Pets Guide

7 Easy Tips For Grooming Your Horse

Horses are some of the most beautiful creatures to walk the face of the earth; but as pets, they require lots of maintenance and attention. Simple feeding and brushing is not enough for these animals and if you ask any horse owner or veterinarian, they will tell you that you need a great deal of patience to take care of these pets. The following are 7 tips for grooming your horse and keeping your horse happy and healthy.

It is pertinent that you take care of your feet and in the same hand it is pertinent to take care of your horses feet. Like human feet, dirty hooves can cause all sorts of infections and can even make your horse unable to walk. Therefore, buy an inexpensive hoof pick and use it on a regular basis (everyday) so as to dislodge any pebbles or debris that may be stuck in the crevices of the hoof.

Making sure to wash and clean the face of a horse after a ride or other exercise is necessary in order to prevent hair loss and infections that can occur from fungal infections. Dampness, moisture and sweat can damage the coat of your horse, and sometimes the face of the animal is forgotten. Instead of using the rigid sweat scrapers to remove water from the hips and legs of a horse, you should use the Squeegees that are made specifically for horses. This is more comfortable for the animal and it really does a better job. Using these products can also help you avoid scraping away bits of hair from the animals body.

Use a sponge to clean different areas on your horse. Keep these separate and do not use the same sponge on the dock that is used for the face. If you remember to keep the sponges separated you will prevent cross contamination of bacteria and other microbes from one area to another.

The tail of a horse requires the same kind of maintenance as a girl’s hair. It must be washed, conditioned, and detangled weekly. The tail should also be brushed everyday to prevent serious tangling and to prevent snarls and sores on your horse. If you want, you can use a tail bag to protect your horse’s tail, but be certain to tie the bag below the horse’s tail bone.

Horses with darker coats need to spend time in the shade, outside of the sun. The sun can turn their coats a different shade and cause damage. It is also important that your horse be rinsed with water after coming from an intense ride, or after a rigorous exercise activity. The salt in the sweat can also speed up the fading process and cause damage to the coat of your horse. However the rinsing will stop this and is something very simple for any horse owner to do.

Don’t forget that over bathing your horse can be just as bad as not bathing him at all. So do not over shampoo or wash your horse; you can create a dull look for his coat. You should at most be bathing your horse once a week with shampoos and soaps.

Using a spray made for coat polishing should be done after you have bathed your horse. When you use this product it will make the coat shine and it prevents dust from adhering to the hairs. Less dust means a healthier coat on your horse and decreases the risk of skin infections and allergies.

Following these 7 grooming tips will not only improve the overall health and happiness of your horse, but will keep him looking good too.