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Does grooming help you bond with your horse?

6K views 25 replies 23 participants last post by  Tasia 
#1 ·
OKay, I wasn't sure where to put this, I think it would go here though. Hehe Anyway just wanted to know what yall thought. Does grooming your horses help you bond with them?

Personally I think it does. I can spend hours on end grooming and talking to my horses. LOL Yes I do talk to my horses while I groom them or actually anytime really. :) But what do you all think?

The new mini I am getting is bred and her owner said that she is "jumpy" and will need some handling. So I was thinking, I like for my horses to bond with me esp. if they are bred so they will feel safer when the baby comes and I need to be near. I want her to trust me. Anyway back to the point haha will doing a good bit of grooming and little things like that help her to bond/trust me?

Okay I will stop rambling and let yall answer haha
 
#2 ·
Yes of course!! Grooming is relaxing for both parties. It makes your horse feel good and allows him/her to become familiar with being touched all over, and get used to your voice and presence. I bought my horse as a yearling and didn't start him until he was 2, so for a full year all we did was groom, take walks and start ground manners. It was a great way to build our relationship, and now everyone remarks how close we are.
 
#4 ·
I definitely think that it does. Like someone said above, to both the horse and groomer. Me personally, It is extremely calming for me when grooming. I can just relax and talk to them, or not talk, whatever.

I think for the horse it helps desensitize them to touching all over their body. I also think that it is kind of a positive reenforcement, so to speak, when they are being brushed, bathed, etc because they just have ;to stand there and be loved on....does all this make sense....it is really early...;)
 
#8 ·
Yes, IF the horse enjoys grooming. My parents horse would love to be groomed for hours. My horse, however, despises being groomed. I pick his feet and lightly brush the saddle area if need be, and otherwise leave him alone. He no longer kicks or bites when groomed, but only because he knows he will get in trouble. Instead I take him for a graze, massage him, or do some carrot stretches
 
#9 ·
I'm with everyone else. If I don't get to ride, I at least go out and groom my horse. I believe you should always talk to them. They get to know the sound of your voice, and it must be soothing. I also give mine a good scratch on the withers, where in the herd, horses do that to show friendship.

It also gets horses desensitized and used to things touching all over their body, and teaches them patience, they have to stand there while you do whatever you want to them. I always brush down my horse's legs, everywhere! He has never really had a problem with it though. He likes to bite the rubber curry, then spit it on the ground. But he only does that once. If I offer it to him again, he just looks like like, 'Why would i want that in my mouth, woman?'
 
#10 ·
I'm with everyone else, yes it does create a bond with your horse. It is also very good for their overall well being/health to be groomed regularly. Circulatory system, skin , hair and I'm sure I'm leaving something out. You also find out their special spots they like scratched/rubbed.

Hmmmm.....I think I need to be groomed. :shock::lol::lol:
 
#20 ·
One way that horses bond with each other in the wild (and out in the pasture) is by "grooming" one another. Every time I used to brush my old Arab, she would turn around & use her lips to "groom" me as well. It was pretty cute.
Haha, my Arab does the same thing! Not so much when I groom her, but when I find her itchy spots. She has this spot on her back that for whatever reason, flies LOVE. I do my best to keep it soaked in fly spray but they still manage to get her (actually, she was fine this summer which was nice). So I always scratch it for her and she returns the favour:







I am of firm belief that our horses delibrately get dirty so we'll brush them. They all seem to absolutely adore it, we regularly hold "grooming parties" where me and Shay-la just walk into the pasture armed with brushes and get them all cleaned up (we have 7 plus a Mini). Not only do they all stand happily, they will very UNhappily bump into you or push you when you have the nerve to move on to the next horse! :lol: They all crowd around and do their very best to ensure you spend as MUCH time brushing them as possible!
 
#13 ·
Grooming can def help build bonds....I groom my boy every chance I get...its relaxing for me and it gives me someone willing to listen to my problems...its also relaxing for him...ive actually put him to sleep brushing him before...

My boyfriend says it takes me to long to groom him...seeing as how i wash him brush him do his feet...brush him again...then braid his tail...lol I think I do just what needs to be done lol

But yes grooming is great for bonding in my opinion....
 
#14 ·
It definitely works with most horses. My draft cross gelding is a former PMU colt and he was wild as a March hare when we got him but through scratching and treats, he transformed and now he LOVES to be scratched and groomed. Our POA pony had been abused and was very wary of being touched when we got him. It's been 2 yrs. now but my persistence has paid off. He now comes up to me asking to be scratched and I can finally get him to relax and do "the lip." Our paint loves to be scratched to an extent and then he's just done and walks off. Depends on the horse :)
 
#15 ·
I also agree! Whilst training a friends horse that i try to see regularly I always groom him before I take him out for a training session. He hasn't known me for that long and every time I groom him I personally feel closer to him and I've noticed little things from him now that I didn't before. He's walking up to me now in the field when I go to catch him, and he's also alot more cuddly which is lovely! And now he's moving a lot better to my voice commands as he is used to my voice now! I really enjoy just grooming a horse, it is very therapeutic for yourself and the horse :)
 
#16 ·
Vinty really likes being groomed for a hot thoroughbred it calms her down a lot she loves it when I just stand with her in her stall and rub my knuckles on her neck and whither and down to her shoulder she turns and nuzzles me. :)
 
#17 ·
for the most part i think it does...except for my pony ! he HATES being brushed....he has for all 7.5yrs ive owned him. if you even brush his neck with a soft brush he gets pissy. hes just a grumpy old man though =P

my mare on the other hand LOVES any sort of attention...shes very self centered, we spend lots of time grooming & brushing manes etc =]
 
#18 ·
Yes

Grooming certainly strengthens the bonds between you and your horse.

When I am grooming, it helps me relax and forget any problems. I concentrate on the horse and making them clean and comfortable. You can detect any changes in their coat and condition and find any nicks and boo-boos.

I also find the tickle spots that each horse likes. It might be between the front legs, on the withers, on the face, or on the behind, but they LOVE to be scratched and tickled on that spot. One or two of mine will run up and turn their butts to me because they love to be scratched there.

Sometimes I rub a clean towel over the horse and keep doing it until they are polished to perfection. Of course, with the winter hair, they don't seem to shine nearly as much.

If the weather is bad, that is a perfect time to go groom.
 
#19 ·
Yes! When I first got my mare she was really jumpy and nervous but after lots of grooming and talking she is really settled and much more quiet than my other mare. Not to mention that they love it!!
 
#22 ·
The way to a baby colt's heart is through butt scratches.... or any itchy spot they cannot reach well with their short little necks. My babies went from "Don't touch me, monster!" to "Hey, you are here to scratch ME aren't you?" Selfish little devils. This year at one point I was trapped in a triangle of itchy babies, each one scratching the next ones hips. It was cute.
 
#23 ·
ABSOLUTELY :) I had to move to find a job, but when I'd come home, all I had to do was go through the motions that we used to do on a daily basis and she automatically relaxed. I gave her massages too, that always gained a bit of trust and relaxed her whole body(A fart or two was like saying welcome home...lol). The closer you get to them, the more trust you gain.. like clipping anything on/around the face.
 
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