Guide to Grooming Tools

Rubber Curry Comb
Made of rubber with textured nubs. Use in a circular motion
to loosen dirt, shedding hair and “scurf” from deep within your horse’s coat
and bring it to the surface where it can be given the brushoff. Best for use on
large, well-muscled parts of the horse’s body such as the neck, shoulder and
hindquarters.

Massaging Curry
Massaging curries come in a variety of styles. Choose from firm
rubber nubs or soft flexible “fingers” to help remove loose hair and massage
muscles at the same time.

Metal Curry
The old-fashioned metal curry combs are rather sharp and
should generally not be used on the horse’s body. Occasionally they are useful
for removing caked mud or for shedding winter hair, taking care not to press
too hard into the skin. These are best
used to clean other brushes and remove horse hair accumulated on saddle pads.

Medium or Stiff Bristle Brush
Sometimes referred to as a dandy brush, this basic brush is good for general purpose grooming to remove dirt and dust from the coat. Synthetic bristles are durable and easy to disinfect, while natural fiber bristles are very effective. A medium brush works well for the majority of grooming needs. Select stiffer bristle styles to tackle tough jobs like dried mud and sweat  or a thick winter coat. Use care with the firmer brushes and avoid sensitive or bony areas such as the legs and face.

Soft Brush
Soft bristles are gentler enough to use on the legs and face, as well as the rest of the body. Ideal for sensitive, thin-skinned horses or as a finishing brush.

Body Brush
This short-bristled brush removes fine dust and dander from your horse’s skin and coat and really brings up a shine.

Face Brush
A small, soft face brush fits in the palm of
your hand and easily navigates the contours of the face while giving a gentle
groom.

Sheepskin Mitt
Soft wool fleece buffs your horse’s coat to a
natural sheen.

Hoof Pick
Clean your horse’s feet daily, and before and after riding.
From simple sturdy metal to various types of engineered grip handles, and the
pick/brush combination, take your pick of hoof picks for the job.

Shedding Block
/Grooming Stone

This rough, porous stone helps remove loose hair during
shedding season and also can be used to remove sticky botfly larvae from your horse’s
legs.

Wide Tooth Mane & Tail Comb

Sturdy, wide-spaced teeth tidy your horse’s tresses while
minimizing hair loss and breakage.

Mane Pulling Comb

Use a small metal pulling comb to thin and shorten your
horse’s mane to a uniform shorter length. By removing the longest hairs a few
at a time, you’ll create a neat, tidy mane that lies naturally against the
neck. (Never cut a mane straight across with scissors—this creates an awkward,
chopped look.)

 Mane & Tail Brush
A hairbrush with plastic pin bristles is gentle on mane and tail hair.

Sponges

You’ll want several types of sponges in your grooming kit
for bathing and spot cleaning. Use a large sponge for the body and a smaller
sponge for the face. You may also want a separate sponge for cleaning under your
horse’s dock and between his hind legs.

A large sponge is
the most efficient way to lather up your horse at bath time.

Use a sweat scraper
to squeegee excess water from your horse’s coat after bathing or rinsing.

A 20-quart bucket
is the perfect size to mix up suds and also totes your bath essentials to the
wash rack.