8 Simple Habits for Effortless Horse Grooming

Horse grooming and horsemanship is a marathon – not a sprint. Truly considerate grooming comes from nutrition, hard work, and thoughtful management of your horse’s environment. This only seems more time-consuming than finding a magic potion or grooming spray, but it’s not! Your horse will be healthier in the long run.  

Feed your horse’s shine 

A well-balanced diet throughout the seasons is the foundation for healthy skin and a shiny coat. Fresh grass is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids for horses. 

For horses without pasture or on dormant winter pasture, supplement with Omega-3 fatty acids. Stabilized flax, chia seeds, and fish oils are the best choices for horses. Corn oils have too many Omega-6 fatty acids to benefit a horse.  

It’s true about the elbow grease

No grooming product can replace your elbow grease and a curry comb! A horse’s skin has sebaceous glands attached to each hair follicle that produces sebum. This sebum is your horse’s natural oil, providing shine, fighting bacteria, and protecting the skin.  

That daily curry action helps that sebum do its job and coat your horse’s hair! You are not only lifting dirt and dander; you are spreading goodness. You can curry after a ride to remove any sweat marks and give your horse a massage for bonus points.  

Let your horse groom himself

Horses love to roll, and giving your horse a safe area to do so helps him groom himself, especially in shedding season! You may also be able to tempt your horse away from the mud with a sandy patch or an outdoor spot of shavings.  

Keep bedding absorbent and clean

While we can’t prevent every stain or wet spot on our horses, using clean bedding helps! Some shavings types are more absorbent than others, in which case you can layer your horse’s bedding. Put wood pellets or sawdust under a soft layer of shavings to keep wet patches separated from your horse.

Clean your stalls and sheds often, and strip the area as necessary to start fresh. It’s also helpful to have a snow shovel for scraping any wet spots thoroughly.

Keep your horse’s coat at the appropriate length for his sweat and activity levels 

Clipping and blanketing don’t work for every horse and horse owner, but in many cases, it saves you time and promotes proper skin health. Horses that are ridden to the point of sweating in a fuzzy winter coat have a few challenges. They are more likely to overheat during a ride, they take a long time to dry safely, and they can get chilled. The long coats also trap sweat on their skin, possibly creating skin infections. Long hair under tack can also be abrasive, creating mats and sores.  

Clipping a horse helps them thermoregulate and makes quicker work of grooming. You won’t be overwhelmed with thick, muddy hair before a ride and wet hair after a ride.  

Use fly sheets and blankets for stain and mud prevention

Even if you don’t clip your horse, sheets and blankets make a physical barrier for mud and stains. Keeping the coat under your horse’s saddle and girth area is vital for comfort and health and easy to do with sheets that appropriately match the weather and your horse’s coat. Fly sheets have some measure of stain repelling ability when it’s too hot for sheets.

Tail bags and mud knots to protect your horse’s tail

Turn out is fantastic for your horse’s mind, but the mud and muck aren’t ideal for tails. Using tail bags or mud knots helps keep precious tail hair protected, but only when there are no flies to be swatted.  

The tail can also get a deep conditioning treatment while in a tail bag. Soak the tail in your favorite horse conditioner and let it marinate in the tail bag. Rinse out a few hours or days later! 

Use gentle shampoos and conditioners instead of harsh detergents 

Detergents, like dish soaps and Orvus, take all of the natural oils from your horse’s skin. The skin will dry out, there’s no more sebum to protect from microbes, and your horse’s hair will become brittle. This is the perfect storm for itchy skin, infections, and stubborn stains.  

Use horse-friendly shampoos sparingly, and rinse well. Follow up with a conditioner or grooming oil to restore some protection to the skin and coat.  The more you can curry your horse and feed him to keep him oily, the shinier he will be. His coat will resist stains, and his skin will fight bacterial and fungal infections. Over time, your grooming routine will require less effort, fewer products, and getting ready for a horse show will be a snap!