What happens if you dont groom your horse

Even the most docile horse can spook and step on you. The grooming process begins with currying. The purpose of currying is to loosen caked-on dirt and to bring dust and dandruff to the surface for easy removal.

Either a Sarvis curry or a rubber curry may be used. Start currying at the neck and firmly brush the hair in circular movements while working towards the rear. Pay particular attention to areas you cannot see such as the belly and underline, between the legs and behind the ears, because they are often forgotten.

Vigorous circular movements when currying increases circulation to the skin. This, in turn, leads to healthy skin. By releasing the skins natural oils, the coat also takes on a healthy shine. Be careful not to curry too vigorously on bony areas, and do not use any curry comb on the face.

A rubber curry mit should be used on the bony areas and the face. With the mit, pressure can be applied to remove dirt and hair without injuring the sensitive areas. Brushing with a stiff body brush should follow currying. Brushing returns the hair to its normal position and removes the dirt brought to the surface by currying. Brush with short, firm strokes not long fluid strokes. Long stokes only move the dirt from one area to another while short swift strokes flick the debris off the horse.

Brush with the grain of the coat. While brushing with one hand, hold the curry in the other to clean out the brush every few strokes. Do not use the stiff brush on the face.

Remember to brush the belly and underline. Be aware that some horses are ticklish there and may become fidgety. During fly season, particularly, a horse often thrusts its hind leg forward to chase flies from the abdomen; therefore, it is wise to keep your head and body out of striking range when working in that area.

Follow the stiff brushing with a brushing with a soft brush. This second brushing removes the dust left by the coarser, stiff brush and brings oils to the surface, giving a lustrous shine to the horses coat.

The face can also be brushed with the finer, soft brush. Before grooming the head, untie the horse and hold it by the halter. With a soft brush start at the forehead and move down the face, brushing with the grain of the hair.

Avoid the eyes. Be gentle around the nose and mouth. Some horses are sensitive or ticklish in these areas and may try to move their heads to avoid the brush. When grooming the legs, bend at the hips or remain in a squat position.

Do not sit on the ground or rest one or both knees on the ground. These are committed positions, which means once in them, it takes longer than a split second to get out of them. In committed positions, if the horse should become frightened, the time it would take you to move away from scrambling feet and the chance of becoming seriously injured is increased.

It always helps to have your free hand resting on the horses body while working on the legs. In this case a horse needs daily grooming sessions. Otherwise dead skin and hair builds up and causes discomfort and skin problems. So once a day the rugs should be removed and the horse given a good and thorough grooming starting with a stiff bristled brush to remove dead skin and hair and finishing with a softer brush to remove dust.

In this case please try to remember that your horse needs to behave like a real horse and allow them to roll in sand or mud from time to time for the sheer pleasure it brings. This can be done when the horse is sweaty after work.

The horse can then be cleaned up and rugged again. In fact a very good tradition in racing stables is to let the horse roll in a sand roll after exercise. For more information please see the Equiculture Responsible Horse Care page. Scientific Reports 8 , She holds a doctorate in animal behavior and has taught courses in animal learning and behavior for more than 20 years.

Her research looks at temperament, stress, and burn-out as they relate to the selection, retention, and welfare of therapy horses. She also provides private behavior consultations and training services in the Seattle area. Do Horses Like Being Groomed? Probably Not, Study Finds Researchers reported that more horses avoid being groomed than show signs of liking it. Favorite Share:.

About The Author. Robin Foster, PhD, Cert. Related Posts. Dead space. Search Search for:. Weekly Poll:. Do you plan to blanket your horse this winter? Yes, my horse will wear a blanket this winter. Yes, my horse will wear a blanket, but only during inclement weather. Quiet time with just you, your horse, and a brush can communicate feelings of communal pleasantries that benefit both horse and rider.

For those just starting a relationship with a new mount, this is a wonderful way to build a bond, and for those beginning training with a young horse, grooming can re-assure an anxious green mount. Practicing some ground exercises such as lateral neck flexions or picking up hooves and doing some leg extensions are great equine yoga moves to help with flexibility and balance. Some people take the time to practice ground manners or teach their horses tricks. So, this is a purely selfish reason for encouraging people to take the time to groom, but how many of you have worked up a sweat just brushing your horse?

Working that body brush over the top line will definitely work your shoulders and triceps if you are doing it right! Who needs a gym membership when you have horses, right? I currently do not have a horse to call my own. All this talk about quality time with horses makes me miss that the grooming, not the manure stains. Anyone have a horse they need groomed? Home News Views.