Brushes are like shoes… you can never have too many! But with all the different types of brushes out there, how do you know which brush to use for the job?

We are here to help! Grooming a horse shouldn’t be a chore. It should be something that is enjoyable for both horse and rider. Just like human skin, a horse’s skin is its largest organ, and it needs attention. Proper grooming keeps their skin healthy, their coat shiny, and their body feeling good.

 

Here is a simple step-by-step guide that will help you out when your four-legged friend needs some major grooming TLC.

  1. First, you’ll want to get the mud and dirt off your horse’s beautiful coat. A metal curry used gently on the coat can get the nastiest of mud off. Just make sure you are extra-gentle when using a Metal Curry Comb because they can be irritating if used too aggressively.
  2. After getting off all the nasty stuff, you can switch over to a Rubber Curry Comb. Using as much or as little pressure as your horse is comfortable with, curry their entire body. A curry will bring up all the dander and dirt that has made it past the coat and to the skin. It will also show you if there are any sore spots on the horse. A curry is much like a massage, if they flinch at all, they might have a sore spot that needs to get checked out by a veterinarian.
  3. Time for the Flicker Brush or Mahnenburst Brush! It will get any additional dirt and dander from the skin that the rubber curry left behind. Remember, when brushing, have the brush in one hand and a metal curry in the other… brushing with one hand and after a few strokes, scrape the brush with metal curry to get the grime off the bristles.
  4. Using a medium brush, like a Beastie Brush, next will help further remove dust from the coat itself. It won’t reach the skin itself, so it will focus mainly on the coat and getting it clean. This is a great brush to use on the legs and all the places a rubber curry won’t reach or the horse feels uncomfortable with you currying.
  5. The final step is a soft brush… one like the Goat Hair Body Brush or the Diva Exklusiv Brush. This will get any of the final dust particles off the top of the coat. It is also an opportunity to gently apply a coat conditioner, such as ShowSheen or Cowboy Magic.

Shop Brushes at FarmVet!

Special thanks to The Horse Rescue & Kathryn Currey for helping us with this informational video. If you’d like to learn more about the rescue or make a donation visit https://www.thehorserescue.org.