Horse grooming

src: thehorse.com

Horse care is a hygienic treatment given to a horse, or a process in which the horse's physical appearance is upgraded to a horse show or other type of competition.

Video Horse grooming

Reason for grooming

Caring is an important part of horse care. Caring for horses every day allows the handler to examine the health and wellbeing of horses in general. At a minimum, horses are generally prepared before work, and are usually prepared and cleaned after exercise as well.

The main reasons for daily care include:

• Improve skin health and coat
• Reduce the possibility of various health problems such as canker sores, scratches, and other skin problems
• Clean the horse, so the abrasions do not occur under the tack area
• Giving the groom a chance to check the health of the horse, such as looking for wounds, heat, swelling, lameness, temperament changes (such as depression) that can show a sick horse, and see if the horse has loose or missing horseshoes
• Helps establish a relationship between horse and handler, which can carry over to other handling tasks and drive

The horse show is a horse show class that considers the quality of care as much as 40% of the total score.

Maps Horse grooming

Tools used for grooming

There are several tools commonly used when tidying horses. Proper use and technique help ensure the horse stays comfortable during the treatment process, and allows easier cleaning of animals.

• Curry or Curry comb : Tools made of rubber or plastic with short "teeth" on one side, which slide into the groom's hands. Usually the first tool used in daily care. The horse is rubbed or "dried" to help loosen dirt, hair, and other detritus, plus stimulate the skin to produce natural oils. The curry comb is usually used in a circular motion for loose embedded material work. Curry combs are generally too hard to use on the feet or head, although varieties made of softer rubber are also available.
• Curry comb metal or Fitch Kari Fitch : This is a curry comb made of several short metal tooth lines, with a handle. Although useful for hollow mud, especially on horses with heavy winter coats, they are primarily designed for use on show cattle, and are often used to clean the horse's toothbrush by moving the brush across the metal curly comb teeth with multiple strokes. Metal curry combs are not designed to be used directly on summer coat horses because metal teeth can damage the skin and hair. Not to be confused with shedding knives, below .

Nail care is very important when caring for a horse. Although many horses are healthy enough without brushing their teeth every day, the lack of nail care can lead to a variety of problems, which, if left untreated, can cause short or long term health problems for the horse. Hooves should be pruned after four to ten weeks; otherwise, they will grow too long and cause discomfort.

Clean feet

The most basic form of nail care is cleansing, or "picking feet". A nail is used to remove mud, dirt, and rock from the palm of the nail. Removing mud and dirt helps prevent canker sores, common nail disease which in very severe cases can cause lameness, and stone removal helps prevent bruising. In winter, picking nails also provides an opportunity to move a bunch of snow from a horse's hooves, which can cause an uncomfortable "snowball". In addition, when the nail is cleaned, it can be visually inspected for problems such as nail puncture wounds (which have the potential to be very serious if left untreated).

All cleft nails are cleansed, especially sulci between frogs and bars, since the area is likely to trap rocks or other debris, and is also the most common area for developing canker sores. The best way is to cut the nails from the heel to the toes, so as not to accidentally stab the hooves of the horse, frog nails, or people who use pick. As she plucked her feet, the groom stood at the side of the horse, facing the ponytail, then shifted his hand to the hooves. If the horse is not trained to take his foot when someone runs his hand into the fetlock and lifts lightly, most horses will take their legs if the tendons behind their cannon bones are squeezed. Some horses, especially cattle breeds, can be trained to lift their feet to suppress their fetlock.

Most horse management guidelines recommend choosing a foot every day, and in many cases, feet are picked twice in a day, both before and after the ride.

Dressing and polishing

Nail dressing is a liquid used in the nail to increase its water content, which in turn helps prevent nail cracks, lost shoes, soft feet, and other nail problems. Polish for nails are used for show purposes and are based on formulas similar to wax-based shoe polish or for enamel man enamel.

