locks, Spanish horses and Welsh ponies will also require additional mane and tail care.
At the very least, use a dandy brush with a flicking motion over your horse and pick out their feet regularly. Just a few minutes a day will allow you to spot any minor cuts and swellings before they become more significant and help prevent fungal infections in the feet. At the weekends, when you have more time, give your horse a regular grooming routine of at least 20 minutes.
It Will Be All White On The Day
Nothing is more stunning than a grey that gleams or perfectly white socks that show off your horse’s movement, but achieving this is easier said than done! Some horses are manure magnets, and stable stains can be difficult to remove. Try to keep on top of stable and grass stains, and some grooms recommend using a coat show sheen to act as a stain protection and a barrier to stains. Others suggest lycra hoods and bodies, like Snuggy Hoods, which can help deter with some stain protection.
Be careful not to use harsh detergents or products not designed for horses – horses’ skin pH levels are not the same as ours, as these could lead to irritation and allergies. This also applies to baby wipes and baby powder. Use chalk or equine make-up to whiten socks and stockings for the show ring.
Bathtime Beauty
In the winter months, if your horse wears a rug with a neck, this can get greasy and rub out the hair at the base of manes, so washing the rug neck (or removing it altogether), washing the mane or applying detangler can help avoid this issue. Grey and coloured horses will probably require more baths due to their colouring, as you will want those white bits to look white!
There are many equine shampoos to choose from. Horse shampoos with tea tree oil offer anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, making them an excellent choice for skin health. There are shampoos for horses who suffer from skin irritation and have sensitive skin – these are likely to be colour and fragrance-free with more natural ingredients.
Ensure you have rinsed out shampoo residue and a clean coat.
Lucious Locks
Our equestrian grooming tips include using a mane and tail detangler spray will help avoid hair breakage, and using a wide-toothed comb and brushing from the end of the hair to the root will help prevent pulling out hair follicles. Many show grooms only brush the tail occasionally, preferring to spray detangler products on and separate the shiny mane and tail hair with fingers. If your horse has a long mane and tail, putting it in a loose plait can help prevent it from getting tangled and make it easier to manage.
Tidy Tails
Some horse owners prefer pulled tails, and others prefer plaited tails for competitions. A pulled tail can be achieved humanly with a grooming rake and clippers. For sensitive horses, you may choose to plait the tail for a neat competition day finish. If you pull or trim your horse’s tail hair, dampen the tail hair and apply a tail bandage regularly to encourage the hair to lay flat. Using a tail conditioner can also help improve a knot-prone tail.
Shine On!
Equestrian grooming tips include using a soft brush helps develop a lovely, deep, natural shine to your horse coat. Remove loose hair and scurf with grooming mitts or grooming gloves. Follow with a stiff brush combined with a metal curry comb, and move onto a body brush to finish the coat.
Many grooms will hot cloth with a drop of oil during the colder months to keep the horse clean. Hot clothing can bring out a lovely shine to winter coats or clipped coats. You can also polish a summer coat with a soft cloth and circular motions as a finishing touch. Daily grooming supports good coat health and removes dead skin cells, preventing skin infections and skin irritation.
A healthy coat will gleam, and a shiny coat will reflect good health. If your horse has a dull coat, this could be down to diet or poor health. You may need further investigation by your vet and a consultation with an equine nutritionist.
Keep Your Brushes Clean
Regularly giving your kit a good cleaning. Washing it is essential to avoid skin infections and remove dead skin cells and hair from your grooming brushes. Horse grooming brushes should be washed with a mild detergent or soapy water. Thoroughly rinse and leave grooming tools to dry naturally before returning to your grooming tote or box.
Comb through stiff-bristled brushes before washing to remove deeply embedded debris and hair. Run through Soft-bristled horse grooming brushes with a curry comb. A mane brush can quickly become damaged. Check that the bristles aren’t brushed or bent, which could create hair breakage.
Getting your horse ready for competition day will be easy work if you regularly groom and trim your horse. Follow these equestrian grooming tips, and show day will be a breeze!
