Grooming does not only take place when grooming horses by humans, but also in the wild between wild horses. In addition to removing dirt and parasites, grooming serves to promote social behavior and to strengthen and maintain a bond with one another.
It is perceived as pleasant and has a relaxing effect. Grooming also promotes blood circulation, which causes muscles to warm up and loosen up. In addition, the thorough grooming in horse care ensures the prevention and early detection of changes, injuries or illnesses.
What does coat care involve for horses?
Care of hooves, tail and mane
In addition to grooming the top coat (fur), long hair (tail and mane) and hooves must also be cleaned and groomed daily.
Hygiene in the stable as part of care
An important role in horse care is also the horse's environment or stable. Daily cleaning/manure removal and sufficient air circulation are important here.
If these factors are not guaranteed, this can quickly lead to hoof, skin and respiratory diseases. In the long term this can also lead to mental illnesses in the horse. Sooner or later, these illnesses are also visible in the coat, e.g. in the form of bald or chafed areas and a lack of shine.
Grooming horses - The right order step by step
Rough cleaning with the harrow
Proper coat care begins with a rough cleaning using a rubber or metal brush. It is important to avoid sensitive areas such as the head or joints, as this can lead to skin injuries and/or pain for the horse.
At the horse grooming, you work from front to back in circular movements with light pressure. Starting at the horse's neck, work over the rump, back and flanks to the croup and thighs. If dust or dirt has collected in the currycomb, it is beaten out on the floor. This ensures that the dirt picked up is not spread over the horse and that the harrow can pick up new dirt again.
Harrowing is used to remove coarse dirt and loose hair and loose hair, roughens the coat, brings deep-seated dirt and dust to the surface and imitates social grooming. It is therefore pleasant and relaxing for the horse and promotes the bond between humans and horses.
Fine work with the grooming brush
After grooming, the brush is used for the finishing touches. This involves brushing with the brush only in the direction of the coat over the areas previously roughened with the curry comb. Here, too, you work from the neck over the rump, back and flanks to the croup and thighs from front to back.
The fine work with the grooming brush smoothes the coat and removes the dirt previously brought to the surface from the coat. dirt from the coat. If the grooming brush no longer picks up dust because too much has collected in it, it is cleaned by wiping it on the currycomb.
Cleaning sensitive areas
The sensitive areas of the horse, which were left out when grooming with a currycomb and brush, require special cleaning. Carefully brush the horse's head and bony areas with a soft brush in the direction of the coat. Joint areas are also brushed in the direction of the coat with a soft brush, but can also be carefully brushed in the direction of the coat with a harder brush or cleaned with a sponge and/or water if the legs are very dirty.
Shiny finish with the cleaning glove
After the dust has been removed and the coat has been smoothed, you can use a cleaning glove, e.g. made of fur or microfiber, to remove the finest dust particles and make the coat shine. When fine sanding for shiny coat you should also only work in the direction of the coat.
Checking the coat
At the end of the grooming process, the clean, smooth coat is checked for shine, suppleness, unevenness or bald patches. The skin is also checked for injuries, scabs and scabs or parasites. This helps to prevent and detect diseases at an early stage.
Horse tail and mane care
Tail care: detangling and maintaining shine
In addition to coat care, the horse's long hair, i.e. tail and mane, also requires care. When grooming the tail, it is particularly important to avoid tearing and breaking the hair, as tail hair takes several years to grow back to its full length and the tail is the horse's natural fly defense.
To groom the tail, it is picked out with the fingers strand by strand or. carefully untangled or with a tail comb or a tail and mane brush. This removes tangles and dirt from the horse's tail.
You should always work your way up from the bottom to the top, as this reduces hair breakage or tearing. You can also spray the tail with tail and mane spray before grooming. This increases combability, makes the hair more supple and thus also prevents the hair from tearing and breaking.
Mane care: Brushing and smoothing
The mane also requires regular grooming to remove tangles and dirt. To do this, the mane is carefully combed with a mane comb or a tail and mane brush. With a longer mane, it is also advisable to brush from the bottom upwards to avoid breaking and tearing the hair and to protect it. The use of tail and mane spray also improves shine, suppleness and combability and therefore helps with grooming.
Basic care equipment
Which brushes do you need for horse grooming?
The right grooming equipment is crucial for good grooming of horses. The following items should be in the grooming bag or grooming box:
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Rubber or metal harrow for rough cleaning
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Brush for the finishing touches
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Soft brush for sensitive areas such as the stomach and head
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Cleaning glove for a shiny finish
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Mane comb or a tail and mane brush for long hair
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Root brush for coarser dirt on the legs or hooves
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Hoof scraper
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2 sponges for the head and legs.
Separate sponges/wipes should be used for hairless areas such as the nostrils or anus to avoid spreading germs.
Care products and their storage
In addition to the various brushes, a well-equipped grooming box should also contain some grooming products. A tail and mane spray is recommended for shine, combability and suppleness of the long hair.
Hoof care products such as hoof oil (e.g. Keralit Hoof-Elast) and products against thrush ( e.g. Keralit Undercover and Keralit frog liquide) and against breaking hooves (e.g. Keralit hoof strengthener), as these ensure healthy and good-looking hooves.
In addition, a disinfectant spray for small wounds and an ointment for skin care and regeneration (e.g. Keralit Dermacure Ointment) are also recommended. In summer, an anti-fly product should also be in the grooming box to protect the horse from bites and the associated stress. Most grooming products should be stored in a cool, dry place and can be stored in the tack room without hesitation.
Avoid skin problems - prevention through proper care
With good coat and skin care for horses skin diseases such as fungal infections, moulting and skin irritations can usually be nipped in the bud or even prevented. If minor skin irritations or bald patches occur, these can be treated with an ointment to care for and regenerate the sensitive skin. sensitive skin (e.g. Keralit Dermacure Ointment).
If there is no improvement or even a deterioration after a few days, a vet should be consulted. If the horse gets scabs or other scabs, these can be treated with an ointment to gently remove scabs and crusts (e.g. Keralit Keralysin Ointment). Here too, a vet should be consulted if the treatment is unsuccessful or worsens.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about grooming horses
How do you care for a horse properly?
To care for a horse properly, you need to know and meet its basic needs in terms of husbandry and nutrition. Daily horse care also includes cleaning and trimming the hooves. Here you should be alert to changes and use care products if necessary.
Is it good to brush your horse every day?
Yes, a horse should be brushed every day. Brushing the horse imitates the coat and skin care of mutual coat scratching in the wild, strengthens the bond between man and horse and helps to recognize changes at an early stage.
How do you clean a wet horse?
If the horse is wet, brushing should be avoided at first, as brushing a wet coat can quickly lead to dirt being rubbed deeper into the coat or the horse becoming sore. The horse should therefore be dried beforehand using a towel or solarium.
What is the quickest way to dry a horse?
If possible, place the horse under a solarium during the cold season. If this is not possible, rubbing the horse dry with a towel and covering it with a sweat blanket can also help.
How do you clean horse brushes properly?
First, the brushes should be washed with lukewarm water. Then mix lukewarm water with a mild soap or baby shampoo in a clean bucket and clean the brushes in it. Finally, rinse the brushes with lukewarm water until the rinsed water remains clear and leave to dry (e.g. in the sun).