In many disciplines, his nails are painted with clear or black nail polish as a finishing touch. Clear polish is commonly used in clothing, show hunters, jumpers, and shows, as well as most breeding events, in addition to some horse stock breeds. Black paint is seen in western disciplines, especially western pleasures, but some breeds, especially Appaloosa, prohibit any polish that changes the color of natural nails. The loose breeds have varying rules, some allow for black polishing, others restrict their use. Whether clean or colored, the paint is applied purely for aesthetic reasons, as a finishing touch.

src: thehorse.com

Bathroom

Horses can be bathed by wetting with a garden hose or by watering with water from a bucket. Horses do not need a bath and many horses live their whole lives without bathing. However, horses are often watered after heavy exercise as part of the cooling process, and are often given a bath before a horse show to remove any speck of dirt. They should be trained to receive baths, as hoses and running water are foreign objects and can initially frighten a horse. Hose is usually used for bathing. Start near the foot, be careful to aim the hose at a down angle. When spraying, be sure to corner the hose so that water does not hit the horse in the face. Either a horse or a human shampoo can be used safely on horseback, if it is completely rinsed, and rinse cream or hair conditioner, similar to that used by humans, is often used on show horses. Too often shampoo can loosen the hair layer from natural oil and cause it to dry out. Although horses in heavy work, like race horses, can be rinsed after their daily practice, it is generally not recommended to wash more than once a week, even in the show season. The neat and clean horse can be kept clean by wearing a horse or horse blanket.

src: stablemanagement.com

Trim

Clipping styles vary considerably by type, region, and discipline. While some clippings have their origins in practical purposes, many clippings today rely heavily on the style of performances used for certain horses. The most common areas clipped include:

• The bridle path: the part of the mane, just behind the ear, is often cut or shaved. For practical purposes, this allows the bridle to lie comfortably throughout the poll, making it a little easier to curb the horse, since the mane and the crest are separated and easier to prevent. The length of the confinement path varies by breeding and world territory: for example, Saddlebred and Arab Americans are usually shown in the United States with a few inches long bridle path, while other breeds (such as Friesian horses) are not allowed to have a bridle path. In continental England and Europe, the restrain lanes are generally rather short if clamped at all, although there are variations depending on the type.
• Face: There is little real need to cut face, this is done mainly for aesthetic reasons. The most practical location for the clip is below the jaw, to create a smoother appearance and remove the excess hair that can interfere with cavesson and throatlatch restraints. Whisker muzzle is commonly shaved in the United States, though not often in Europe. Some also clamp a touch above and below the eyes. Cutting a muzzle or eye whiskers is a topic of minor controversy, as it helps to prevent injury because horses can "feel" when approaching objects.
• Ear: Hair on a horse's pinnae (ear) may be cut off, sometimes inside and outside. The practice of cutting the inside of the ear is also controversial, because the hair inside the ear protects the inner ear from dirt and insects. When the ears are trimmed on the inside, flying masks with ear protectors often wear horses to replace their natural protection.
• Feet: Fetlock can collect unwanted mud, dirt, and grater and can be cut for practical reasons. The back of the lower cannon is also often cut, also to remove the long hair. For a truly polished look, the coronary band is cut to shorten the small hair that grows along the edge of the nail. Foot pruning is done for most of the equestrian horses. However, there are some breeds, especially horse breeds, which regard the lower leg feathers as breed breeds and do not allow fetal clippings or "feathers" on the lower legs.

Body clippings

In addition to basic pruning, many horses "clamped bodies" in the winter, to take off their winter coats. It can serve a practical purpose, as it makes the horse more comfortable during work, and helps make it cool faster. It can also serve an aesthetic purpose, as most horsemen agree that horses look nicer and more visible-worthy with shorter coats. In addition, treatment is usually easier and takes less time when hair is shortened.

Before someone makes a decision to cut a horse, one should be sure to consider the fact that they are releasing the horse's natural defenses against the cold. Therefore they should be able to provide blanketing, and in some cases, stable, for horses if the temperature falls, or if there is cold rain or snow. This will increase the amount of work needed to keep the horse, because the groom should replace the blankets as needed, but it is important to keep the horse comfortable and healthy.

