tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post5638826951998432597..comments2024-03-26T17:31:58.290-07:00Comments on 'Fraidy Cat Eventing: what does "well groomed" mean to you?emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-84370887416807927772017-04-27T10:38:50.333-07:002017-04-27T10:38:50.333-07:00I love a good long grooming session. I like to do ...I love a good long grooming session. I like to do a long one once a week and then for lessons and rides during the week it doesn't take as long to clean upMicaylahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09799043647759779897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-3700075796461179602017-04-21T08:55:15.844-07:002017-04-21T08:55:15.844-07:00I find that bathing them helps them blow out their...I find that bathing them helps them blow out their coat faster. Granted the last couple years I owned a drought horse who almost never got bathed at home. L.Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05052638724440787772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-17569858722111871222017-04-21T06:17:52.855-07:002017-04-21T06:17:52.855-07:00So I'm admittedly quite vain when it comes to ...So I'm admittedly quite vain when it comes to my horses and I take a lot of personal pride in how they look. Miles has by far the WORST skin and coat I've ever seen on a horse... and I've groomed quite a few. It sucks because he also HATES grooming, but I've found with the right tools and some persistence this has gotten better. <br /><br />Currying is essential -- I like the soft, rubber face curries for the entire body for horses who are sensitive. Rubber mitts are perfect for caked on mud! <br /><br />Invest in high-quality brushes: They're expensive, but the Leistner brushes have made a HUGE difference for Miles! <br /><br />Spray & Towel: To finish off, I really like to use either Healthy Hair Care Moisturizer spray in winter/spring and Cavalor Star Shine in the summer, followed my a quick towel wipe. It really gets off any excess dust and gets them shiney! <br /><br />Clipping: I know it's a pain, but I think an unclipped horse always looks a bit scruffy. It doesn't take long to do whiskers, outside of ears, bridle path and fetlocks. And I never pull manes -- I just trim them with scissors. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567094702344719852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-89206081843199555982017-04-20T21:30:13.500-07:002017-04-20T21:30:13.500-07:00Tesla loves grooming: the more time I spend, the b...Tesla loves grooming: the more time I spend, the better she typically is in the ring: All the brushes have to be soft for this delicate little flower: so I use a jelly scrubber, then all over once with a Tampico brush (from Leister!) and then finish off with a horse hair brush. Tess especially loves her face and ears done - I pull the top of her tail as needed, bang the end, and pick shavings out - I scissor her mane (she doesn't really need pulling), and trim her fetlocks - never touch face whiskers - feet get picked every time, and this winter I've been using a hoof knife to keep her frogs tidy (and the thrush in check!) arteriolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14257564748066704707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-62695641990259800942017-04-20T16:06:20.336-07:002017-04-20T16:06:20.336-07:00The handles on mine fall off regularly. I can neve...The handles on mine fall off regularly. I can never decide if that's OK or not, because the handle is a pain... but now my curry is broken. lolSarah Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08085093380428847252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-76911516044400395752017-04-20T13:41:24.255-07:002017-04-20T13:41:24.255-07:00Umm. I basically never use a curry (unless I have ...Umm. I basically never use a curry (unless I have to because they got some mud stuck to them). I prefer them shaved so I can just swipe a brush across them and get going. I am really a terrible groomer. I don't even always pick feet.Olivia @ DIY Horse Ownershiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16138490796669110523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-6480854330526622962017-04-20T13:12:07.520-07:002017-04-20T13:12:07.520-07:00Because I own horses with thick manes and tails, I...Because I own horses with thick manes and tails, I definitely care for those more than their actual coats. I don't groom every day but I really put in the elbow grease when they are shedding. And by elbow grease I mean I bust out my Sleek-E-Z and make them shed out super fast (although you're super lucky because thoroughbreds have the best silky coats).<br />I need to figure out a better way to do the wet stuff (like cleaning goopy eyes and dirty noses) because all 3 of my guys are sensitive to flies. <br />I very much like to get in and get out when it comes to grooming because I'd rather be riding but on bath days I definitely go all out. With showing in my future I think full blown grooming sessions (and pee stain removal sessions) will happen a lot more often. SpanishWalkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003578056572686242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-90861659095557831652017-04-20T12:17:17.969-07:002017-04-20T12:17:17.969-07:00My best barn friend and I differ greatly on our de...My best barn friend and I differ greatly on our definitions for "well groomed". I'm more like you in that I spend a significant amount of time grooming Harley before each ride. He likes it and I don't mind it. He has so much white that is hardly ever actually white but I just cannot leave visible mud on his body- legs, sometimes, but not the rest. I often envy my friend's ability to get a ride in on her pony