Horse Grooming and Equipment

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Donna_J_Diehl]Donna J Diehl
Grooming Your Horse
Your horse needs to look his best whenever you put him to work. The first thing anyone notices is the appearance of your horse. Your horse should look his best whether you are showing or just going on a ride down the street. Grooming massages the muscles and skin and also improves the circulation. A well groomed horse looks much healthier than an ungroomed horse.
To get the dandruff and deep dirt out use a curry comb to rough up the hair. The curry comb will also remove dried mud. To get the job done sufficient pressure should be used. Rubber curry combs are the most common but they come in many styles. There are round and square, rubber and metal. Which you like best depends on your preference. They all do a good job. When grooming your horse be sure you follow the lay of the coat.
The dandy brush or rice straw brushes are stiff harsh brushes. They will lift the dirt out and penetrate the hair if used in a rocking motion. You should not use this brush on the tender parts of the horse. Many owners use these brushes only and not a curry comb.
Use the body brush to clean and massage the skin after removing the mud. The body brush is much softer and is a finishing brush. They tend to add gloss to the coat by bringing oil into the hair. Use short circular strokes following the lay of the coat. Brush all parts of the body starting at the neck and working toward the tail. So that you do not get kicked when brushing the sensitive parts such as the inside of the leg stand to the side and close to the horse. Finish one side of the horse and then do the other side.
Brush the face after you are finished brushing the body. Use the soft brush only on the face. The curry comb and dandy brush are too harsh for the face. Use a damp sponge to clean the eyelids starting at the outside corner and sponging inward. Sponge around the lips and then sponge the nostrils. With a different sponge gently clean the whole area under the tail.
To remove the last particles of dirt and further enhance the shine use a rubbing cloth. You can slightly dampen the rubbing cloth and then wipe all over the body.
Run your fingers through the tail to help untangle it. Use a hair brush with soft ends or a body brush to brush out the tail. Start at the bottom of the tail and gradually work upward until the entire tail is finished. After removing the tangles you should then brush the mane.
Using a hoof pick clean your horse's feet making sure you remove all the dirt and mud. Apply oil to the hoof covering the entire hoof. Oil the sole also as this helps prevent mud and bedding from getting packed into the hoof.
After grooming your horse he will be ready for any activity that you have planned. For more information on horse's and their care take a quick look at   rel=nofollow http://www.thebestofhorses.com.
If you would like to learn more about horse equipment or caring for horses take a quick look at http://www.thebestofhorses.com
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