Daily Routine For
Grooming The Stabled Horse

The routine for grooming a stabled horse is more involved than that of the grass kept pony and will take longer to complete.

The best time to do it is after exercise when the horse's circulation is at its peak. It is also a good wind-down exercise for the horse as it relaxes him mentally and physically.

Stabled horses are in a very artificial environment. In the wild they would be in a herd situation and able to indulge in a spot of mutual grooming as and when desired.

If we make the decision to stable our horse for part or all of the day we must do everything we can to make him as comfortable as possible.

A stabled horse could perhaps be viewed like a millionaire's wife - high maintenance but beautiful on the eye (!)

As well as maintaining a comfortable and inviting stable environment, spending time with your horse while doing your daily chores such as mucking out or grooming will deepen your bond and provide you with an ideal opportunity to unwind from the stresses of everyday life.

For the purposes of simplicity and to avoid unnecessary repetition, follow the steps outlined in Grooming The Grass Kept Pony as the basics are the same for the stabled horse, albeit with less mud involved.

Groom Outside - It's Better For Your Horse

It is not advisable, except in the case of bad weather, to work in his stable as the dust from his coat may irritate him causing coughs and allergies to develop over time.

Besides, it is nice for your horse to see what is going on around him and presents a change of scene if you can tie him up outside while you clean him up.

What Equipment Do You Need?

• The Body Brush - this will really come into its own and will be your main tool. Because of its softer bristles, the body brush can be used all over the body, head and legs in short smooth strokes in the direction of the coat to release scurf and grease.

  This is particularly good if your horse has been clipped out or has a thin coat as the brush penetrates right to the skin.

  Clean the body brush at regular intervals during the session by running it over the teeth of the metal curry comb.

• Coat Conditioner/Detangler Products - It is always good to keep a coat conditioning spray in your grooming kit.

  These products are designed to preserve the "just groomed" look, leaving a lasting shine and also effectively removing tangles in the mane and tail. Spray on sparingly before you brush out the tail as described below for the best results. Use only a small amount on the coat or else you will achieve the not-so-desired "wet look"!

  Separate the hairs in the mane and tail with your fingers - it takes time but significantly reduces breakages. Use the body brush for the top section of the tail daily but only use on the ends occasionally (on show days or once a month) as this will cause them to split.



• Water Brush - The water brush looks similar to a Dandy Brush but has shorter bristles and is used to remove stubborn stable stains from the coat and to "lay" the mane, forelock and tail flat once they have been brushed with the Body Brush and tangles removed. Dampen the brush in a bucket of clean water and shake off excess before use.

  If your horse has a particularly unruly tail you may wish to bandage it for a few hours each day to help the hairs remain flat. If you are not sure how to apply a tail bandage, ask a more knowledgeable friend to assist as bandages that are too tight will restrict blood flow and cause great discomfort to your horse.

  Plaiting the mane occasionally also assists with helping it lie the correct side, (on the right). Plaits should never be left in for long periods, certainly no longer than 24 hours at a time because the hair will become brittle and snap and will irritate the horse causing him to rub his mane.

• The Stable Rubber - this can be as simple as a clean lint free folded cloth or a purpose built grooming mitt and is used to buff the coat to a shine once all the dirt is removed.

  Working in the direction of the hair growth, firmly rub the cloth or mitt in smooth circles to stimulate the natural oils in the coat which make it shine.

• Hoof Oil- Once the feet are clean from dirt apply hoof oil to the inside and outside of the hoof. (Do the inside first so you don't get covered in it while holding the foot up) Apply as far up as the coronet band (where the hoof meets the leg) as this will prevent the hoof drying out particularly in hot weather.



• Fly Spray- Flies can be the bane of a stabled horse's life.

  Finish off your grooming session with a light mist of fly spray (avoiding the eyes) to keep the horse comfortable.

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