Body clip types include:

• Body clip or Whole body clip : the entire horse's body is cut off, including the head and legs. It is the most common body clip in the United States, used in many disciplines. It provides the most "natural" clip, resembling a normal horse's summer coat, plus a clip that is relatively easy for a guy to do. However, it provides the least natural protection for horses.
• Hunter Clip : All horses are cut off, except for the foot and a patch of hair under the saddle. The clip traces back to the hunting field, and is still used there today, as it provides extra protection to the horse's back (important for a few hours of hunting) as well as the lower legs (which may be cut by thorns), but still allows the horse to remain calm while running.
• Clip blanket : Long hair left in a blanketed area on a horse. Shoulders and neck cut off, legs left open.
• Trace clip : varies, but generally the horse is clamped from underneath its neck, along the jugular plot, and then clamped in the middle of the shoulders and abdomen. Variations include higher clipping along the neck, shoulders, and abdomen, and clip the strip from the side of the hindquarter, to the buttocks. In addition, many clip strips in the middle of the cheek to muzzle. The back and legs are left open. This clip is named after a train trail, as it follows the same pattern. The amount of hair removed is based on the work the horse does, the amount dried during work, and the area with the most sweating. This is most often seen used by participants.
• Chaser Clip : The hair is removed from the line under the poll to the stifle, the legs are left on. This is a popular clip for steeplechasers because it keeps the horse's back warm but also allows for hard work.
• Clip of the strip or Belly clip : Hair is clamped along the jugular, chest, and under the barrel. This is a minimal clip, and many horses with this clip do not need extra care beyond the usual blanketing.

src: i.ytimg.com

Blank of the mane

Modern horses usually have mane prepared to fit certain types, styles, or practical purposes. For an informal ride pleasure, the mane is only disassembled with a toothbrush or a rarely toothed comb and every foreign object is discarded.

The maneuver can be kept in a long and relatively natural state, which is required to be performed by some breeds, especially those used in English style chairs. A long mane can be placed into five to seven relatively thick long braids between the performances to keep it in good shape, to help it grow, and to minimize debris and incoming dirt. Breeds are required to be shown with long manes keeping long manes in almost all disciplines, even where performance etiquette usually requires depletion or withdrawal.

In some breeds or disciplines, especially in many Western seating competitions and hunting, the mane is diluted and shortened for competition purposes. The most common method for shortening and thinning hair is by pulling it. Initially the thinning mane is considered easier to keep free of dirt, burrs, and out of the way riders, so it's worth the time and maintenance of regular depletion. Today, its purpose is primarily for tradition and makes it lay flat and easier to fabric or band.

Horses are featured in hunters, jumpers, dressage, eventing and related hunting spots and show the hacked disciplines usually have their manes not only abbreviated and thinning, but are placed onto many individual braids to be displayed. Larger horse breeds, especially ordinary horses, may have a braided French braided instead of being drawn, diluted, and placed in individual braids. The breeds needed to show with long manes may also be a French braid mane if the crossed animals enter both in breeds and hunters/jumper disciplines.

The spider may also be "wandering" or "wet", which means that it is completely shaved out. This is most often seen in polo horses, Australian horses and horses, to ward off the mane of the rider, and prevent hammers or ropes from getting caught.

src: equusmagazine.com

Tail

Basic fur treatment begins by simply brushing out foreign objects, grunts, and tangles, sometimes with the help of detangling products. Horses used in exhibitions or competitions may have a much wider treatment. However, the ultimate goal of the tail is the protection of flies, and certain types of grooming performances can inhibit the use of this natural defense.

In the treatment show, the tail dock (the tail section covered with the meat where the hair is rooted) and the "skirt" (hair beneath the end of the dock) can be arranged in various ways: the tail can be kept natural and encouraged to grow as long as possible, and sometimes even have extra hair mounted artificially. At other times, it may be cut, thinned, or even cut very short. Some breeds are displayed with anchored tails.

