Grooming My Horses at the Farm
When living with horses, regular grooming is essential to their care and wellness. Grooming not only keeps horses clean, but also stimulates good circulation, encourages healthy bonding with handlers, and allows them to be checked closely for any signs of illness or injury.
My Friesians and Fell pony are groomed every day. This means their coats are cleaned, brushed, and combed, and their hooves are picked of any mud, stones, and debris. It’s a time-consuming task, but it keeps these stable residents healthy, happy, and handsome.
Enjoy these photos.
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- My stable is located at the end of my long Boxwood Allee and is home to my five Friesians, one Fell pony, and five donkeys. My stable manager, Sarah Levins, and her team members, Dolma and Helen, do a wonderful job of caring for all of them.
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- Horses are amazing animals. Friesians are known for their beautiful black coats, thick manes, and flowing tails. My Friesians are groomed every day to keep them looking their best. All my horses respond well to grooming, making it a positive and enjoyable experience for both horse and handler.
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- All the daily grooming tools are kept nearby for easy access. Tools, such as combs and curries, are also treated to a disinfectant soak and thorough rinse after every use to help protect against skin infections.
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- Grooming a horse does more than just clean the animal. It is also a good way to assess the horse’s skin and coat for any abnormalities that may necessitate veterinary care. Rinze is secured to cross ties as Helen brushes out his mane. He is also being quite silly – is he sticking his tongue out at the camera?
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- Grooming is a way for handlers and horses to bond. Grooming can be very soothing, and for many horses, it helps stimulate circulation. For young horses, it’s a good time to practice standing still, being patient, and being touched.
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- Now that it is spring, my Friesians are shedding their winter coats – a lot. Sarah uses a shedding blade to help loosen dead hairs and debris. When using it, always follow the direction the hair grows. This tool has lacquered spring steel blades with sharp teeth on one side and rounded teeth on the other. When used properly, it also stimulates the coat and draws the oils in the skin to the surface.
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- Each of the horse’s legs and around each foot is wiped with a towel, not only to clean, but also to feel for any bumps or lumps that may need special attention, as well as heat or swelling, which may indicate an injury. All of them are healthy and doing well.
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- Here, Helen wipes down the coat to clean off any light dirt or dust.
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- While all the grooming is going on, my Fell Pony, Banchunch, is sound asleep in his stall. Horses engage in light sleep while standing, but actually, reach REM sleep when they lie down. My horses are very relaxed in the stable and usually lie down once a day to nap for about an hour.
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- Here is Rinze’s coat after a good brushing and wiping.
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- Sarah is grooming Sasa. A comb is used on the legs to get out the dead coat from the leg feathers. The coat falls out very easily during this shedding period, so brushing and combing are essential.
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- Sarah also combs the back legs. Because all my horses are groomed every day, they are quite used to this process – Sasa does not mind at all and holds very still.
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- A horse’s face should always be kept as clean as possible also. The face and nose are often moist, making it very easy for dirt and mucus to build up. Sarah brushes Sasa’s face and then will follow up with a towel around more sensitive areas.
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- Then, Sara brushes Sasa’s beautiful dark mane. She uses a mane and tail brush specially designed for easier brushing with fewer tangles and less hair breakage.
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- And on the other side, Helen combs out Rutger’s long tail.
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- Cleaning a horse’s hooves is also very important. They should be picked daily. Helen shows a shoed foot before it is picked – lots of debris can get caught causing pressure on the foot.
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- A hoof pick is used to remove dirt, stones, and other debris – particularly in the grooves beside the frog. Regular hoof cleaning can prevent thrush, a foul-smelling bacterial infection.
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- And look who woke up – hello, Banchunch, my dear Fell pony.
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- Rutger has such a beautiful, shiny coat. It is indicative of good care and good nutrition.
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- Every afternoon, as long as there isn’t any inclement weather in the forecast, the horses are turned out into their paddocks. The evenings are still a bit chilly, so the horses are all wearing their Rambo Supreme Turnout Rugs from Horseware Ireland, a company based in Dundalk that focuses on making breathable equine covers that don’t leak or slip.
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- This is the run-in paddock. Four Friesians are let out here for the night. These horses are actually running through the field. It is so beautiful to see these horses gallop – they are very happy to be outdoors.
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- Sasa and Banchunch are turned out in a nearby paddock also in their turnout rugs.
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- I’ll see you soon, my handsome Banchunch. One of the things I appreciate about this stay-at-home period is all the extra time I get to spend with my pets. I hope you are all able to enjoy lots of time with yours.
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