Care

Horses require many hours worth of care.  One of the main ways is grooming.  A horse needs to be groomed regularly.  Grooming is an activity that is enjoyable for both you and your horse. It is also a good opportunity to check for injuries and irritations on the skin.  You must groom your horse before you ride him because grit beneath the saddle will be uncomfortable for your horse and could cause sores.

The following are tools that are useful in grooming:

• A curry comb
• A body brush with fairly stiff bristles
• A mane and tail comb
• A fine soft bristled finishing brush
• A hoof pick
• A clean sponge or soft cloth
• Grooming spray
• Scissors
• Clippers

Make sure you horse is tied securely before you begin.  Start at the top of list and basically work your way down. The curry comb will loosen the dirt and grime and the body brush will help remove the dirt.  The comb is useful for removing the tangles from the main and tail.  A hoof pick is necessary to clean the hooves  so rocks do not get lodged in the frog.  Scissors and clippers help trim the hair and make your horse look more presentable.