The Benefits of Grooming Your Horse.

Cant ride? Groom!

This weather can put a halt on many Equestrians’ riding activities, but that doesn’t mean your grooming should stop! The Winter months can feel like an uphill battle for horse owners, but there are so many benefits to taking the time to groom your horse – especially in Winter.

Taking your horse’s rug off and giving them a deep groom has so many benefits for both you and them.

Blood Flow

 A thorough grooming session will stimulate blood flow to your horse’s skin surface which helps to keep the skin in excellent condition, as well as massaging large muscle groups helping to keep them relaxed and supple.

De-Stress

Taking the opportunity to spend some time with your equine friend can be extremely therapeutic and a great way to unwind at the end of a busy day.

Bonding

While some horses don’t like too much faffing or grooming, the majority tend to love it! Finding out what your horse likes is a great way to bond with them – find their ‘itchy spot’ and let them relax with you!

Horse Health

Giving your horse a thorough groom will remove dead skin and loose irritating hair. Grooming can help prevent bacteria or fungal build up and help you stay on track of skin issues such as rain scald and mud fever.

Injury   

Grooming allows you to give your horse a thorough examination of their body and a chance to spot any abnormalities, like rashes, heat, scabs, swelling or bumps and hopefully allow you to act accordingly before they become problematic.

Avoiding the Weather

Spending some time grooming your horse is a great opportunity to avoid the worst of the weather while still doing something productive.

Appearance

While a horse’s shine comes from within and feeding a healthy balanced diet is necessary, a good groom can help bring out their shine and help their coat condition. Removing the dust, dirt and grease encourages a glossy coat.

Yoga

Spending some time with your horse in their stable or tied up offers a great opportunity to do some gentle exercises with them – the equivalent of some equine yoga. Things like carrot stretches are great for maintaining suppleness and mobility if you can’t ride. It’s also a great opportunity to work on your horse’s ground manners.

For You!

Grooming offers great exercise for you. A good grooming session should get you working up a bit of a sweat – especially when doing a deep curry comb! Plus, in this weather it’s a great way of keeping you warm.

If your grooming kit needs freshen up, head over to our equine section to find our full range of grooming equipment.

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Why not check out our other equine blogs for more fantastic tips & advice