Grooming tips for Friesian and Baroque horses

 

As with most things grooming, it’s a marathon, not a sprint for the Baroque and Friesian horses. However, there are some last-minute touch-ups you can do. For the marathon portion of your grooming, you must do what all horse owners do, groom from the inside and out. Add to that the trademark jet black color you need to maintain. For tips on preventing sun bleaching and the like, this article can help you.

 

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Feather and tail care

 

  • You also must deal with tons of mane, lots of feathers, and massive amounts of tail with Baroque and Friesian horses.

 

  • For the mane, keep things clean, conditioned, and detangled. I suggest long and loose braids for everyday wear to prevent wind knots and interference with reins.

 

  • I like to use grooming oils as detanglers instead of sheen sprays.  Grooming oils condition the hair and help any tangles escape much easier than a spray.  These oils go a long way and will soak into the hair if you don’t use too much.  A capful should be enough for thick manes and tails as a weekly treatment.  Adjust as necessary. 

 

 

friesian-mane

Lots of mane = lots of stuff in the mane. Long and loose braids can help with that.

 

 

  • For the tail, keep the top natural. It’s fairly common also to see the bottom natural and not banged. Banging a tail can create a very wide bottom, which for a Friesian or Baroque horse, can be ridiculously wide and thick.

 

 

Friesian-tail

Banging the tail of a Friesian horse will only make the bottom wider. This is probably not a good idea.

 

 

  • For the feathers, leave them be if you will be in a keuring or breed show. No trimming of hairs along the coronary band.  This means extra diligence on your part when feeling for scabs and inspecting for mites and the beginnings of skin infections under the feathers.  The coronary band is where the hoof begins, and even small wounds can create bit problems for the hoof.  

 

  • For other types of shows or if your Baroque is a sport horse cross, you may consider clipping the feathers for ease of management and daily care.  You do not have to clip all the way down.  You can easily tidy things up with your clipper blades pointed down.  Rake down the leg to tidy up feathers.  Or don’t.  

 

  • If your feathered friend is a mud magnet, borrow a tip from the Cob owners in the UK.  There, feathers are drenched in grooming oil before turnout.  The oil repels a vast majority of the mud.  Yes, it’s messy, but easier to manage in the long run.  

 

  • Excessive feathers can interfere with your ability to detect swelling, heat, and cuts or scrapes.  This means extra diligence on your part when feeling for scabs and inspecting for mites and the beginnings of skin infections under the feathers.  The coronary band is where the hoof begins, and even small wounds can create bit problems for the hoof.  

 

 

friesian-feathers

Feathers – a trademark of the baroque horses!

 

 

Become friends with your horse clippers.

 

  • Some Baroque breeds and Friesians tend to grow wild “goat” or “elephant” hairs on their faces, necks, and legs. These are common on the cheeks, chins, and behind the knees.  You may want to trim these hairs to prevent tack from interfering or yanking them out.  

 

  • For ease of clipping, use your blade with the direction of hair growth to trim up these hairs. On the legs, you may want to do the very tops of the feathers along the cannon bone.

 

  • Avoid going too low and clipping into the width of the feathers. Focus on just the stray hairs that poke out.

 

 

long-mane-braids
Long and loose braids can help with keeping the mane tidy.

 

 

  • If you are showing your Friesian or Baroque horse in a keuring or breed show, check your breed association regulations regarding specific grooming standards.

 

  • For example, in some keurings, you are prohibited from using hair dyes, tail and mane extensions, or wedge pads on shoes. Additionally, you will likely need to show with an unbraided mane.  You can add color back to your bleached horse with color-enhancing shampoos.  For tails, you may be allowed to use a spray pigment like Show Touch Up to mask any lighter hair.  

 

 

 

go-shopping

 

Stock up here for your horse supplies! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, but it’s ZERO extra cents to you.  You can also visit my Amazon storefront here:  PEG storefront.

HandsOn Finishing Gloves - Double Sided
$19.99

The jute side buffs to add shine, the other side is fuzzy for lifting dust and applying fly sprays and grooming products.

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Handson Ergonomic Hoof Pick
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This is the strongest hoof pick available!

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Farnam Slick 'N Easy Horse Grooming Block
$8.99

Good for grooming, shedding, and bot egg removal

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BRUSH FACE WHITE GOAT HAIR
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For faces, ears, and any place your horse needs a softer brush.

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USG H.A.A.S Haas Diamond Gloss
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Sort of a mix between a finishing brush and a body brush. Soft for sensitive horses.

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Jeffers Horse Face Brush
$17.13

This brush is luxury and will help your horse shine!

12/11/2024 11:23 pm GMT
Huntley Equestrian Deluxe Grooming Bag
$59.99

Keep all of your poops in a group with this handy tote.

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H.A.S HAAS Mould Horse Brush Large Silver, Medium
$23.00 $18.84

Boost shine and create a smooth coat with this medium brush from the best of the best - HAAS. Go forth and shine!

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Wet Brush Shower Hair Brush Detangler
$13.79 $7.00

Gentle and effective detangling for your horse's mane and tail.

12/11/2024 10:58 am GMT
Electric Cleaner Co Rapid Groom Horse Vacuum
$605.00

It's always satisfying to vacuum your horse!

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HANDSON Pet Grooming Gloves - Grooming, Bathing, Shedding
$16.99

These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.

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Big Hoss - Outlaw Nutrition

Omega 3's plus gut health support in a delicious cold milled flax formula. It's delicious and it will turn your horse's coat into a mirror.

SHAPLEY'S Medi-Care Med Shampoo W/Tea Tree & Lemon Grass, 32 oz
$22.99 $20.52

The best shampoo for shine and soothing.

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Shapley s 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo - Whitening Formula
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For all colors - to add shine and help lift stains.

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Shapley's Equitone 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, GOLD
$23.58

Brighten duns, palominos, and golden colors.

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Shapley's 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, BLACK
$23.04 $16.00

For dark bays, black points, and black horses

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SHAPLEY'S 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, RED
$22.59

For chestnuts and some bays

12/11/2024 07:29 am GMT
Shapley's No.2 Heavy Oil
$25.00

For deep conditioning and detangling - coat, mane, and tail.

12/11/2024 07:30 am GMT
Shapley's No.1 Light Oil
$19.99

This is my favorite horse care product for shine, conditioning, detangling, and stain protection.

12/11/2024 03:04 am GMT
HANDSON Pet Grooming Gloves - Grooming, Bathing, Shedding
$16.99

These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.

12/11/2024 05:48 am GMT
WAHL Professional Animal Bravura Cordless Trimmers
$199.99

This cordless trimmer is powerful and comes with the 5-in-2 blade system for versatility.

12/11/2024 02:58 am GMT
Wahl Professional Animal KMC+ 2-Speed Cordless Clipper Kit
$299.99

This is my favorite clipper - It's great for body clipping, trace clipping, and trimming. Cordless for the win!

12/11/2024 07:53 pm GMT

 

 

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