Grooming Your Horse to Win

A shiny, bright coat and lovely mane and tail starts on the inside of your horse with proper feeding and worming. It is finished on the outside with a good grooming program. Grooming your horse daily after his workout while his skin is still warm helps bring the natural skin oils to the surface and creates that winning sparkle and shine. Although you want to groom your horse before working to prevent saddle sores, most of your effort should be concentrated after the workout. Cool your horse down until his hair is dry. Do not let sweat dry on his skin because he will become itchy and may rub his tail or other parts of his hair coat. In the summer you can hose off the sweat with a quick rinse. In cooler weather, groom your horse after he dries using a rubber curry in a circular motion to loosen dried hair and dead skin. Really put some muscle into it. Use lighter pressure on the face and legs. Be sure to curry the cannon bones.

After currying your horse, use a stiff dandy brush to flick the dirt up and away from the hair, using short strokes and lifting upward at the end of each stroke. Go over the horse’s entire body. Follow this with a thorough brushing with a soft brush, using long strokes. End by rubbing with a soft terry towel. Don’t skimp if you want that brilliant show ring shine. The entire process should take about twenty to thirty minutes. After you have groomed your horse and cleaned out his feet, turn your attention to his mane and tail. I apply a conditioner after every bath in summer and as often as I can in the winter. Rub it in. Make sure the entire tail is covered and massage the hair at the horse’s tailbone. Never comb a horse’s tail when it is wet, as this will cause the hairs to break. Apply the conditioner and leave it until the next day. The following day run a rubber-toothed brush (never a comb) through the tail.

Care for the mane is a similar fashion. Using a slinky is the most helpful grooming aid for teaching a horse’s mane to lie over flat on one side. Braiding will also help, especially if you start when the horse is a yearling. The bridle path should be clipped to the length of the horse’s ear. Accustom your horse to having his ears and nostrils cleaned by wiping with a soft cloth. A good grooming system takes time, effort, and muscle, but the resulting slick, shiny hair coat will leave your competitors drooling with envy.

You can see how this is done, and learn a whole lot more, as I did, in Laurie Truskauskas-Knott’s great book, “Understanding Showmanship,” available at www.alpinepub.com

 

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