Grooming: That warm, fuzzy feeling

by Michaela Bowles

Grooming is the process of making the horse presentable and comfortable; of ensuring that it is clean and free of external parasites; of checking every inch of the horse for potential problems that can arise owing to minor injuries going unnoticed.

The extent of the grooming is determined by whether the horse lives out and is ridden, or whether it lives in partially − that is in during the night and out during the day or vice versa, or whether it is clipped and rugged. The breed and type of work that the horse is engaged in all determine the amount of grooming and consequently the work involved. Grooming to a lesser or greater extent replaces the horse's ability to clean and groom itself or with the assistance of other horses.

Living out

Horses that live out all year round but are not ridden should be checked daily by running hands all over the horse to check for lumps, bumps, cuts, scrapes and heat. Early treatment can alleviate the chance of infection and the possibility of serious problems developing. Eyes should be checked for tearing and the feet should be picked out. Stones lodged in shoes or in the lateral grooves can cause bruising that can result in an abscess and severe pain and lameness. You may choose to remove the worst of the dirt or mud, but the horse needs the dirt, skin debris and naturally occurring oil trapped in the coat to insulate itself against cold and rain.

Checklist

• Basic first aid kit
• Dandy brush or plastic curry
• Hoof pick

Horses that live out and are ridden need the same checks, but will also need to be brushed before and after exercise. Brushing beforehand is in order to remove dust and dirt which, if not removed, together with sweat create a sandpaper effect which can result in painful abrasions (galls) and loss of hair.

After exercise, the horse should be washed down, particularly the saddle and girth region, armpits, groin and buttocks, the ears and the poll where the head stall fits. Plain tepid water is best, either using the hose if available and if water is plentiful, or a bucket and sponge. The addition of a good splash of vinegar to the bucket is useful to neutralise sweat, which is mainly composed of sodium and chloride. This in the presence of sunlight creates bleach and has a detrimental effect on black, bays and deep chestnuts. The vinegar also helps to restore the acid balance to the skin and helps to reduce flies.

A sweaty horse will be itchy and uncomfortable and if not in a position to roll, may find more damaging ways of alleviating its discomfort. This may result in abrasions, loss of mane and tail, and destruction of rugs.

Checklist

• Basic first aid kit
• Dandy brush
• Body brush
• Plastic curry
• Hoof pick
• Bucket and sponges (separate sponges for face and dock)

Living in

Horses that live in and are clipped and consequently rugged, require the deepest grooming. This includes Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods and various types of show and performance horses.

Dressing involves currying and brushing. Begin by tying up the horse. Starting at the left side, brush the neck and body with a dandy brush to remove dust and debris. (If the horse is clipped, only the body brush is used). The right side of the horse is then brushed in the same manner. Then a body brush is used to brush the horse all over, again beginning on the left side and including the legs, tail, mane and head. This is to remove scurf and dirt and distribute body oils. With each stroke of the body brush it is passed over a metal curry (comb) to remove the hair, scurf and dirt from the brush.

Once the brushing is completed, the horse may be wisped or banged. The wisp is made from a length of coiled straw, while the banger is a leather pad. It is used to stimulate the large muscle groups over the hindquarters and the neck beginning with a gentle hitting motion and building in intensity. This causes contraction and relaxation of muscles. The friction of brushing together with wisping can be considered to be exercise without motion. It is very useful to horses that are being stall-rested or confined to stables owing to poor weather.

After wisping, a clean lint-free cloth or stable rubber is used to polish the horse all over. And finally, a damp water brush can be used to lay the mane and tail. Of course, the feet must also be picked out and washed, if needed.
Horses enjoy various forms of massage and of having their ears gently pulled. This does not imply a tug, but gently passing your hands over the horse's ears from base to point.

The entire process, if correctly done, taking in account some elbow grease, may take an hour. From time to time the sheath of both geldings and stallions should be cleaned with a gentle soap and copious amounts of water. The frequency will depend upon the individual horse.

Checklist

• Basic first aid kit
• Dandy brush
• Body brush
• Wisp/banger
• Metal curry-comb
• Mane comb
• Sponges for dock and eyes
• Bucket and sponge
• Hoof pick

This lists the minimum suggested requirements although there are many other grooming aids available.

Bonding

Just as important is the bonding that occurs between groom and horse during this valuable time. Horses are highly sentient, sensitive creatures and respond very well to TLC.

As a scientist, I do not believe in horse whispering; these people are astute observers and knowledgeable about both human and horse behaviour.

Years ago, I heard a veterinarian and self-proclaimed horse whisperer tell a client during a consultation, that the client's horse hated the fact that the client was constantly sneezing while riding. The horse wished that the client (rider) would actually spend time with her (the horse) other than just riding her. The client was amazed. How could the veterinarian/horse whisperer know this? The vet had observed that the client suffered from hay fever during the consultation. The client's complaint was that her mare did not seem to respond very well to her efforts at training. The vet was recommending that if more time was actually spent with the horse, other than simply riding her, the client might then gain insight as to what the blocks might be to progressing the training.

Many individuals prefer to groom and care for their horses, forgoing riding, knowing that the rewards of trust and depth of understanding that ensues during the process, are as rewarding as the joy and excitement that riding brings. And no rider can claim to really know their horse unless they both groom and ride.

Best said in the words of Henry Wynmalen in The Horse's Nature and Mentality: "The spending of a couple of hours in the saddle daily is no qualification to judge the horse's mind; if we have the gift of imagination and sufficient interest to apply this to a constant study of the horse's ways in and out of the stable we are likely, at any rate, to come much nearer to the truth."
And while grooming, handle your horse with confidence. Talk to your horse; they are the perfect confidantes!