Guest Author - Darling Poor

Previously we learned about hoof picks, curry combs and brushes. What else is there to groom a horse perfectly?

Mitts. If gripping makes your hand ache, grooming mitts are heaven sent! Some have curry comb like nubs.



A fluffy sheepskin-type mitt doesn't work well for bathing as it will become very heavy with water, however, this type of mitt is excellent for applying commercial coat sheen products. Alternatively, a lighter weight mitt can be used for both wet and dry uses.



Polishing Rags or Cloths. A grooming rag or cloth spreads the coat oils evenly over the fur for a good polish and is typically the final step. However, sometimes rags are required to wipe down before brushing, as in the case of a sweaty horse after a workout. There are many types of rags but cotton is widely used and would be the preferred material if you have a horse sensitive to synthetic fabrics. Also good is chamois, which soaks up excess water after a bath.

It is not necessary to buy polishing cloths made just for a horse (household rags do just as well), unless you want to buy one pretreated with shine formulas, or wish to carry ready wipes for show days:



Combs. A brush cannot perform all tasks in grooming, particularly when it comes to mane and tail. Brushes tend to pull hairs out rather than detangle. Therefore, a wide-toothed comb is essential in restoring order to the mane and tail. Use the comb gently, beginning with the end of the tail (grab tightly a few inches up so you are only combing small portions at a time). Gradually work up to the base of the tail last. Be careful not to comb vigorously. It can take years for tail hairs to regrow.

The best combs have widely spaced teeth, are rounded at the ends of the tines (for comfort and less ripping), and have an easy grip handle. Unfortunately, I have yet to find one with all three qualities at the tack store. In fact, to get an ideal comb you may want to consider browsing the human comb department at your local drugstore. Below is an example of a comb with adequate spacing between the teeth and nice long, round-tipped tines. If it had a comfort handle, it would be ideal.



Detanglers and Sheens. Moisturizing products make grooming the tail and mane much simpler. Nearly everyone is familiar with ShowSheen® or Love That Tail (below), both excellent detanglers:



However, those wishing to use only natural products on their horse may want to consider a detangler without synthetics:



Blocks. A grooming block is made from either synthetic materials or natural stone, like pumice. If you have ever pumiced your own skin (and you should try it before you use a block on your horse), you will realize that an abrasive block can remove quite a bit of skin and hair before you realize it. I've never used one for that reason, however, I have heard of owners successfully using grooming stones to remove bot eggs.



There is also a synthetic block product by Farnum, which some people have found effective. However, the block does leave black residue behind, which may not exactly work towards the goal of a cleanly groomed horse (and definitely not in the case of a white horse).



Vacuums. Small vacuums are extremely efficient. Rather than swooping dirt into the air with a brush and having some of it fall back on the horse, many professional groomers use only a vacuum (that's right, no brushes) followed by commercial coat sheen to make a horse show-perfect. Obviously, a fairly bomb proof horse is required for vacuuming and/or lots of acclimation to the noise and sensation of being vacuumed. Granted, the average owner won't need a vacuum but below is an example in case you're curious how the pros get their horses so amazingly spotless. Some vacuums also have reverse blowers, to dry a coat as well as vacuum clean.



If you're the type who likes grooming kits pre-assembled for you, there are several on the market. A good one is by Oster, who makes very decent brushes with ergonomic handles. The price of the kit below is roughly the same as four quality brushes, and it comes with a zip-up carrying case. Don't be like me and put an open grooming kit in your trunk, only to find that everything has gone all over the place when you made the turns up the winding road to the barn.



A grooming apron can make the task quicker and more efficient, as everything you need is on hand. No more lost combs or picks.



As clipping is an art form in and of itself, clippers and techniques to use them will be covered in a separate article. See Grooming Tools for Horses for brushes, curry combs and hoof picks.