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Grooming Tips
It's show season - time to share tips, advice and other bits of useful grooming information!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sarah at HorseJobs.ca on
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ahh yes, the babywipes go EVERYWHERE with me - in horsey and non horsey times! :)
good answer! -
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Grooming Tip of the week -
We're going to let you all in on a little trick- when you horse has rubbed him/her self on a pine tree you can remove the sap out of their fur with mayonaise. Just put it on, let it sit for a few minutes then rub off. Easy and tasty too! :) -
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Cuts, scrapes - here's a cheap and quick homemade remedy.
An eventer that I used to work for shared this remedy secret with me years ago. She uses this mixture for cuts and scrapes
The two magic ingredients are sugar, and iodine. How many, and how big or how many injuries will determine how much of each ingredient is necessary. Start with about ¼ to ½ a cup of sugar, and slowly mix in the iodine in small increments until you have a thick, but not soupy paste.
With rubber gloves on your hands gently apply a thin layer of paste so that it covers the horse's entire injury.
The iodine will disinfect the wound while the sugar adds thickness to the mixture, keeps the flies away, and keeps the skin from dying. I have found this to be the most effective method for treating minor scrapes and scratches, especially on the legs. I have also heard that this mixture can be used to treat abscesses and thrush. -
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Grooming Tips From the Top
Show groomers share secret techniques for making their horses stand out on show day.
Every top show groom has his or her own bag of tricks out of which they pull some secret technique to make their horses stand out. Here's a list of tips to help you shine on show day:
- For really white socks or stockings, dust the legs with baby powder, corn starch or French white chalk.
- To cut down on static electricity in the mane and tail, use dryer sheets. One wipe-down through the hair will help eliminate static.
- Rub a dab of baby oil along the bridle path to get rid of that chalky, just-clipped look and make it shiny.
- For breeds that show with a patent-leather shiny hoof, fill in any old nail holes with a spackling compound that matches the color of your horse's hoof. For a black foot, the color of the compound won't matter. To polish the feet, use the wax-based, cake shoe polishes to add a deep luster to the foot while protecting it from the drying effects of hoof lacquer, which can be applied over the shoe polish.
- When you don't need to pull the mane, use thinning shears to shorten it without having the chopped look of scissor cuts.
- Clippers can give you the effect of a pulled tail, without having to pull out hairs. Run the clippers carefully along the outside of the dock and down about 4 to 6 inches, just up to the point where the hair begins to crest over. Thin the hairs along the top of the tail and blend longer hairs to gradually blend into the shorter ones.
- Use setting gel when braiding to help stray or short wisps stay put in the braids.
- Wash your horse a couple of days before the show so the oils of the coat have time to work to the surface for a natural shine. Keep a light sheet on to keep the coat clean until show day.
- If you choose not to band a western horse's mane, lay a dampened towel over the neck to help the hairs lie down smoothly.
- Keep a wrap on your horse's braided tail - temporarily - so that it arrives at the show grounds with the braid intact.
- Apply only one coat of hoof oil or dressing if arena footing is deep. The oil will collect dirt, but the judge will know that you made the effort.
- Instead of using rags to wipe down your horse, purchase inexpensive knit gloves (available at most drug or hardware stores) and apply the product directly to them. When you are finished, they can be washed.
- For coarse tails, use a hot oil treatment in addition to your regular equine conditioner to soften the hairs and make them flow.
- If your horse gets shavings in its braids, use a small, short-bristled brush to gently remove them without damaging any of your work.
- If you clip the inside of your horse's ears, place cotton inside to prevent hairs from entering the ear canal and also to deaden the buzz of the clippers. -
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To keep your horse's tail in great shape - run your fingers through the tail each day instead of a brush or comb - this helps to prevents breakage, keeping the tail long ans silky. If done daily, this routine can make an easy task of grooming on show day!
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Listerine!
A mouthwash? yes...but so much more....
Here's what some HorseJobs.ca Grooms have used Listerine for...
* use it to deter flies - great if diluted with water and sprayed in barn around the feedbucket and on rugs and sheets too.
* works great on "rain rot" girth itch and similar fungal skin problems (diluted with water)
* helps remove dandruff in mane and tail (simple green also recommended for this purpose)
* itch relief, also takes sting out of bug bites/stings.
* Use as a liniment/rub for cooling a hot horse - great to use after bathing.
* use as a sweat on legs - just rub in direction of hair and SWEAT! Very similar to Absorbine.
* Great for cleaning water troughs - non toxic and tasty too.
I've also heard its great to de-skunk the barn dog!! LOL
We'd love to hear your "non-conventional" grooming tips too. -
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New Video posted - clipping tips from Horse and Hound! check it out! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa6fMrZe2PQ -
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WARNING: The following mesage is a gratuitous product plug! LOVE Fiske's animal care products - namely their hoof and hide balm! it is a wonder salve-ation! Fixes everything from proud flesh, heals scratches and scrapes, hot spots (works on dogs too - just ask my border collie "Spot") to the rough skin on my heels (was that too much information for you??) sorry
Had to give it a plug! www.fiskes.ca -
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did i mention that it is all natural!!!
gotta love that! -
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