by Claire Pelton

Created on: April 15, 2009   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

A Show Ready Coat for the Backyard Horse

All too often the simple process of grooming before exercising your horse is overlooked. It is in this simple chore that the coat can improve drastically. Making the commitment to take the needed time in grooming will help your owner-horse bond and keep you privy to any impending health concerns.

For most horse owners it seems extremely elementary to rehash important basic grooming items. Unfortunately, horse owners neglect to actually use all of their tools in favor of a quick brush off before saddling up. Absolute musts for a brush box are as follows:

-Curry Comb

-Hoof Pick

-Stiff, Medium and Soft Brushes

-Shedding Blade

-Mane/Tail Brush

CURRY COMB

Taking the extra time to curry your horse's coat is the biggest factor in maintaining a shiny coat. Always curry comb your horse's coat in circular motions all over, focusing on under the belly and avoiding extra sensitive areas.
Three spots that are necessary for including in your curry comb regimen are the tips of the ears (be gentle here and use caution!), the forehead and the front of the hind legs between the hock and ankle. Dirt and urine can build up and trap bacteria and fungus in these areas.
A super clean coat will immediately be ruined in a judge's eye when they notice scum on the front of a horse's hind legs.

The process of currying releases the natural oils in the coat and keeps it moisturized. The rigorous motion acts as a massage and releases muscle tension. Look to see if your horse reacts adversely to any spots that are curried. A horse that is sore or tense will jerk, swish their tail, bite or pin their ears when something bothers them. The back is a very common area to be sore after hard rides or lack of conditioning.

HOOF PICK

Having the hoof pick is like holding the key to preventing lameness. A horse is only as good as his feet, much like a car is only as good as the condition of its tires. By picking your horses feet regularly, you can prevent and detect thrush and clear out any lameness threats like rocks or packed dirt.

Before you pick up your horse's foot, run your hand down his leg to make sure there is no heat, swelling or unfamiliar lumps or bumps. If the hoof has a foul odor and seems soft and blackish, chances are your horse has thrush. Dousing the area in iodine for at least five days is your best bet to cure the condition. Keep in mind your horse's living area needs to remain clean and dry for the condition to go away completely. If your horse is shod,

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