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How much time do you spend grooming?

7K views 47 replies 35 participants last post by  horseluver2435 
#1 ·
I've been to dozens of barns and seen those where the horse is prepared for the rider, so all they do is walk in and hop on. Then there are barns where the horse, regardless of if its yours or not must not have a speck of dirt or dust on it.

Personally, I spend between 30min to an hour grooming both before and after riding. Not only do I bond with the horse but it gives me a chance to really feel the horse and find any bumps, cuts, sores, etc. It's also quite relaxing for both horse and rider.

How much time do you spend grooming?
 
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#3 ·
I really got into the habit of grooming for a long time at my coach's barn. I ride one of her home bred oldenburg/tb cross mares and if she sees a speck of dust or a bit of hay on the horse, she'll chew me out.

Still, it's one of those things people don't seem to believe is important anymore. :( Sad.
 
#6 ·
If they're really dirty and I'm going to ride, I do a quick groom about 15 minutes... otherwise I usually just brush the area where the saddle and girth go...

When I really wanna take my time and just brush and relax and bond with my horses, my grooming can take anywhere from an hour to most of the day, depending on how I feel.

I can do a full body speed groom in about five to seven minutes when I have to...
 
#9 ·
if I'm in a hurry, I might just lightly brush over him, but I think the longest I've spent (when not even showing) was about four or five hours. really. just for fun.
usually when I ride, it takes about 30 minutes before and 15 after.
 
#11 ·
I usually give my horse a quick 15-20 minute groom before I ride, then after I cool him out and spend at least an hour and a half with him, just checking every part of him, making sure everything is nice and clean..

I usually give him a massage too, that takes a little longer but he loves it so I don't mind :) I love grooming my horse though, just because he is always so interested in what I'm doing so I feel like we have a good conversation :)

Yes .. I talk to my horse like its a human .. Almost all the time .. I'm very vocal with him, I like when he knows my voice
 
#12 ·
completely depends on how dirty he is and how much time I have. On the weekends he gets the full spa treatment 1+ hours. During the week I usually do a speed job to get riding, but lately it's been very muddy so the fastest I can get a saddle on him is 15 minutes. Of course when he starts that lip going and moaning and groaning, I can't resist giving him a little extra attention. Absolutely the cutest thing ever!
 
#15 ·
A long time, lol. I take pride in how the horse that I'm riding looks, just because I think that when you ride in a lesson (or clinic or show) you are showing respect for the instructor (or clinician or judge). My instructor takes the time to come early and help us out a bit if we need it, and takes the time to give us a lesson early in the morning. The least I can do is look presentable.
And I just love the look of a clean, groomed horse :). I'm kind of a grooming addict, lol. I'll have been at the barn for a good half-hour before anyone else in my lesson comes to get ready :).
 
#16 ·
during the week [& when im actually allowed to ride] i usually dont groom that long bc i am so busy ! i hate it i have to rush around if i want to ride bc i dont like to feel hurried when im in the saddle.

during the weekend though i will give gypsy a lot of grooming, but not scout usually bc he hates it ! his happiest days are when i put his bridle on in his stall & take him out & just jump on. last night i took him out & just groomed, he looked like he wanted to kill me & didnt want to go back into his stall !
 
#17 ·
A lot of nights I go over just to groom, no riding. I can easily spend two hours!! He's a big boy and it takes extra time to get his feathers clean, but I was raised in the same envoironment where after grooming, there had better not be a spot of dirt anywhere on your horse! My first instructor used to look over all the horses at the beginning of our lessons, and if you missed a spot, she would definately tell you about it!
 
#18 ·
I usually spend about 15 minutes before I tack up, and get on. But if I am just riding bareback, then I give candy a good brush, because I dont have to waist time tacking up. So I have more time to brush well. She loves every minute of it too!
 
#19 ·
I love grooming. I could spend hours in the wash rack grooming. But as a total usually about 3 hours on some days....ends up being about thirty minutes a horse....It is longer when I am bathing them all.
 
#20 ·
O my, I'm not the only one who's noticed how some people think they are Queen of England (in other words, too good for it) when it comes to grooming? HA. Yeah I've seen at that one barn I mentioned before where the stable hand prepares the horse and then the person hops on and that's all she wrote. And then they wonder why their horse bites them when they touch them otherwise.

Grooming time is important to me and my horses. That's how we start a good ride and end one. I feel disconnected from my horse if I can't groom them and bond with them beforehand/after. Glad to see someone yet again agrees :D
 
#21 ·
O my, I'm not the only one who's noticed how some people think they are Queen of England (in other words, too good for it) when it comes to grooming? HA. Yeah I've seen at that one barn I mentioned before where the stable hand prepares the horse and then the person hops on and that's all she wrote. And then they wonder why their horse bites them when they touch them otherwise.

Who are you referring too?:?
 
#23 ·
i groom paul for 30 minutes before and after riding when i'm rushed for time but in the summer when i don't have to be home at any particular hour, i'll groom for an hour or so. i think grooming helps build that bonding relationship between horse and rider so when i can spend more time doing it, i do. plus, when i run my hands over him while i'm brushing, i can see if there is anything suspicious going on like bumps or missing hair.
 
#28 ·
More time than I do riding. lol Grooming is one of my favorite parts of having horses. Actually, I almost like taking care of my horses more than I enjoy riding them.
 
#32 ·
I spend minutes before and maybe 30 minutes afterwards. Before I ride, I brush out the saddle pad area, between his front legs and pick out his feet.

Afterwards, I groom him all over and pick out his feet again.

Then I watch him roll in the mud/dirt.
 
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