in like an hour time slot. I could never do that. Maybe I'm just a slow groomer! lol EquiNovicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17799583464228214025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-81229035115920082152017-04-20T11:24:27.354-07:002017-04-20T11:24:27.354-07:00oh nice! i kinda love trying those tools but am ne...oh nice! i kinda love trying those tools but am never quite convinced that they actually make the shedding happen any faster than it would without. hard to tell i guess! or maybe not, maybe i should try again hahaemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-49935763689310579622017-04-20T11:23:37.617-07:002017-04-20T11:23:37.617-07:00omg after seeing that mare stare pic you posted of...omg after seeing that mare stare pic you posted of Macy the other day, i have exactly ZERO doubts that grooming her could be.... an experience lol. funny that she loves her face getting brushed tho!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-84581144711273123422017-04-20T11:22:54.846-07:002017-04-20T11:22:54.846-07:00ooooh i have a fun mitt that i love too! it's ...ooooh i have a fun mitt that i love too! it's not rubber, it's more like a scruffy bath mitt, but it's freakin fantastic. i feel like i need to be more careful with sweat spots tho... sometimes i'm a little lazy post-ride, or i feel like the horse is so ready to be done with my shit. but this horse seems like he'll bleach out in the drop of a hat if i'm not carefulemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-39973286595017971712017-04-20T11:21:30.021-07:002017-04-20T11:21:30.021-07:00ugh these winter coats always seem to hang on for ...ugh these winter coats always seem to hang on for way too long, i can't wait until charlie's is gone too!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-58933158654052873342017-04-20T11:20:50.392-07:002017-04-20T11:20:50.392-07:00naturally pretty tidy goes a long way in my book! ...naturally pretty tidy goes a long way in my book! isabel was like that too, and charlie's honestly not super far off. it helps!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-62674023943621503652017-04-20T11:20:17.400-07:002017-04-20T11:20:17.400-07:00lol i feel like you and i have very similar though...lol i feel like you and i have very similar thoughts and habits re: grooming. that cheapo plastic curry is my go to, every time. in fact, my current iteration of it is actually cracked and falling apart (one whole quadrant of it fell off.... oops) from all the abuse it gets. and yea. bathing is tough for me too with the whole "who gets more soaked, bather or bathee?" thingemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-92142950178650879472017-04-20T11:18:56.725-07:002017-04-20T11:18:56.725-07:00lol i'm with ya on the not bathing all the tim...lol i'm with ya on the not bathing all the time thing haha.... but currying? all. the. time. i really feel like it makes such a difference too, like i sometimes think i can even feel the difference just in petting a horse whether it gets curried a lot or not... could be my imagination thoemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-2334688349077626262017-04-20T11:17:38.220-07:002017-04-20T11:17:38.220-07:00ugh yea winter hair is the hardest to deal with, e...ugh yea winter hair is the hardest to deal with, esp when the horse isn't super thrilled about it anyway. here's hoping warmer temps come soon so Miss K can get her bath!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-89765525805099414212017-04-20T11:09:37.732-07:002017-04-20T11:09:37.732-07:00I love my rubber curry, but I have my fabulous 6 r...I love my rubber curry, but I have my fabulous 6 row metal curry for shedding and mud. It works SO much better than the small metal curry. I borrowed a Sleek EZ this week and it was actually quite decent with getting the hair off of App! I may look into getting one of my own now.appydoesdressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03247747981543003242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-76354845481153442472017-04-20T10:25:52.741-07:002017-04-20T10:25:52.741-07:00It is definitely curry season! The unfortunate sit...It is definitely curry season! The unfortunate situation with Georgie is that I can clean her all day long and the next day she will be distgusting. She LOVES laying in her urine. So, to be honest, unless I bathe her, I don't worry too much about what she looks like day to day. I do try and bang her tail, pull her mane and get her fetlock feathers under control to make up for the brown spots all over her... And Macy... well, she HATES being groomed. It's a victory every time I don't die. Just trying to brush her legs is a challenge. Luckily she keeps pretty clean so I can curry, body brush, attempt to get all dirt off legs and call it good. She LOVES having her face brushed so we spend some time on that :)3dayadventureswithhorseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11419952425147354177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-38121068986492516272017-04-20T09:18:44.785-07:002017-04-20T09:18:44.785-07:00I run a brush over the coat and legs and pick feet...I run a brush over the coat and legs and pick feet prior to the ride. My major grooming comes after, when I go to town with my curry gloves (these are my most favorite grooming tool, and using them is like giving a post-workout massage). I've read that currying after the workout really distributes the skin's oils and results in a shiny coat (so far, I agree). Sweat marks are rubbed out with a rag or cactus cloth (assuming I don't rinse. If rinsing, I will curry first). After the curry, I do carrot stretches, then run a brush over the coat. All the little owies get cleaned and treated with a salve or aluminum spray. Feet