If you are a new horse owner, here are some basic horse grooming tips for you to start off on the right hoof.
Starting from behind the jaw and ears, work your way down the neck going with the hair growth. Follow this pattern over shoulders, back, ribs, belly, flank and rump. Work with a medium stiff brush that fits well in your hand (they come in all different sizes).
After finishing the body, return to shoulders and make your way down the front legs making sure to reach all areas, inside and out. Use the same technique from the flank down rear legs. All dirt/mud clods and hay or shavings should be removed. If you have major mud stuck to the hair, use a metal or rubber curry to remove the worst of it (these tools are also best for shedding excess hair off during the spring and summer months).
For grooming the face use a soft bristled brush gently following the hair pattern, and lay your brush on its side for over the eyes sweeping from front to back. Once basic brushing has been done use your hand to feel the most vital areas, saddle area, girth area and where bridle sit behind the ears to make sure there is nothing that has been missed.
Once grooming has been completed, move on to the feet. Starting with one of the front feet, pick clean with a good pointed hoof pick, preferably with a brush, and make sure are areas are clean of manure and debris. Use brush side of hoof pick to get the areas next to the frog good and clean.
The easiest and most economical way to avoid *thrush, a bacteria similar to athletes foot, in daily care is to use a bleach/water solution (1/3 to 2/3 respectively) every time you clean your horses feet. Once grooming is done, you are ready to saddle up and enjoy the ride.
*Thrush can be very detrimental to the health of your horses foot as it eats away at the sole and frog and can even go inside the hoof and cause major internal damage if not kept at bay.
