Find a Horse Grooming Routine That Works For You

Horse Health Care First – Grooming Routine Checklist

Before I pick up grooming tools, I check my horse’s health. Here’s a list of everything I monitor, both inside and outside. I’m checking:

Vital signs

Your horse’s vitals reveal how they are feeling. Fever typically indicates an illness or infection, while elevated respiratory rates and pulse may also indicate pain, and labored breathing may also suggest a respiratory issue or pain. Gums give you information about hydration and the circulatory system, and digital pulses alert you to pain, swelling, and irregular blood flow inside the hoof.

• Temperature, pulse, and respirations
• Gums – color, capillary refill, moisture level
• Digital pulses on all four legs

Hooves

No hoof, no horse. Small changes to the hooves, such as tiny cracks, can develop into white line disease later. Don’t forget about the coronary band. It’s the birthplace of the hoof.

• Heat
• Cracks
• Loose shoes or nails
• Coronary band

Body

Assess how your horse reacts to touch on their big muscle groups and their sensitive areas. Your fingers and eyes can also assess coat condition and any skin conditions that may be developing. Pay particular attention to your horse’s skin. If your grooming game is strong, their natural oils already make for a shiny coat. A health horse will have healthy skin, and their muscles will not negatively react to pressure and handling.

• Large muscle groups
• Tick check
• Under the saddle
• Overall skin and coat health

Legs

Inspecting your horse’s legs for signs of injury is crucial before and after a ride. Even the most basic grooming routine needs a leg inspection. You are looking for signs of bacterial growth, like scabs, that may indicate mud fever. You’re also looking for swelling and heat, as well as minor cuts, and making sure the skin and hair are in good condition.

• Swelling
• Cuts or scabs
• Heat

Easy routine – temp, hooves, mane/tail, curry, brush, stain removal, and shine.

Face

Your horse’s face requires careful inspection and gentle care. Discharge from the eyes or nose indicates more significant problems, and sores around the mouth signal a potential issue with the bridle or bit fitting. Be careful around sensitive skin.

• Eye discharge
• Swollen lids
• Nasal discharge
• Corners of the mouth
• Ear hair and skin around the ear

Notice Your Horse’s Environment

The barn, stalls, and turnout areas that your horse inhabits also indicate your horse’s health. Look for patterns and clues in their eating and drinking habits, as well as how they make their beds.

• Eating and pooping habits
• Drinking and urination habits
• Bedding
• Signs of distress

Steps to an Effective Horse Grooming Routine

• When you have the same routine for grooming your horse, you can easily duplicate this process in high-pressure situations without surprising your horse. Establishing a routine allows you to rely on “routine memory,” so you won’t overlook something at a show or under pressure.

Step One – Get Organized in Your Grooming Space

• Gather all of your tools, tack, and equipment in the cross ties before you fetch your horse. This includes your grooming box, full of brushes and tools, as well as your saddle, bridles, and other accessories. This may also include your boots, helmet, and other riding essentials. Leaving your horse unattended to grab something means you are further away if they need immediate assistance. Because horses.

• Fetch your horse! Pick your horse’s feet before you leave the stall or paddock. This keeps the barn aisle cleaner and can also alert you to any problems before you start walking. For example, some horses are talented at tweaking shoes in their stalls, which is something you may not want walking through the barn. You can also feel their legs for heat/swelling before you leave the area.

Pick feet before you head to the cross ties or tack-up area! You can also do a quick leg inspection in the stall, too – just in case your horse needs to stay put.

Step Two – Take Vital Signs and Health Check

• In the cross ties, the first thing I do is insert a thermometer to take my horse’s vital signs. I have a string attached to a tight barrette so I can clip it to their tail hairs just in case it gets “farted out”. Or use a digital thermometer, which takes a lot less time. Checking TPR regularly is critical to notice what is going on with your horse. Most horses will act fairly normally despite a fever, so I check anyway. It’s also beneficial for desensitizing your horse.

• Remove and read the thermometer. If I suspect a horse is feeling unwell, I will take their temperature before moving them. Otherwise, you run the risk of “contaminating” other parts of the barn. Any temp above 101.5 is cause for alarm and is a signal to call the veterinarian.

• Then you can carry on with checking the bodies and other vital signs.

Step Three – Grooming Tools for Their Skin and Coat

Now let’s get your healthy horse clean and shiny! Here are some essential tools to include in your grooming kit.

The curry comb

• I start with a curry comb or curry gloves. In a circular motion, work the curry with and against the direction of hair growth. This helps the production of natural oil, called sebum, in the skin, and spreads those oils into your horse’s hair. The benefits of natural oils include waterproofing, shine enhancement, stain resistance, and protection against microbes.

