The most important thing...
You don't have to be an expert to know that grooming is very important!
Regular grooming (not one time per week!!) helps keep your horse healthy, clean and it helps prevent diseases.
When you groom, you can also check your horse or pony for any cuts, scrapes, bite marks or lameness (trouble walking). If anything is severely wrong with your horse (a huge gash on their leg...not a little tiny bite mark), you should immediately tell your instructor!
Regular grooming (not one time per week!!) helps keep your horse healthy, clean and it helps prevent diseases.
When you groom, you can also check your horse or pony for any cuts, scrapes, bite marks or lameness (trouble walking). If anything is severely wrong with your horse (a huge gash on their leg...not a little tiny bite mark), you should immediately tell your instructor!
You should use the brushes in this order...
1. Curry Comb
2. Hard Brush (Dandy Brush)
3. Soft Brush (Body Brush)
4. Hoof Pick
Optional: Mane and Tail Comb (only use this brush if your horse has tangles or knots in their mane or tail. You should not use the mane and tail comb every time your groom because it can ruin your horse's hair!)
1. Curry Comb
2. Hard Brush (Dandy Brush)
3. Soft Brush (Body Brush)
4. Hoof Pick
Optional: Mane and Tail Comb (only use this brush if your horse has tangles or knots in their mane or tail. You should not use the mane and tail comb every time your groom because it can ruin your horse's hair!)
Pay Attention to these 6 important grooming Rules!
1 or 2 people grooming at a time!
You know what they say...three's a crowd! And this is definitely true around horses.
Horses and ponies don't like to be crowded, so give them their space. The only people who should be grooming your horse at one time are you and your instructor or you and a friend...no one else!
<-- There are too many people brushing this horse!
You know what they say...three's a crowd! And this is definitely true around horses.
Horses and ponies don't like to be crowded, so give them their space. The only people who should be grooming your horse at one time are you and your instructor or you and a friend...no one else!
<-- There are too many people brushing this horse!
Use the brushes in the correct order!
1. Curry
2. Hard
3. Soft
4. Hoof Pick
There is a correct order for a reason! Ask your instructor why you use the brushes in a certain order!
<-- the lady in this picture is using a Hard (Dandy) Brush
1. Curry
2. Hard
3. Soft
4. Hoof Pick
There is a correct order for a reason! Ask your instructor why you use the brushes in a certain order!
<-- the lady in this picture is using a Hard (Dandy) Brush
Tie up your horse using a Quick-Release Knot!
You should always tie your horse with a knot that can be undone (by you!) easily. A quick release knot should always be used! If you don't know what a quick release knot is, you should ask your instructor to show you how to tie one!
<-- this little girl did not tie her horse! What would happen if her horse spooked?
You should always tie your horse with a knot that can be undone (by you!) easily. A quick release knot should always be used! If you don't know what a quick release knot is, you should ask your instructor to show you how to tie one!
<-- this little girl did not tie her horse! What would happen if her horse spooked?
Let your horse know where you are!
This should be done especially when you are walking behind your horse!
<-- This little girl is doing a great job of letting her horse know where she is by keeping her left hand on the horse's barrel while she grooms with her right hand
This should be done especially when you are walking behind your horse!
<-- This little girl is doing a great job of letting her horse know where she is by keeping her left hand on the horse's barrel while she grooms with her right hand
Be careful when hoof-picking!
Review the "Parts of the Hoof"! You want to be extremely careful when picking out the area around the horse's frog (little triangle in the horse's hoof). The frog is very sensitive and should not be picked out roughly.
Review the "Parts of the Hoof"! You want to be extremely careful when picking out the area around the horse's frog (little triangle in the horse's hoof). The frog is very sensitive and should not be picked out roughly.
If you don't know...ASK!
Most importantly, if you forget how to do something or you don't know what you're supposed to do...just ask! If you think you know what you`re doing but aren`t 100% sure...you`re not only putting yourself at risk of getting injured...you might be injuring your horse.
No one is going to get angry at you are make you feel dumb for asking a simple question. If you don`t feel comfortable asking your instructor,,.ask an older rider or more advanced rider! They`re always happy to help out when they can and they have plenty of experience with these things!
Most importantly, if you forget how to do something or you don't know what you're supposed to do...just ask! If you think you know what you`re doing but aren`t 100% sure...you`re not only putting yourself at risk of getting injured...you might be injuring your horse.
No one is going to get angry at you are make you feel dumb for asking a simple question. If you don`t feel comfortable asking your instructor,,.ask an older rider or more advanced rider! They`re always happy to help out when they can and they have plenty of experience with these things!