A Suggested
Daily Grooming Routine
Your daily
grooming routine is very important as it gives you a great opportunity
to make friends with your pony. Before you start grooming your
pony you should make sure that he / she is safely tied up in
a suitable area.
The Coat
The shine
on a horse's coat is a direct reflection of the pride the rider
has in their horse.
There are a number of brushes designed to take care of a horse's
coat.
The Dandy
Brush
The Dandy
Brush has very stiff bristles and is used to remove mud and
dirt from the pony's body and legs. Do not use on the face,
mane or tail. The Dandy brush can be used on grass kept ponies
and the unclipped areas of stabled horses.
The Body
Brush
The body
brush is the main grooming brush. It has shorter, softer bristles
than the Dandy brush and is used to remove the dust, dirt and
grease from a stable kept horse/pony. It may be used sparingly
on a grass kept pony during summer, but not in winter as it
removes too much of the grease within the coat which provides
protection from the sun, flies, rain and wind. It can also be
used to brush the pony's face (carefully) and also to brush
the mane and tail.
You should start grooming on the poll region on the left hand
side and gradually work back over the whole body in the direction
that the hair grows.
The
Metal Curry Comb
The metal
curry comb is designed to clean the bristles of your brushes.
When grooming the left hand side of your pony it is easiest
if you hold the brush in your left hand and the curry comb in
your right and vice versa for the right hand side. This makes
it easy for you to clean your brush on the curry comb every
four or five strokes. In turn you should clean the curry comb
by tapping it on the floor, not against a wall or manger!
The metal curry comb should never be used on the animal's body.
The
Rubber Curry Comb
The rubber
curry comb is used to remove caked mud from the pony's body
and legs. It is also very useful when the pony is casting its
winter coat! It should be used in a circular motion to dislodge
dirt and casting hair. Rubber curry combs used in this way also
have a massaging effect.
Many different
types of rubber curry comb can be found on sale.
Plastic Curry Combs are used in a similar way to the Rubber
Curry Comb above. They should not be used on manes and tails
as they tend to break the hairs.
Grooming
Mitts / Stable rubbers
A variety
of grooming mitts can be found in most saddlery shops. Traditionally,
a cloth known as a stable rubber would be used to remove any
surface dust from the coat after grooming. The mitt shown here
is designed to help remove loose hair. Many mitts feature a
cactus cloth side, again to remove loose hair and a fleecy side
to polish the coat.
The
Wisp
The wisp
is traditionally made from twisted hay. It is used only on the
main muscle masses of the neck, shoulders, quarters and thighs
to promote circulation and muscle tone during a thorough grooming
of a stabled pony.
Cleaning
The Hooves
The care
of your horse or pony's feet is a vital part of the daily routine.
Remember what Jorrocks would say, "No foot no horse".
The hooves
are cleaned using a hoofpick. Each hoof should be cleaned in
turn, using the point of the hoofpick to dislodge dirt. The
hoof pick must be used from the heel towards the toe to make
sure there is no risk of the pick penetrating the soft parts
of the frog. You should also clear the cleft of the frog and
check for any signs of thrush.
Once
the feet are clean you can apply a layer of hoofoil or similar
product. This improves the appearance of the hooves and certain
brands are designed to improve the quality of the hoof.
Finishing
it off.
The
Mane & Tail
Manes and
Tails are best brushed out with a body brush or your fingers.
Mane Combs are used when plaiting and trimming and can be used
carefully to help detangle the hairs.
Whichever tool you choose to use, you must use it carefully
to avoid breaking the hairs of the mane and tail. A variety
of products such as detangler and Mane & Tail conditioner
are available in most saddlery shops.
Water Brush
The water
brush can be dampened with water to scrub off stubborn stains
and dirt, to scrub mud off the hooves, and to dampen the mane
and tail to lay them flat, making them look neat and tidy.
Sponges
You will
need three sponges, one each for cleaning the eyes, nose and
dock. Wring out the sponge so that it is soft, clean and damp.
Start by sponging the eyes away from the corners and around
the eyelids. Wring the sponge out again and clean the muzzle
including the lips.
Always use a separate sponge to deal with the dock area. If
you are at all unsure of your horse make sure that you stand
safely to one side whilst you clean the whole dock region including
the skin on the underside of the tail.