• If you use curry gloves, vary the pressure and surface area when working to prevent irritation. Different areas of your horse’s skin will feel better with varying levels of pressure. Gentle pressure around the eyes is good, and most horses like you to lean into their hind end. Let body language be your guide.

• Alternatively, consider having a few different styles of curry combs, such as a shedding blade or metal curry comb for thick winter coats that’re shedding, or smaller, rubbery curry combs for short hair and delicate areas. Or find the middle ground with a traditional rubber curry.

• After the curry, I attack manure or urine stains. A curry will diminish the dried stain, and then you can use a damp washcloth to wipe it away. You can also add a waterless shampoo if needed. For horrible stains, you can learn some tricks here.

Grooming gloves > curry comb

Horse brushes to use

• A flicker or dandy brush will remove dust and loose hair that your currying efforts brought up. Stiffer bristles are best when long to sweep away dirt and dander from your horse’s hair. For an exceptionally dirty horse, you may want to curry again after the first pass with a stiff brush.

• A brush with softer bristles will smooth the hair and help the coat shine. Stiff bristles may be best for a winter coat. Natural fibres may be more comfortable for your horse, too.

• You can follow with a soft sponge or cloth around the nostrils, sheaths, and under the tail, although use a fresh one for the face, always. Face brushes are a smaller soft body brush that’s easier to maneuver around our horse’s face.

• A finishing brush provides a final polish. Let the brush glide along to smooth the coat and bring out some shine.

• You can add any finishing sprays now, or in some cases, you may want to rub them with a cloth. You can also apply your finishing spray or shine product to your final soft brush.

Brushes and combs for manes and tails

• Apply a detangler to the tail, if you use one, then gently pick or brush the tail. You may not need to use a detangler or conditioner on your horse every day. Comb out the mane and forelock. This is a good time to check to see if your horse’s bridle path needs a trim.

• Use a moisturizing conditioner after washing the mane and tail if you notice drying and splitting of the hair. Using a silicone detangler or sheen spray can help prevent too much damage by making the hair slick.

• Wide-tooth combs are best for manes and tails. Smaller combs are suited for braiding and detangling wind knots after a heavy application of grooming oil.

• You can use a pair of scissors to cut away any errant hairs or chunks, or bang the tail.

Hoof care tools in the grooming routine

• If you haven’t already, pick those hooves. Long, skinny metal hooks are best to dig deep into grooves and under the lip of horseshoes.

• Then, brush off your horse’s hooves. I like the rough side of a double-sided sponge or the brush side of the hoof pick. Now you have a smooth surface to apply your polish of choice if that’s what you like.

• Wrap and protect your horse’s legs if needed. Use your preferred choice of leg protection and/or bell boots. Always run your hands down all tendons and joints again before you wrap, just in case.

I like all of my tack in the cross ties when I’m getting a horse ready. I am also searching for a way to make only ONE trip from the grooming station to the tack room.

Other Steps in the Horse Grooming Routine

• Tidy up any stray hairs, especially the bridle path, with clippers or trimmers.
• Applying fly sprays or sheen sprays. These work best on clean horses.
• Use a hoof polish if you like.
• Brush the underside of saddle pads and boots before use. If they are too dirty or hairy, move on to a cleaner set.
• Check your saddle and bridle as you tack up. Ensure the billet stitching looks good, and the elastic on the girth is not fraying. Ensure the bit is clean, and the bridle’s stitching is solid.

FAQ’s

How often should you groom a horse?

Ideally, you groom your horse daily to check their health. At the bare minimum, you are checking vital signs, examining hooves and legs, and observing their eating, drinking, urination, and manure habits daily. Grooming is more than just brushing, and the non-brushing part is often the most important.

What are the reasons for grooming a horse?

The most important aspects of horse grooming are monitoring their vital signs and skin health. The brushing and detangling help their skin’s natural oil, and you can feel how your horse’s muscles are. Grooming is also essential to prevent saddles and bridles from rubbing dirt against the skin.

Do you need to brush a horse before and after a ride?

Yes! You don’t necessarily need to do the whole routine after a horseback riding, but you need to ensure they are dry with clean hooves and any sweat marks are brushed away. Sometimes you can curry and brush again, or give your horse a rinse.

Should I let my horse groom me?

You can! Mutual grooming between horses involves them nibbling a friend around the withers, and many horses will try this with their humans. It’s not biting, but rather a horse reciprocating what they feel. You will need to set boundaries to ensure this remains a safe and bonding experience.

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