Grooming Tips, Tricks, and Tools

Getting Your Horse Ready for Summer

A handy checklist of things to do to get your horse ready for summer!

How are Your Horse's Chompers?

Signs that your horse may need his chompers checked out by the Veterinarian!

Roaching Manes

The pros and cons to roaching, or hogging, your horse's mane!

Groom After Your Horse Exercises!

The benefits of Grooming after your horse exercises, as well as before!

Got dapples?

What dapples are, and how you can bring them out in your horse - maybe!

Post Clipping Tips and Tricks!

How you can prep your horse for clipping, and take care of that skin when you are done!

Get Ready for the Big Time with Schooling Shows

Schooling shows are a great way to prepare you and your horse for rated horse shows!

Turn your horse out nicely for a clinic!

How you can turn your horse out nicely for a clinic. Almost like a horse show, but not quite.

Stocking up - what you can do!

The low down on horse legs that stock up - what causes it, and what you can do about it!

Maintain your Horse's Chrome Legs!

Grooming tips and tricks for managing the chrome on your horse's legs!

Mud Knots for Your Horse's Tail

Mud knots on your horse's tail are an easy way to protect the tail from mud and dirt!

Tea Tree Oil and Horses - What You Should Know

Using tea tree oil can be great for horses - if you have enough background information to make it safe!

Managing a urine stained tail!

Mares pose a particular problem - urine stains and damage to their tails. Here are some tips to help you manage this!

Hot Toweling your Horse! Great for Winter Deep Cleaning!

Techniques and tips for hot toweling your horse in winter!

Cooling Out in Colder Weather

Horses may need your help to cool out in the cold weather - so be prepared to spend some extra time!

Winter Mud and Mane Management

Some tips and tricks for "washing" a winter mane - too cold to shampoo, but caked in mud and dirt!

Winter Grooming Tips for Furry Horse

Winter can be a challenging time to groom the unclipped horse. Here's a list of tips and tricks to make this job easier!

Is Clipping Right for Your Horse?

Some things to consider in the winter for your horse's comfort. Clipping may be a great option for you!

To Blanket or Not to Blanket

Is blanketing right for your horse?? Maybe!

Tail Braids and Tail Bags for your Horse

The pros and cons of using tail braids and tail bags for your horse.

The Inside Scoop on Stall Kicking

The inside scoop on horses that kick their stalls - and how Grooms and owners can understand and hopefully change this behavior!

Staying Clean the Night Before a Show

How to groom your horse before a show, and some ideas on how to keep him clean overnight!

Banding the Mane

Some basics on how to band the mane, for a horse show or to tame a wild mane.

Windpuffs

An introductory article about horse windpuffs and how you might be able to recognize them.

Rain Rot

An overview for Grooms and Horse Owners about the bacterial infection known as rain rot. Some tips for prevention and help!

Hoof Growth

What Grooms and Owners need to know about hoof growth - from the inside out!

The Vacuum - introducing it and using it.

How Grooms can introduce and use the vacuum on their horses - saves time and elbow grease!

Tail Chewing

Some tips for dealing with a horse that chews tails!

Dressage Button Braids with Yarn - so easy!

Some quick tips for Grooms to create fabulous dressage button braids for their horses.

Head Shaking in Horses

How Grooms, owners, and Veterinarians can tackle a head shaking problem.

Sweet Itch - not so nice

How Grooms can prevent and treat sweet itch in their horses.

Anhidrosis - no sweat!

How Grooms can spot the sign of anhidrosis, and what Grooms can do to manage this in horses.

Galls - Ouch!

How Grooms can prevent, spot, and treat galls in the girth and saddle areas.

Shortening Manes Without Pulling

Some tips and ways that Grooms can shorten manes without pulling them!

Staying Cool in the Summer - Part 2 - After Exercise

How Grooms can safely monitor and manage their horse's TPR after exercise in the summer.

Household Cleaners as Grooming Tools? NO.

Some Grooms may wonder if using household cleaners is OK for horses.

Horse Sweat

The basic mechanism of horse sweat, detailing water and electrolyte losses!

Staying Cool in the Summer - Part I

Some tips on keeping your horse happy and cool in the summer!

Mane Lengths

What Grooms should know about horse mane lengths - it varies depending on breed and discipline!

Aural Plaques

Grooms may find aural plaques growing in the ears of their horses - he's a bit of background on aural plaques!

Hand Walking Safety

Groom often need to hand walk their horses - an not always under ideal circumstances! Here's how to be safe!

Quarter Marks

Have fun Grooming your horse by adding Quarter Marks! Here are my tips for easy designs.

Fly Sprays

Grooms have lots of options when it comes to fly sprays! Here's a brief intro to some common ingredients!

Braiding Tips

Grooms! Practice braiding at home with these tips!

Fetlocks and Feathers

How do you like to groom fetlocks and feathers?

Clipping in the Summer

Is clipping your horse in the summer a good idea?

Thrush

Thrush is a common bacterial infection of the hoof. Easy to treat if you catch it early!

Washing the Tail

Details on how to properly wash a tail.

Often overlooked areas....

Some critical areas of our horses that are frequently overlooked...but shouldn't be!

Hoof Hardeners - the Scoop

Are hoof hardeners right for your horse?

Clipping Legs and Faces

It's nice to have clipped legs! They are easier to clean, and can help you stay on top of skin issues.

Dry Skin and a Dull Coat

This is a common complaint for both people and ponies during winter. Here are some tips on how to remedy!

Whiskers.

Whiskers fall into the same category as manes - long or short, depending on your preference.

Cleaning Ears

Ears - all about them, and do you really need to clean them?

Ticks - Blech!

The basics of tick prevention and management, so hopefully they stay away from the horses!

Helping the Wooly Mammoth Shed Out

Your horse's winter coat has started to shed - will the curry comb ever get a break??

Poultice.

How to make the whole she-bang about poultice easier.

Bath Time

The basics of bathing, and some tips from the Pros.

Scratches. All you could ever want to know!

Information on scratches, it's causes, and how to help you horse overcome them.

Too much tail?

Few of us have the problem of "too much tail" - but a super thick tail requires some special grooming techniques!

Looking out for Long Term Changes in Your Horse

Things we need to notice in our horses - over the long haul.

Banging Tails

Some tried and true ways to make you horse's tail stand out among the herd.

Watching out for Laminitis

As a Groom, we need to keep our eyes peeled for subtle signs of laminitis.

Signs You May Have a Wormy Problem

Often, we work in barns where the Grooms notice every little detail. We need to be on our toes for signs of worms, among other things. Here are some things to look for.

Chestnuts and Ergots

The low-down on chestnuts and ergots.

Hoof Picking - Getting Back to Basics.

It's a very simple task, to pick the feet. Here are some great reminders about the how's and why's to do it.

Horse Handling Safety

Some basic things to keep an eye on when you work around giant silly creatures that can step on your toes or your head.

The "Copping a Feel" Checklist

If brushes were the only tools we used, even a monkey could do this job. Our hands and eyes are often the tools we need to make sure our horses are in tip top shape, every single day.