Five Basic Horse Grooming Tools

I know lots of people who have and love horses! If you have a horse, I’m sure you can relate to this article. As a dedicated horse owner, you take excellent care of your horse. You clean its stall a couple times a week, make sure it has clean water available at all times, take it out for regular exercise and feed it high-quality grain. Also, you understand the importance of feeding your horse the right vitamins and minerals.

You know that Vet Products Direct sell horse supplements online, so you can shop for whatever your horse needs. Along with all of that, you understand the importance of grooming your horse each day. Look at these five basic horse grooming tools that can keep your horse’s coat healthy and beautiful.

The Curry Comb

The first step of grooming your horse involves the curry comb. This is an oval shaped brush that is usually made of rubber. It has rubber bristles that serve to loosen the dead and loose hairs in a horse’s coat. Move the brush in a circular motion across your horse’s coat and watch all of the loose hair come to the surface.

The Stiff Bristle Brush

This brush has a more traditional appearance. Its bristles are stiff which helps it to gather the loose hairs you’ve stirred up from your horse’s coat. Use this brush to move the loose hairs off your horse’s coat and onto the floor. If there are still some hairs that need to be removed from your horse’s coat, this brush can get rid of them.

The Soft Brush

This brush is just what it sounds like. Move your hand across its bristles and you’ll find they are soft and pliable. This brush smooths out your horse’s coat after its been swirled around by the curry comb. Unlike the curry comb or stiff bristle brush, the soft brush is safe to use on your horse’s face and head. It is soft enough to smooth the sensitive areas beneath your horse’s eyes and around its nostrils and mouth.

Hoof Picking

At least one hoof pick is a must-have in every grooming kit. Most horse owners keep several on hand. Use the hoof pick to remove the mud, stones, pebbles, manure and other debris stuck in your horse’s hooves. It’s important not to be too harsh with the hoof pick because it is sharp and can damage a horse’s hoof. So, think of it as a cleaning tool and avoid digging too deeply with it.

Combing the Mane, Tail and Forelock

A horse’s comb looks a lot like a human’s comb. It’s used to remove tangles, burrs and more from a horse’s mane, tail and forelock. Take care when you use a comb on your horse. It can feel yanking and pulling just as a person can when his or her hair is combed. But, it’s important to get the tangles out of a horse’s mane and tail so stubborn mats have no opportunity to develop.

Lastly, besides helping to maintain the health of your horse’s coat, a regular grooming routine can give you another opportunity to bond with your horse. It is a time to talk to your horse and let it know you can be trusted with its care.