A well-groomed horse is a well-loved and healthy one. While your horse may adore the attention and pampering that comes with grooming time, it’s a never-ending and sometimes challenging job that involves much more than a quick brush-off. Here, we’ve brought you some top-notch advice from a professional groom to help tune up your grooming game and make it the best it can be!
Grooming Basics
Jaydene McGourty’s proudest career achievement is making it to the final four of the United Kingdom’s Horse and Hound “Groom of the Year” award two years in a row. To date, Jaydene has been able to work with many elite riders and horses in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Ireland, where she lives currently.
“Grooming allows you to notice any changes or abnormalities with your horse, such as lumps, bumps, heat, swelling, wounds or irritated skin,” Jaydene says. “It also gives you time to notice any new behavioral issues. Grooming can increase the blood circulation of the skin, which then releases the oils that provide a shine to the coat.”
The following is Jaydene’s tried-and-true order of go for grooming your horse to a dazzling shine.
1. Hoof pick: Run your hand down your horse’s legs as you pick up his hooves. This will help you detect anything unusual. Check the sole and frog grooves in the hoof for any stuck debris and notice any odor or signs of thrush.
2. Comb mane: Combing out any dirt or shavings from the mane before brushing the body will allow you to brush it off the coat later.
3. Hand-pick tail: Pick through the tail by hand to remove pieces of hay and bedding. Brushing the tail every day can damage and thin out the hair.
4. Curry comb: Working in circles will loosen dust, dandruff and dirt and bring it to the surface of the coat, which will help the skin gain a healthy shine when done regularly.
5. Stiff brush: A dandy brush returns the hair to its normal position and flicks away all the debris that the curry comb brought to the surface. Don’t use this brush around sensitive areas like the horse’s face and around the ears.
6. Soft brush: Using a body brush for the second brushing removes the finer debris the stiff brush may have missed and gives the coat a glossy finish.
7. Baby wipes: Gently wipe around the horse’s eyes, muzzle and nostrils.
Jaydene’s Top Grooming Tips
While the “order of go” may seem pretty basic, there are many other tips Jaydene has picked up over the years while grooming for the highest levels of sport horses. Learn all you can from her great advice!
1. Take your time
“Give yourself plenty of time for your grooming routine. It’s a procedure that should never be rushed. Pay particular attention to the horse’s under-belly, behind his ears and the girth area, as these places are often forgotten and prone to being rubbed by the tack if not kept clean.”
2. Tail taming
“I suggest gently brushing through your horse’s tail only after it has been washed and a detangler product has been applied. You’ll want to start at the bottom, holding the whole tail tightly in your hand so that the hairs don’t get pulled out from the root. Work your way up with a tail brush.”
3. Bathe with a brush
“Using a curry comb or a brush with stiff bristles allows you to get directly to the skin. I find it more effective than just bathing with a sponge because it removes grease more thoroughly. Always scrub the crest, dock, and face carefully. When finished, dry the face and legs with a clean towel.”
4. Best body clip
“Always bathe your horse the day before clipping, concentrating on the skin to release the oils and any debris. It’s better for the clipper blades, and it will also give you fewer lines on the hair coat for a neater finish. Use smaller trimmers around delicate or looser skin areas like stifles, elbows and face.”
5. Cold-weather clean
“Hot toweling is one of my favorite grooming techniques and is a relaxing experience for the horse. It’s great during colder months when it’s not warm enough for bathing. Use a bucket of hot water to soak a small towel; you can even add some coat oil if you like. Massage the wrung-out towel over the horse’s body to remove stains and dirt. This is a great way to achieve a sparkling clean horse without a full bath.”
Jaydene’s Favorite Products
◆ Hair detangler spray
◆ Coat conditioner with a shine enhancement
◆ Hoof oil
◆ A quarter mark brush and comb
◆ Mane pulling comb
◆ A grooming mitt
◆ Baby wipes
◆ Baby oil
Key Takeaway
With these tips in mind, you’ll soon get into your grooming groove, keeping your horse clean and comfortable. Remember to use this valuable bonding time to maintain a healthy relationship that improves ground manners and the overall well-being of your horse.
Take pride in your work and enjoy all the benefits of a tidy horses before he has a chance to roll in the grass, gallop through the mud, or lay down in his stall for a nap!
This article about professional grooming tips appeared in the March/April 2024 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
