Several factors go into taking care of your horse, but grooming is among the most important. Not only is it essential for keeping your horse looking healthy, but it’s necessary to keep them physically healthy as well. That’s why it’s common to see horses grooming each other when they’re playing together. Learn why you should groom your horse, and discover some tips for keeping your horse and their coat in top shape.
Keeping Your Horse Healthy
Grooming your horse is essential if you want to keep your horse happy and healthy. A wide variety of potential issues with horses manifest themselves with symptoms in their skin. This is true for both infections and any physical injuries they may have sustained during their time in their paddock. Even if your horse doesn’t have any serious infections or visible injuries, grooming is still essential to prevent irritation.
Horses like to roll around in dirt every now and then, and that dirt and other debris from the ground can get caught in their fur. While this is typically just a superficial issue, dirt and debris that’s trapped in their long enough can cause skin irritation. Even if that doesn’t turn into a skin condition, it could cause your horse to find something to scratch themselves with increasing the chances of them accidentally hurting themselves. A curry comb is especially useful for removing the dirt closer to the skin.
Developing a Bond
Getting up close and personal with your horse is essential for developing a strong bond, and there are few things that bring you closer quite like grooming. Horses will naturally develop a level of trust with anyone who grooms them regularly as they learn that the person in question isn’t a threat. This is especially important for new owners to get to know their horse before moving onto more potentially dangerous activities like training or riding.
Developing a bond with your horse also allows them to feel more comfortable. When you first get a horse, there’s often an adjustment period as they get used to their new setting. By regularly grooming your horse, you can help them feel more comfortable. This, in turn, will increase the likelihood that your horse will feel more comfortable with the other horses around the barn if there are any.
Enjoying Exercise
It’s not uncommon for owners to work up a bit of a sweat after grooming their horse. This may be ultimately a selfish reason to groom your horse, but it’s beneficial nonetheless. Brushing your horse down is an effective way to work out your shoulder and arm muscles, especially your triceps.
Grooming can even serve as a substitute for a riding session when you don’t have the time to saddle up. Remember, grooming isn’t solely restricted to brushing your horse. You can also get some leg exercise when squatting down to clean their hooves. Additionally, you can go through a few ground exercises to help your horse stretch with leg extensions.
Now that you know why you should groom your horse, it’s time to put that into action. With top quality grooming tools and products from Healthy Hair Care, grooming is easier than ever. Take a look at our online store today to find the perfect solution for you and your horse!