Before beginning grooming, the horse must be fully cooled off. If they are breathing heavily, or sweating, put on a cooler rug and walk them around in hand until they recover. Fresh water should be readily available to them during this grooming procedure.
Sweat marks can either be washed off with a sponge and warm water, or brushed off - both are acceptable and the choice is purely down to personal preference.
Grooming after exercise is performed, when the pores are open, to improve the appearance and create a shine on the horse's coat and skin. It generally takes around 30 minutes to complete. It is a vigorous groom of the horse, done mainly with the body brush and metal curry comb. During this process, a cooler rug or solarium may be needed to keep them warm.
Tie the horse up.
Pick out all four hooves into a skip bucket.
Check:
Using a body brush, groom the mane over onto the right hand side.
Groom the tail with the body or tail brush.
Groom their face with the body brush.
If necessary wipe their eyes with dampened cotton wool, or disposable eye wipes.
Clean the nostrils and muzzle with a sponge.
Thoroughly groom both sides of the horse’s body with the body brush and metal curry comb. Remembering to clean the body brush, with the metal curry comb, every third stroke.
Check their body for:
Groom all of the legs with the body brush and metal curry comb.
Checking for:
Rug up the horse, using the correct rug for the horse and weather.
