horse grooming rules, horse grooming information, horse grooming help, horse grooming tips
Grooming�
3 Grooming
By Jody Gilbert
Photos by dusty Perin
Ground
One of the most satisfying
and enjoyable ways
to spend time with your
horse is to have a nice,
relaxed grooming session.
As you groom him, you
get a chance to hang out
with him in a no-stress
situation, allowing him to
get used to your presence
and touch.
You can also practice
and reinforce your requests
for good manners,
rewarding him with horsepleasing
brushing, scratching,
and massaging.
Here are three grooming
ground rules to develop so
that you can move safely
around your horse while
enjoying a positive, pleasant
grooming session.
Rule #1: Announce
Your Presence
What you’ll do: Walk slowly toward your
horse at an angle so that he can see you, and
announce your presence by speaking to him.
Why you’ll do it: Your horse’s vision is extremely
well-honed, but he does have blind
spots directly in front of and directly behind
him. You don’t want to suddenly pop
out of nowhere into his field of vision. If
you do, you may startle him and make him
Grooming your horse gives you a
chance to bond with him — and to
show him that he can trust your touch.
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leery of you — or worse,
frighten him into a possibly
dangerous physical
response.
Rule #2: Go Slow
What you’ll do: Move
calmly and deliberately.
Think slow, smooth, and
steady.
Why you’ll do it: When
grooming your horse,
you’re in close contact,
moving around a lot,
and touching him all
over with various implements.
Not only does
moving slowly help
reassure him, but it also
gives you a chance to
watch his reactions.
Your horse may have
an aversion to being
touched in certain places,
such as his flanks or
loins. He may be ticklish;
he may be sore; he may have an injury of
which you’re unaware. Keep an eye out for
signs that you need to lighten up or stop
altogether.
Negative signs include flinching, moving
away, tensing his muscles, raising his head,
flattening his ears, raising a hind foot, and
swishing his tail. Positive signs include soft
eyes, a relaxed neck, and a lowered head.
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