Grooming your horse, whether you are a professional groom or an owner/rider, has so many benefits. The obvious one, of course, is that it is great for our horse’s skin and coat.
But sometimes, I think we forget that grooming your horse also has benefits that aren’t quite so obvious.
When you are doing a full groom to your horse, you are going over every inch of their body – and that is a great way to catch any health concerns, abnormalities, fungus, etc. before they get worse. Knowing your horse’s “normal” means you have that baseline for when something doesn’t look right – even if it is minor.
Don’t forget that grooming is good on a mental health level for both you and your horse, too. Strengthening that bond, whether it’s one of a riding partnership or horse caretaker, has a whole list of mental and emotional benefits.
I sometimes think grooming is something we rush through on our way to tacking up or overlook altogether – but don’t! Be present with your horse, and really pay attention to detail when you groom.
Types of Grooming
There are so many ways and types of grooming horses. I still remember those old horse textbooks I would pick up from the library. I was that horse crazy kid and when I wasn’t at the barn, I wanted to read everything about horses I could get my hands on.
Are you just getting the mud and dirt off and picking feet before you ride? Are you doing a full bath and deep clean? Are you prepping for a show in a few days? Or just a post-ride sweat rinse?
All of these factors will determine the type of grooming you do–as does the weather.
How does grooming in the winter differ from grooming in the summer?
Sarah Welk Baynum explains how to battle winter’s thrush and dry skin and summer’s fungus headache in the HorseGrooms Community. Sign up for free and take full advantage of her advice and see if your seasonal skin battles improve.
Featured photo courtesy of Shelley Paulson Photography.
Sarah Welk Baynum attended Otterbein University for Equine Business & Facility Management and has spent many years working various jobs in the equine industry, as well as being a former veterinary technician. Sarah is a Columbus, Ohio, based freelance writer and published equestrian fiction author. She also actively competes in show jumping and eventing with her two mares – a spicy warmblood named Tilly, and an equally spicy OTTB named Letty.
“I was honored to write for HorseGrooms not only because they are an invaluable resource, but because as a former professional groom and barn manager myself, it’s nice to be able to share my knowledge and give back to this community. Hopefully these tips help others improve their own grooming skills!”
