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Essential Horse Grooming Supplies and Equipment

You have a lot of planning to do before grooming your horse for the first time. Ensure you have the right supplies and that the chosen location is safe and secure. Use these pointers to get you started on the right track.

Equipment Necessities

If you're ready to get started grooming your horse, make sure you have the following supplies:

hoof pick
rubber currycomb
face curry
firm bristled dandy brush
softer bristled body brush
finishing brush
mane and tail comb
face brush
sweat scraper
rags, wipes and sponges
water brush
shedding blade.

Bathing Equipment and Supplies

Bathing a horse takes more than filling a tub with water and soap. These few basic equipment hints will help keep your horse squeaky clean.

To save time, fill a plastic "bath bucket" with the following essential supplies:

a large sponge to distribute the shampoo evenly on the horse (works well for cleaning hard to reach places like the belly, the legs and the face)
rubber currycombs for getting loose hair out of the coat (relatively safe to use on all fleshy parts of the horse's body)
a wide toothed metal comb to remove tangles in the mane and tail
a hoof pick, finishing brush and a sweat scraper
a mild and effective shampoo that isn't heavily fragranced as fragrances attract insects
(optional) conditioner, whitening product, hoof dressing, or coat polish.

You'll also need a sturdy halter and lead rope for maximum control, restraint and safety. Use nylon or cotton materials rather than leather. Leather shrinks when exposed to water and can transfer dye onto your horse's coat. If left untreated, wet leather eventually dries out, becomes weakened and finally breaks.

Brushes for Your Horse

You should have a number of different brushes in your grooming kit. Each serves a different purpose.

A dandy brush helps to remove caked-on mud or dirt and to brush the tail.
A water brush is used with water to clean the hooves.
A body brush is used on the fleshy parts of a horse's body.
A plastic currycomb is used to comb the horse's tail.
A mane and tail comb help to remove tangles from the horse's mane and tail.

Location Essentials

Selecting the right place to groom your horse helps make bath time more enjoyable and safer for you and your horse. The most well-known motto in real estate is location, location, location. This advice also holds true for horse grooming and it's probably the most important step of the planning process.

When you choose a location to wash your horse, your first decision should center on safety. A bath rack with cement floors at your stable should be adequate, but be aware that shampoo residue can build up and become slippery. If you don't have access to a bath rack, other acceptable surfaces are hard-packed dirt, cement or grass. However, any surface becomes wet and slippery when drenched with water, so be careful.

A Secure Structure

Is there a secure place to tie your horse? If you fear your horse will start to pull away, tying him up will keep him in one place. The structure you choose must hold your horse if he starts to pull away. If you're uncertain of the security of the structure, loop the rope over a rail and don't tie a knot at all. If the horse happens to pull back, the rope will simply unwind. This method decreases the chance of a serious injury.

Securing Your Horse

Check with an expert on techniques for tying knots if you're unsure how.

Always use an emergency release knot (slip knot). In an emergency, this type of knot allows you to untie the horse with a quick tug.
Make sure the horse is tied relatively short (no longer than 24 inches), to avoid his stepping on or over the rope.
Test your horse's reaction to crossties if you're using them for the first time. Observe his behavior for five or ten minutes before grooming or bathing. Then introduce the water and grooming routine.

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