Grooming a Horse: Simple Tips on How to Make Your Horse Shine

To begin, the horse should be secured in a stall or tied safely to ensure he doesn't try to go anywhere. Start by cleaning out the horse's feet. Take your hoof pick in one hand and gently slide your other hand down the horse's left front leg, encouraging him to pick his hoof up. Gently scrape out any dirt, mud, or debris that may have gathered between the grooves of the horse's frog. The gently brush the underside of the hoof with the other side of the hoofpick if your hoofpick has an attached brush. Clean all four hooves before moving on.

Next, take out a circular rubber curry comb. Gently run the curry comb all over the horse's body in a circular motion to loosen and dirt or mud or loose hair that may be in the horse's coat. Try not to push too hard on sensitive areas such as the middle of the horse's back or his legs or belly.

Now take a soft or medium bristle brush and use short quick motions all over his body, going in the direction of the hair, to get the loose dirt and hair off of his coat. Make sure that you get both sides of the horse. Use a soft brush on his face and sensitive areas.

If your horse has a particularly tangled mane and tail, you might want to use some sort of de-tangler such as Cowboy Magic or Show Sheen on him. You can use a human hairbrush or a thick comp to brush out his mane, tail, and forelock.

For a particularly dirty horse, you may want to bathe him with an equine shampoo and conditioner. Once you have finished, scrape off any excess water on his coat with a plastic or metal sweat scraper.

For horses that are shedding, try using a metal shedding blade on his coat to dislodge the excess clumps of hair. You can also use a grooming block for this. Grooming blocks also work well at getting dirt and grass stains off of horses with light colored coats. They also make special shampoos to get stains out of a horse's coat.

Use a hard bristle brush to knock dried mud off of a horse's hooves.

HORSEBACK RIDING SAFETY TIPS

Horseback riding is great exercise for the entire body. But if you don't take appropriate precautions, you can be seriously injured while riding. According to the National Electronic Surveillance Survey (NEISS), an estimated 73,576 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for horseback riding injuries in 2005. Most frequently, horseback riding injuries happen occur to the arms as riders try to break a fall. These injuries include bruises, sprains, strains, and fractures of the wrist, shoulder, and elbow. The most serious horseback riding injuries can damage the spine and head.

Here are some tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) to prevent horseback-riding injuries:

All riders should always wear horseback riding helmets that meet proper safety standards.
Wear properly-fitted, sturdy leather boots with a minimal heel. Your clothing should be comfortable and not too loose.
Inspect all riding equipment to make sure it is not damaged.
Be sure the saddle and stirrups are appropriate to your size and are properly adjusted.
Secure all riding equipment properly.
Children and novice riders should consider using safety stirrups that break away if a rider falls off the horse.
Novice riders should take lessons from experienced instructors.
Young horseback riders should always be supervised.
Amateurs should ride on open, flat terrain or in monitored riding arenas.
Jumps and stunts require a higher level of riding skill. Do not attempt these without supervision.
If you feel yourself falling from a horse, try to roll to the side (away from the horse) when you hit the ground.
Do not ride a horse when you are tired, taking medications, or under the influence of alcohol.
Always remember that are a riding an animal that has its own reactions to the sights, sounds, and smells you are both experiencing.
Horses are flight animals. They will run away from sudden noises and movements. Stay alert for anything that might startle your horse. Be prepared to respond quickly.
Never walk behind a horse. It is best to approach them at their shoulder. This is less threatening to them.
Observe the horse's head, particularly its ears. The ear movements of a horse will provide you with information about how he horse is reacting to its environment, people, or other animals. A horse will direct one or both of its ears toward a sound. Ears held the side can indicate that a horse is sick, sedated, or sleeping. Ears that are pinned back indicate anger or a threat.
If you are giving the horse a treat, be sure to keep your hand open and your fingers extended and flat. Horses can inadvertently bite and break fingers that are enclosing the treat.
By following these safety tips and being aware of your horse's behavior you can enjoy all the benefits and pleasure of horseback riding.