Homeschool Diary: Grooming Horses and Picking Hooves

Although we have been taking horse riding lessons for several weeks now, we have only recently started horse care lessons. We love them, love them, love them! We have learnt how to use all of the brushes for grooming the horses and how to pick horse's hooves.

I was really surprised with the different brushes there were and the different uses:

Plastic/ Rubber Curry Comb

Plastic and rubber curry combs have the same function. They are the first brushes you use on a horse, to get mud off its coat. Don't use on the legs.

Plastic Curry Comb

Rubber Curry Comb

Dandy Brush

Dandy brushes are also used for getting dirt and mud off. They are a relatively harsh brush so don't use one on a thin skinned horse.

Dandy Brush

Body Brush

Use body brushes all over the body (except the face) including mane and tail. The brushes vary in thickness so use a softer one on a summer coat than a winter coat.

Body Brush

Face Brush

As the name implies, use this brush for the horses face but not on the nose, eyes, or mouth.

Face Brush

Metal Mane Comb

Used to untangle mane.

Metal Mane Comb

Water Brush

Used to lay a horses mane and tail to keep it neat and tidy.

Water Brush

Sponges

There are two sponges, one for the eyes, nose, and mouth, and one for the dock area under the tail. Make sure the sponges are clean before they are used.

Sponges

Hoof Pick

A hoof pick is one of the most essential parts off a grooming kit. You pick out a horses feet at least twice a day. There is a sensitive part in the hoof called the frog where all the blood flow is connected to and you only use the brush side of the hoof pick for that.