An In Depth Look Into Your Horse Grooming Kit
Curry combs, body brushes, dandy brush, mane and tail brush… That seems like an awful lot of brushes to have in one horse grooming kit! Do you really need them all, and what does each type of brush in a horse brush set do?
To answer your question, we’ll have to dive into the depths of a good (and hopefully clean!) grooming kit. We’ll look at each of the common types of horse brushes, and other paraphernalia, we should find in there.
An Essential Horse Brush Set
Brushes are an important part of any horse grooming box. They are used to remove dirt, mud, and dead skin cells from on, and within, the horse’s coat.
The brushes also help stimulate natural oil production, and distribute it throughout the coat.
However, they’re not the only ‘tools’ you’ll find in a good horse grooming bag.
The Curry Comb – An Essential In Any Horse Grooming Bag
The curry comb, or currycomb, is a rubber, plastic, or metal brush used to remove dirt, debris, and loose hair from the coat. It has heavy duty bristles, or serrations depending on type, designed to get down into the coat and dislodge mud and dirt.
Curry combs are also excellent for removing dead winter coats when they start to shed. They are also a must have whenever you’re washing your horse.
To use a curry comb, you apply gentle pressure and use a circular motion to loosen dirt and hair. This also helps gently massage and promote blood circulation in the skin.
The Dandy Brush – Another Important Brush In A Horse Grooming Kit
Dandy brushes are a large, stiff bristled brush that are usually used after the curry comb to finish removing dirt, dust, and loose hair from the horse’s coat.
They may also be used instead of the curry comb on sensitive or bony areas of the horse, or on horses that don’t like the harsher curry comb.
When you use a dandy brush, you generally use short, stokes with a flicking motion, following the lay of the coat. This helps ‘flick’ dirt and loose hairs out of the coat.
Soft-bristled Body Brush For Applying The Finishing Touches
The body brush has medium to long soft bristles and is used after the curry comb and dandy brushes to help remove the last of the loose dirt, dust, and debris from the horse’s coat. It also helps to bring out the natural shine and distribute the oils in the coat.
You may even find a couple of body brushes in a grooming kit…one for when the horse is dirty, and another one for final coat preparations before entering a show ring.
Body brushes are also used on the sensitive skin of the head around the eyes, nostrils, and muzzle.
Mane And Tail Combs And Brushes
Mane and tail combs have wide, broad teeth designed to pull through the thick strands of a horse’s mane and tail. Their job is to detangle and smooth out these long hairs.
They’re also used to help prepare a mane for plaiting.
You may also find a familiar looking plastic bristled human hairbrush in some horse grooming bags. These are great for using on manes and tails that are already smooth and tangle-free.
Hoof Pick And Hoof Brush
The hoof pick is an essential part of a horse grooming kit. You can get dedicated hoof picks or special ones that have a metal pick on one end and a stiff brush on the other.
The hoof pick is used to ‘dig’ out dirt and debris in the horse’s hooves.
The hoof brush then finishes off the job by removing the loosened dirt and cleaning out the grooves around the frog.
Sponge And Towel For Final Finishing Touches
Sponges and towels, although not essential, are nevertheless extremely handy items in a horse grooming bag.
They are very handy for cleaning faces (horse and human), and running over the coat to remove any lingering dust.
The Sweat Scraper
Sweat scrapers are usually included in ready to go grooming kits along with a curry comb, brush, mane and tail comb, and hoof pick.
They are used to scrap water and sweat off the horse’s body, and are essential in any well-stocked wash bay!
Sweat scrapers are made from plastic or steel.
There are various designs – some are shaped in a solid arc with a handle attached between the 2 ends.
Others are just a long flat strap with a handle on each end and require 2 hands to use. In each case, they have a flat rubber or metal blade that is scraped over the coat, pushing water and sweat in front of it.
Scissors
Although not always included in a grooming kit, a good pair of scissors always comes in handy for something! And if it’s kept in the grooming kit, you always know where to find it.
The Contents Of A Good Horse Grooming Kit
A good i.e. useful, horse grooming kit should include all the necessary equipment you need to groom your horse.
Basic grooming kits should include a horse brush set, hoof pick, sweat scraper, combs, and a sponge.
Each item has a specific function, and will be used regularly whenever you groom your horse. You can buy a basic kit with these items already included, and build on it from there, or make your own from scratch.
