by Riche Goldmann

Horses are animals that can be rather high maintenance. They need more than just feeding and a casual brushing. If you ask any horse owner or veterinarian they will tell you that not only are horses a lot of work, but all pets are. The upkeep on an animal the size of a horse can be a bit overwhelming if you do not incorporate it into your daily routine. The following are 7 simple tips for grooming your horse, and any horse lover should find them helpful.

To begin with, clean the hooves of your horse. Horse hooves, just like human feet, are extremely important and require cleaning almost on a daily basis. Buy a hoof pick, which is inexpensive, and use it to pick out any small pebbles or other debris that may have gotten stuck inside. Dirty hooves can ruin the feet of your animal as they create painful situations for them potentially causing infections or your horse to be unable to walk.

Just like you would wash your face after an intense workout, you should wash your horse’s face after a ride or any other rigorous exercise. This will help prevent unnecessary hair loss and infections that can occur due to fungal infections. Sweat and moisture can ruin the coat of your horse. Often times, it is the case that the face of the horse if forgotten. Use a squeegee that is made especially for horse to wash your horse’s face. This is a comfortable material for your horse and does a great job at cleaning. Using the squeegee can also help to avoid getting rid of hair from your horse’s face.

Using a different sponge, you must also clean the rest of the horse’s body. It is really important that you don’t use the same sponge you used on the horse’s face as you could cause cross contamination, which could cause disease and illness, especially on your horse’s face.

Take care of the horses tail by washing, conditioning and detangling it at least once a week. Many people will brush the tail daily in addition to the weekly washing. You can use a tail bag if you want to keep the tail protected, but you must tie this bag below the tailbone of the animal. Frequent maintenance makes this task much more manageable and can prevent snarls and sores from developing in this sensitive area.

Horses with darker coats need to spend time in the shade, outside of the sun. The sun can turn their coats a different shade and cause damage. It is also important that your horse be rinsed with water after coming from an intense ride, or after a rigorous exercise activity. The salt in the sweat can also speed up the fading process and cause damage to the coat of your horse. However the rinsing will stop this and is something very simple for any horse owner to do.

Remember that bathing your horse is part of good grooming, but you need to exercise caution. If you give him too many shampoos you can create a dull coat. Regular bathing with soaps and shampoos should be a once a week process at most.

Coat polishing sprays are great to use on your horse after you’ve given him a bath. When you use coat polishing sprays, your horse’s coat will really shine. Moreover, your horse’s coat will be protected from any dust build up that commonly causes skin infections and allergies.

Following these 7 grooming tips will not only improve the overall health and happiness of your horse, but will keep him looking good too.

About the Author:
Riche Goldmann is a horse owner who participates in various trail rides all across the country. He purchases grooming supplies for his horse from Tractor Supply. He recommends the Tractor Supply Company for all those needing supplies for their horses, as they always offer great prices on all goods.