The Benefit Of Adequate Horse Grooming

The benefit of adequate horse grooming

Grooming is important in maintaining the health and happiness of your horse. In the wild, horses groom each other as well as rolling at will and rubbing against trees to maintain healthy skin. Domesticated horses must rely on humans to provide the opportunity for skin care. Grooming your horse can be one of the most satisfying parts of horse ownership. This daily routine is not only a bonding time for you and your horse but also a good opportunity to check them over for minor injuries or irritations they may have acquired in their stall or out to pasture. However, when you’re a beginner, it can be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to horse grooming. Whether you ride them or not, horses should receive daily care in the form of grooming. Here are a few reasons why you should groom your horse on a regular basis.

Increase in human animal bond

There are some horses out there that don’t like to be groomed. But the majority does tend to enjoy it and this is a great opportunity to bond with your riding companion. Engaging your horse in an activity where you are not requiring him to actually perform any work is a release from the demands we push on our riding mounts. This is your chance to give back and let your horse relax. Quiet time with just you, your horse, and a brush can communicate feelings of communal pleasantries that benefit both horse and rider. For those just starting a relationship with a new mount, this is a wonderful way to build a bond, and for those beginning training with a young horse, grooming can reassure an anxious green mount.

Can act as a preventive Medicine

A good grooming session increases blood flow to the skin’s surface, massages large muscle groups, and daily hoof picking keeps the feet clean and helps prevent common hoof issues such as thrush, a bacterial disease of the sole. Horses out in the wild don’t have this luxury, but they have each other, and mutual grooming takes the place of brushes and combs. When you remove a horse from its natural environment and stick it alone in a stall, you need to take on the responsibilities of herd mates for the health of the individual.

It can be more than just a brush

Sometimes, if you don’t have time to ride, a grooming session can substitute. Practicing some ground exercises such as lateral neck flexions or picking up hooves and doing some leg extensions are great equine yoga moves to help with flexibility and balance. Some people take the time to practice ground manners or teach their horses tricks. It’s amazing what you can do with your horse if you only have twenty minutes in the evening after work.

How often should your horse be groomed?

Even if they are kept mainly indoors, horses should be groomed at least once a day. However, features such as hoof-picking do not need to be done every day and should be completed every few days.

Final Thoughts

Grooming your horse is an important step in their care routine and can provide them with many benefits. Now, it’s up to you to develop a routine that both you and your horse can enjoy and bond over.

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