are cleaned again (really a shoe check) and conditioned. Fly spray, mask, and sheet are reapplied. Hand graze and turn out. blshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10652100349947345760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-43079185593397517992017-04-20T08:24:01.084-07:002017-04-20T08:24:01.084-07:00Ryon loved being groomed. He would stand complete...Ryon loved being groomed. He would stand completely still and I once had three little boys brushing him simultaneously; I think he was in heaven. The mare is a thin-skinned girl and she does not really appreciate the currying as much, especially not on her legs. I use a shedding block on her as we're trying (still) to get rid of that Michigan coat. I shampoo her in entirety every week and that's when I brush her tail. This will probably get more painful as it gets hotter out but the routine seems to work for now. I'm lucky that my trainer decides she wants to clip all of the horses and I show up and she's clean as a whistle. But honestly, I like fuzzy muzzles and fuzzy ears. I'm ready for the summer coat to come out; I see some dapples peeking through!roothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09670446457829193892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-77651203540693661432017-04-20T08:07:51.019-07:002017-04-20T08:07:51.019-07:00I think Courage hates grooming about as much as I ...I think Courage hates grooming about as much as I love it. We compromise--I only use the $0.99 hard plastic curry as absolutely necessary, and then just (slowly, he hates fast brushing) whisk off loose hairs with his $$$ german brushes. Beyond that, he's body clipped and gets bathed as the weather allows. Helps he's naturally pretty tidy. SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-40769033610584200972017-04-20T08:07:25.094-07:002017-04-20T08:07:25.094-07:00I'm weirdly old-school about my curry comb - I...I'm weirdly old-school about my curry comb - I've got one of those oval ones that are in all the kits for kids, and by god, that is my curry comb, quit offering me these weird ones, omg. :) If I'm riding, I always hit the mud with a shedding blade, then stiff brush anything particularly dirty or that the shedding blade didn't fully de-mud, then curry/brush/curry/brush body and neck, brush legs, brush face, then pick hooves. And then any "wth is in your hair?" grooming, if needed.<br /><br />If I'm not riding... all of the above, plus general detangling/removal of fairy knots and the odd, "it hurts my soul, but I'm... just gonna cut this hair off." I actually rarely bathe out of a combination of lazy, mild aversion from not really being a kid person but still spending 6 years working summer horse camps for my old instructor, and a basic inability to use a hose without getting myself utterly soaked.<br /><br />Cessa does have her own special round rubber curry with nice long... fingers? (what do you call the sticky-out-bits? lol)... because someone has an itchy throatlatch 9/10 of the year and my fingernails are NOT up to the amount of scratching she thinks is awesome.Sarah Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08085093380428847252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-71337630330692335172017-04-20T08:02:33.343-07:002017-04-20T08:02:33.343-07:00I noticed such a huge difference in Murray's h...I noticed such a huge difference in Murray's hair quality last year when I basically stopped currying before rides for a few months (just a quick swipe of the body brush and off we went) because I was always so rushed. His coat was much softer and shinier when I put currying back into the routine, and I felt that his skin was healthier too, but there's no qualitative evaluation of that. Murray doesn't love currying, but will tolerate it over most of his body, and every once in a while will get really in to it. And I also almost never bathe (the horse or myself, honestly).<br /><br />Now that I know how much currying helps... I really cringe when I see my friends just brush and then put on shine spray or something. IT'S NOT THE SAME.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834098473974912416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-62343999827150874832017-04-20T07:52:14.088-07:002017-04-20T07:52:14.088-07:00Unfortunately I own one of those horses who has ve...Unfortunately I own one of those horses who has very little patience for extended grooming. I use all the tools each time I groom: SleekEZ (when shedding), Curry Comb, Dandy Brush, Soft Brush, Hoof Pick. But most days I only go over her with each tool briefly. It's really hard to get Kachina to shine in the winter because she lives outside 24/7 and grows yak hair. Grooming is much more satisfying for me in the summer.<br /><br />Adding to my clean horse problems is that I own a half white horse who's favorite thing is to roll excessively. Bathing is a must to get her truly white, but the only way to bath at my barn is outside with super cold well water, so it can only really be done in May-September. Even now it's still getting below freezing at night here so I can't bathe. I keep obsessively checking the forecast though because I'm itching to give her a really good spring cleaning!AutonomousDressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10326654414307652910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-21154699309950959892017-04-20T07:27:03.593-07:002017-04-20T07:27:03.593-07:00thanks!! i feel like i might not actually be total...thanks!! i feel like i might not actually be totally ashamed of his thinness this weekend. like, yea he's still thin, and probably will be for a while... but it's not like.... AS BAD lol. now if only we could make that fat leg begone.... emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.com