Horse Grooming Kit
Horse Groming Equipment
Horse grooming kit - here is a list of all the very best things to use and have to hand, when grooming horses.
Contents
If you have all of the items outlined below, it will make grooming:-
- Easier,
- More enjoyable,
- Time efficient,
- Stops the frustration of looking for things
The Grooming Bag
Get a good bag that is easy to carry, but at the same time will hold everything.
So many grooming boxes are too small or too shallow so when you put items in them everything falls over or they won't all fit in. A multi-pocketed bag made of water resistant material with sections in it is ideal.
Belstane, Bentley and Shires are two companies that make ideal bags.
They are a good size, have different sections to hold smaller items in and are easy to carry. You can hang them up as they have a shoulder straps as well as handles.
Some of them come with a inner zipped pocket which can be useful for smaller items such as sissors, cotton wool etc.
A final plus is that you can wash them or put then through a 'delicate' machine wash. (NB put them in net washing bag first, for safety.)
Grey & Bay Horse Grooming Bags
If you have grey horse(s) and bay horse(s) to groom, get two grooming bags.
There is nothing worse than grooming a bay horse with brushes that have been used on a grey horse, as you end up leaving grey hairs all over the bay horse(s).
Essential Grooming Items to keep in your Bag
Hoof pick ñ Get the ones which also have a brush on the head as well as the pick,you can then brush the sole of the foot clean, as well as pick out between the crevices, either side of the frog.
Mane and Tail Brush ñ This simple brush has made combing tails and manes just so much easier amd quicker. The handle has a good grip and the prongs are wide enough not to damage the tail but at the same time ennable you to comb through the tail.
We use to use a wide tooth comb, but these are much nicer and easier to use.
Tips on Combing the Tail - If the tail needs a really good comb if you first use a mane and tail conditioner, this can make it so much easier to comb through.
Don't do this however if you are plaiting the tail as it can then become too slippery to plait.
When combing the tail start at the bottom of the tail and work up towards the top of the tail (the dock). You can support the end of the tail by resting the bottom end on your thigh, this makes it easier to comb through, from the bottom up.
Plastic Curry comb ñ This is good for first removing any mud that they might have on them.
Soft Body Brush ñ this can then be used all over the horseís body after having used the plastic curry comb.
Flicker Brush - good if the horse is clean and just needs a quick flick over. It is as it sounds, a flick over brush.
Cactus Mit ñ These are lovely to use when horse grooming. They are very good to use for removing any stains, sweat and muddy patches.
They are like wearing a mitten glove. You can easily clean ëdifficult to get to areas, such as around the ears.
They can be washed in a washing machine.
Scissors ñ For trimming the tail and feathers.
A really good decent size pair of scissors means if you want to cut the tails you can get a clean sharp line very efficiently using this type of scissor/shear.
These scissors/shears are quite big and much more impressive in real life.
You will still want a small sharper pair in your bags for finishing other areas and for plaiting etc.
Sponges - for cleaning their face, nostrils and eyes. You can keep a second one for cleaning around the dock, tail area. You m
Pulling Comb - Get one with a long aluminium handle. Use for pulling manes and combing through the mane if you do this.
Essential Products to keep in your Bag
Keep in your horse grooming bag everyday horse products that you may use for a quick groom. The main one being a good mane and tail conditioner, for manes and tails. If you want to buy a conditioner click here to visit the Alvahorse website where you can buy lovely horse grooming products.
Get the 500ml size sprayer bottle as this fits very easily into a normal size grooming bag. For information on other horse grooming products go to the Grooming Products page. There you will find more detail on horse grooming products.
Essential First Aid Items to keep in your Bag
Traumeel Gel ñ You can use this on all cuts and bumps and bruises, it is an all purpose homeopathic gel, one of the best on the market. More Info. or Buy Traumeel
Weleda WCS Dusting Powder ñ Useful for any grazes and wounds that need drying up.
Eliminator Liquid ñ A mild anti-bacterial liquid. You can use this on new cuts, injuries and foot abscesses. You can also use with cotton wool to clean mucky eyes. It is very gentle but very effective.
Plaiting Bags
If you are plaiting, you can keep all your plaiting items in a plaiting belt. I.e. separate from your everyday grooming bag.
The plaiting belt can then be tied round your waist while plaiting. It makes it very easy as you then have your comb, needles and elastic bands/plaiting thread to hand.
Labelling
Horse grooming kit if labelled properly can save a lot of time.
Label your grooming bags if you have more than one. E.g. If you have one for bays and one for greys label accordingly. Make sure it is easy to see from a distance which one is which. Use white insulation tape (from electrical stores) and permanent markers to make the labels, or buy a Dymo Letratag for making the labels. Or use
coloured ribbons and sew them on the handles, (eg. red for bays and white for greys.) You can then see the colours from a distance.
It is worth spending 15 minutes labelling all the items in the bags, so they don't get mixed up. It also means you will always have a complete grooming in your bag.
Using either a permanent felt tip pen marker and electric tape or the Dymo Letratag when labelling your horse grooming kit, either of these will ennable you to mark most things.
Conclusion
The above tips and ideas on your horse grooming kit, what to use and what to get, will, save you time and energy if you get it all together. If you have someone helping you, print this page out and give it to them, this is sometimes easier than trying to explain all of the above.
Even if one idea is found here to help you or them, it will have been worthwhile. Horse grooming with the correct horse grooming kit, like everything else becomes a pleasure. Once this is achieved one is then able to concentrate on grooming your horse. To find out more about the benefits, go to the Benefits of Grooming Horses.
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