Post by Wyndlily Sharphowl on Nov 17, 2008 21:32:02 GMT -5
Pre-Step: Gather all of your equipment! Keeping it all together is a great idea; brushes get misplaced a lot. A brush caddy can be purchased at a tack shop, or you can keep them in a bucket or canvas bag. Your "show equipment" should ideally be kept seperate from your "home equipment". Your horse should be securely tied with a safety knot before beginning.
Step 1: Curry Comb. There are several models available. Pick one that fits comfortably in your hand. Applying a moderate amount of pressure, use the brush in small, circular motions all over the heavily muscled areas of the horse: from behind the ears, all the way to the rump, and down the top third of the legs. You can use the curry comb to gently "scrub" caked-on mud or stains elsewhere on the body.
Step 2: Dandy Brush. This is also known as a hard-bristle brush. Again, they come in different sizes and colors, as well as different degrees of harshness. This should be used in short, flicking motions everywhere on the horse except for the face.
Step 3: Soft Brush. This should be used in long, sweeping motions everywhere on the horse including the face.
Step 4: Sponge. You should have two small sponges, one for the face and one for the dock. Dip them in water, wring out the excess, and wipe around the eyes and nose with the face sponge, and around the dock with the dock sponge. (The "dock" is the area under the horse's tail.)
Step 5: Hoof Pick. There are a multitude of styles. For riding, you should keep one of the foldable varieties in your pocket or saddlebag, but for around the barn you should opt for the thick plastic kind with a small hard brush on one side and a metal pick on the other. Use the brush to scrub off any caked on mud, dirt, or manure from the hoof. Slide your hand down the back of the horse's leg, applying a bit of pressure. Most horses will lift their legs right up for you. Use the pick in strokes -away- from the horse's body and clean around the shoe. Be very gentle around the frog of the hoof -- it's sensitive!
Step 6: Comb. This is optional; generally, show horses will not have their manes, tails, or forelocks touched unless they are being shown. This certainly does not need to be done every time you ride. Take the comb and work from the end of the hair (mane, tail, or forelock) back up towards the root until the comb can pass through the hair without interruption.
Step 7: Sprays. Again, this is optional. If you are going to apply any fly spray, do it now. There are roll-on varieties for the face, if you do not have them, cover the horse's eye with your hand before spraying. Put some extra around the rear; this is where flies congregate. You could also apply show sheen -- be sure to avoid the saddle area or else you'll slide right off!
Step 1: Curry Comb. There are several models available. Pick one that fits comfortably in your hand. Applying a moderate amount of pressure, use the brush in small, circular motions all over the heavily muscled areas of the horse: from behind the ears, all the way to the rump, and down the top third of the legs. You can use the curry comb to gently "scrub" caked-on mud or stains elsewhere on the body.
Step 2: Dandy Brush. This is also known as a hard-bristle brush. Again, they come in different sizes and colors, as well as different degrees of harshness. This should be used in short, flicking motions everywhere on the horse except for the face.
Step 3: Soft Brush. This should be used in long, sweeping motions everywhere on the horse including the face.
Step 4: Sponge. You should have two small sponges, one for the face and one for the dock. Dip them in water, wring out the excess, and wipe around the eyes and nose with the face sponge, and around the dock with the dock sponge. (The "dock" is the area under the horse's tail.)
Step 5: Hoof Pick. There are a multitude of styles. For riding, you should keep one of the foldable varieties in your pocket or saddlebag, but for around the barn you should opt for the thick plastic kind with a small hard brush on one side and a metal pick on the other. Use the brush to scrub off any caked on mud, dirt, or manure from the hoof. Slide your hand down the back of the horse's leg, applying a bit of pressure. Most horses will lift their legs right up for you. Use the pick in strokes -away- from the horse's body and clean around the shoe. Be very gentle around the frog of the hoof -- it's sensitive!
Step 6: Comb. This is optional; generally, show horses will not have their manes, tails, or forelocks touched unless they are being shown. This certainly does not need to be done every time you ride. Take the comb and work from the end of the hair (mane, tail, or forelock) back up towards the root until the comb can pass through the hair without interruption.
Step 7: Sprays. Again, this is optional. If you are going to apply any fly spray, do it now. There are roll-on varieties for the face, if you do not have them, cover the horse's eye with your hand before spraying. Put some extra around the rear; this is where flies congregate. You could also apply show sheen -- be sure to avoid the saddle area or else you'll slide right off!