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Grooming job! Help please!

6K views 31 replies 25 participants last post by  Amber and Mac 
#1 ·
I recently had a job working on a 30stall horse farm cleaning and helping around.
I am soon to start a job grooming and exercising horses. Where i worked, i always started grooming by using the curry comb (Thats how i was taught) And then finished with brush.
I read online that you should never use the curry comb on the horse and its strictly used to clean the other brush.
Is that true?:?
And any other ideas to help me out with the new job?
Thank you!
 
#4 ·
I have always curried first. That's the way I was taught.

Here's what I do:
1. Pick hooves
2. Curry head to tail
3. Stiff bristle brush to remove loose hair and any dirt/dust (Aires loves to roll)
4. Softer bristle/finishing brush to smooth out hair
5. Brush mane and tail

All told, it takes me about 10 minutes from start to finish to groom Aires, sometimes less if he hasn't rolled.

Just as an aside...there was this girl that took 30-45 minutes to groom her horse before she tacked up and then another 20-25 minutes to tack up. Drove us all up the wall and her horse was horrible by the end of it (got bored).
 
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#8 ·
We use a metal shedding blad or a metal curry comb on our horses. They don't seem to mind at all. When I've used rubber ones, the hair seems to get full of static and the loose hair and dirt sticks more to the horse or all over me.

During their shedding times we use this:


Wow Drafty, only 10 minutes to do all that? We spend at least a half hour on each horse when grooming. We are also checking them over for injuries at the same time though. Again they don't mind because they have hay to munch on or we've given them their feed (beet pulp and sweet feed).
 
#13 ·
Wow Drafty, only 10 minutes to do all that? We spend at least a half hour on each horse when grooming. We are also checking them over for injuries at the same time though. Again they don't mind because they have hay to munch on or we've given them their feed (beet pulp and sweet feed).
That's when we're getting ready to do anything (go riding or go work in the round pen). Our BO is about getting it done in as little time as possible because the horse will get bored (no hay or munchies while they're standing tied at the hitching rail...the hitching rail is supposed to represent where we get ready for work)...especially my two-year-old. I check him for any obvious injuries as I'm grooming him, as well. After we get done working or riding, I take longer to groom him because then it's relaxing time.

Also, it could take me less time because Aires is not a particularly "dirty" horse. Yes, he'll roll, but only if it's dry. I think I've had to scrape mud off him once and it was only on his neck (still not sure how he managed that).
 
#9 ·
I use a metal curry in the spring to help get the winter coat out but otherwise use my rubber one all summer. My horses love their curry massage, lol! They lean into it when I get the right spot....its funny!
Same as everyone else above & a curry helps their coat by stimulating the blood flow.
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#10 ·
I would assume they were discussing metal curry combs. I don't use anything metal on mine (curry, combs or sweat scrapers) it breaks & dulls the hair. I use a rubber curry, slick & easy block & a vaccuum at shedding time instead of a metal curry.
 
#12 ·
When I worked at a racing barn, I learned to groom a horse at lightning speed – 10 minutes, including mane, tail and hooves. I always curried first, especially in the places where the tack would be. After their work out, I’d spend extra time hosing them down, drying them and grooming. On days when we worked 20+ horses, we’d spend about 30 minutes grooming each horse after. On days when we exercised less, we groomed for longer.
 
#15 ·
Good Luck!!! I loved being a groom at barns, it was always my favorite job!!!

The only advice I can give you is get into it!!!! I was taught, the more you "get into it" the cleaner, shinier, and better your horse will look! Also, groom, and get into all those places that people might not check at first...(ex. inside of hind legs, ect, ect)

Good Luck!!!!
 
#17 ·
Also be sure to double check about brushing/combing manes and tails. If the manes are pulled and short, I doubt owners will mind, but if the horse is a breed such as Friesian, Andalusian, Arabian etc with a long mane/tail, always check first before brushing those areas. Some people will freak out. I ride many horses with long manes and tails and I NEVER brush them except very rarely after a bath, detangler, and dried. The more they get brushed, the more damaged they are.
 
#18 ·
I've vaguely heard that the metal curry comb is only for the other brushes, but I admit that I have used it as an intense de-shedder on a few minis, and I have used it to scrape off mud a few times on my horses, but only when I had no hope with anything else. Here's what I do;
1.Rubber or plastic curry
2.Brush out mane and tail (the shavings, etc. will land on the neck or legs and need to be brushed off, which is why I do the mane and tail 1st)
3.Soft brush all over body. Ive realized that on most horses, this gets rid of the dirt and hair that has been brought up by the curry a lot easier than a bristle brush.
4.Pick out hooves
5.Apply fly spray, linament, etc.
Of course this is only before I exercise. I am a lot more thorough after working, and of course I take about 3 hours to groom before a show.
 
#19 ·
Here's what I was taught:

* Curry comb (rubber one)
* Stiff brush (use flicking motion with wrist, removes surface dirt better)
* Finger comb out mane, tail, and forelock or use a plastic comb.
* Body brush
* Body cloth
* Face cloth (moist, cool water, wipe eyes "gently", nose and lips, ears last)
* Pick out hooves

This takes me about 30 minutes or more, I look for injuries, spend some quality time with her (i.e cookie/apple fest and lots of wither & belly rubs:wink:) I was always told NOT to rush through a grooming, it's relaxing for both horse and rider, and it's easier to see any booboos they might have i.e soreness, scrapes, abrasions, lumps etc. Hope that helped :)
 
#21 ·
If its a metal one you are talking about, then I only use the metal if the horse is crusted in mud or as a shedding blade if all others have gone missing :p

Heres my grooming routine.

1.Use a rubber curry everywhere (even gently on the legs if muddy.)
2.Stiff brush.
3.Soft Brush (If time permits)
4. Wipe down legs if I didn't have time to hose. (As in I'm sometimes a little late for my lessons D:)
5. Wipe down eyes/nose/mouth etc.
6.Flyspray (In the summer)
 
#24 ·
Metal curries are only good for cleaning your brushes. They may break up caked on muddy fur, but I like the rubber grooma (round rubber curry) better for that. Just like your own hair, would use metal on that? I certainly wouldn't. Another thing that speeds up the grooming process & produces shine, is rub rags. Polish 'em up like a piece of furniture.
 
#25 ·
I only use metal curry combs, all my horses love it, they just stand there and let me brush away lol.
 
#27 ·
Not to be mean but if they were only for cleaning the brushes, wouldn't they be just called a brush cleaner and not a curry 'comb'? Aren't combs for grooming?

I'm not saying everyone should use them. It's ok if you do though. It's just personal preference of you do or don't.
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#28 ·
I'm pretty sure it meant metal curry combs, but it's still preference. I have friends who only use metal curry combs, but I had a past experience where i got kicked at because the horse didn't like it. I only use plastic, unless there is a lot of mud or shedding.
 
#29 ·
I think I lost my metal curry comb a while back >>
My routine is

1. Pick out hooves and apply anything to them if needed.
2. Rubber curry comb head to tail
3. Stiffer Brush
4. Soft Brush..If I have time or if I'm not that lazy..
5. Check everything out (injuries and what not)
6. Fly spray all over and the face with a cloth/sponge

We normally don't brush out the mane and tail besides picking out a few shavings or bird docks(?) Our horses keep relatively clean in that area besides a few times when they roll...in mud.
 
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