The "natural" tail is not cut or braided when the horse is presented in the ring. The tail can be encouraged to grow as long as possible, often by keeping the long tail skirt in a long braid when not in competition, usually also folded and covered by a wrapper to keep it clean. Short hair docks are allowed to hang loose so the horses can still hit the flies. The "natural" tail can also be thinned and shaped by pulling hair on the side of the dock, or by pulling the longest hair in the tail skirt, to make the tail shorter and less full, though maintaining its natural shape.

Tailed hair is also cut. The "clipping" of the tail usually refers to pruning the side of the dock, to the point of about half the pier. Beating the tail involves cutting the bottom of the tail straight at the bottom. In modern competition, this is usually done well under hocks. On the other hand, the tail extension, also known as "fake tail," or "tail wig," is a fake hairpieces braided or tied to the tail to make it longer or fuller.

Braiding a tail dock with French ties with loose skirts is often seen in hunting and hunting competition. In the polo, the design of the horse shows and on the Kapolola Lipizzan horse, the whole tail, the dock and the skirt, are generally braided and the braid is folded or rolled into a knot, with or without additional ribbons and other decorative elements. In bad weather, many other performance disciplines will allow competitors to put a tail skirt to the same type of knot known as mud.

In a draft horse and several harnesses the tail breed is cut very short to keep it from the bridle. The term "dock" or "docking" may mean cutting hair from a very short tail skirt, just past the end of the natural dock from the tail. However, it could also refer to a partial tail amputation. This type of docking is banned in some places, and one type of docking can make it difficult for a horse to effectively hit a fly. Another controversial practice, tail arrangement, involves placing a tail dock on a device that causes it to be carried at any time in the desired curved position for the show. Sets are used when the horses are stopped, and removed during the show. It stretches the muscles to keep the tail in position, and is not used after the horse retires from the competition. Sometimes the process is accelerated by the controversial practice of nicking or cutting ligament checks that usually pull the tail down. This practice is generally only used for some breeds, such as American Saddlebred.

src: gatheringwood.com

Other show products and dress supplies

Highlight

Highlighter is a gel, ointment or oil used to add luster and thus accentuate certain parts of the horse's face. Less often, it is placed in the way of bridles, emblems, knees, hocks, manes and tails. It is commonly used in the United States by certain breeds such as stock and breeds that are indicated, but is censured in Hunter's discipline. Other countries often do not use such products on show animals at all. In some disciplines, such products are prohibited. Most breeds that allow highlights require such to be clear, with no dye or color.

Sweat neck

Sweat neck is the wraps, usually from neoprene, placed on the neck or horse's jaw to make it sweaty. This is a short-term method that will temporarily reduce the thick neck or neck of the crust, to make it look smoother in appearance. This tool is used either by the vulnerable breeds of heavy necks that benefit from some slimming, but also by breeds with a smooth neck to create more extreme refinements, often called "hooky" necks.

Coat Treatment

A number of products, usually in spray form, have been developed to add extra luster, smoothness, or irradiation to the mantle. Some oil-based sprays, but because they attract dust, additional spraying of the more common coats are oil-free, often called "silicone" sprays, which make the hair coating very smooth and slippery. Mostly applied to horses after being bathed and dried, though sometimes used on horse that has not been bathed to add quick luster for short-term purposes, such as photographs.

src: thehorse.com

See also

• The groom (disambiguation)
• The groom (profession)

src: fallingstarranch.files.wordpress.com

References

• Harris, Susan E. (1991) Caring For Winning: How the Bridegroom, Trimming, Braiding, and Preparing Your Horse for Performing. Howell's Book House; Second edition. ISBNÃ, 0-87605-892-6, ISBNÃ, 978-0-87605-892-3
• Hill, Cherry (1997) Horse Handling & amp; Grooming. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing ISBNÃ, 0-88266-956-7
• http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10028/grooming-your-horse-deep-down-clean

Source of the article : Wikipedia