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I need some advice on grooming

4K views 24 replies 16 participants last post by  cowgirljumper 
#1 ·
Hi there everyone,
I have a wee 13.3 pony that is kept out in the fields for most of the time and I really want to work some magic and get him looking like the star he is. I will be showing him in the summer. His coat is chestnut but it looks quite dull most of the time and plus his winter coat is coming in, so that doesnt help. I really want to bring out the shine in his white blaze and ermine markings as well. I know he can look well If I put in some work and im willing!!!
does anybody have some cheap and easy tips to get my boy looking his best?
anything and everything is appreciated :)
I want to know how to get every part of him gleaming and gorgeous!!
P.S really busy at the moment so will post some pics of him soon as i can x
thanks,
shannon
 
#2 ·
A shiny coat has less to do with grooming and more to do with nutrition. A well-rounded diet with some healthy fat (like flaxseed, for example) is the key.
 
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#4 ·
Ditto:)

This was taken a year ago, when this horse was 24; I have four horses, so quality brushings before turn out each and every day are rare. He also has Equine Metabolic Syndrome, so it takes some extra effort for me to keep him healthy.


None of my horses eat grain; this one gets rice bran because the EMS has made him a hard keeper. They all get a good vit/min supplement, Omega-3 Horseshine and wormed whenever the vet says their fecal tests show they need to be.

 
#3 ·
Paprika would help his coat and you wouldn't have to give the little thing that much; here is a link to a thread I started a little while ago about it: http://www.horseforum.com/horse-grooming/paprika-horse-coat-color-enhancement-140361/ A lot of people helped me out on the subject, so it should answer all of your questions!

I have never used it but I've heard that some people use bluing mixed in shampoo for the white spots? Someone else could give better advice in that respect.

Nutrition has so much to do with how healthy they are, and how healthy their coat will look, too. Does your pony only eat hay and grass, or does he get some grain and additives as well? Bioton is great additive to feed them and so is HorseShine. There are a lot of others too.

Show Sheen also helps to make horses' coats look shiny. You just mist it all over them.

Also, do you keep his mane long or pulled? Either way, here are some things I do for my horse's super long mane: Fructis Sleek and Shine leave-in conditioner is the best stuff, and I really like Cowboy Magic products too. MTG is a great product to really get the hair growing, but I warn you it stinks like old bacon! I know that most people don't comb out their horse's manes or tails a lot if they want them to grow, but I do it ALL the time. It is not with a regular mane comb though; I never use those. I love the Grooma Rake; it has teeth that spin so it does not tear any hair out, and it takes very little time to comb the hair out. It used to take me about 25-30 minutes to brush my horse's mane and tail but now it only takes about 10 minutes! Here is a link to it: Grooma Rake - Grooming Tools from SmartPak Equine

Pictures of your pony would definitely help also!

Last of all, here are three before/after pictures of my horse; you can see the huge difference that nutrition and "hair care" can make:

This is her when I got her: She was totally pathetic.

Horse Mammal Vertebrate Mane Stallion


A year ago: Big dif, and overweight! Gained some muscle tone,too.

Horse Mammal Vertebrate Bridle Halter


And here she is now: Had her lose a couple hundred pounds and look at how much her hair grew! Gained some more muscle tone also.

Horse Horse tack Horse supplies Mare Mane


Horse Bridle Mammal Vertebrate Rein
 
#9 ·
Grooming can help produce a shiney coat as it stimulates the skin. I was giving lessons to a gal with a dark chestnut Welsh that pretty much lived on pasture. Beginning 10 days before a show, she and her sister put a lot of effort into grooming this pony. Their efforts paid off by all the compliments and despite a winter coat that had started, she absolutely gleamed.
 
#10 ·
personally my horses are eating the right food for what i demand off them at the minute and i agree that nutrition is the key but im not in a position to change his feed or buy any fancy supliments although i will try paprika and vegoil etc.. thanks ;) keep the ideas and advice coming i appreciate everyones opinion!
 
#11 ·
when you show use baby powder on his white areas rub it in. it makes them whiter if you missed anything and its safe. also make sure your use a curry on him every time you groom and try to groom him everyday. and giving him a bath the morning of the show will help him alot too.
 
#13 ·
Like others said: nutrition

Though I don't know how much that helps..
My mare is fed 4 1/2 quarts of "Mane Menu" daily. She has been since before I got her. She's worked 5-6 days a week. We do hunter/jumper and trail rides/running
When I first started with her she was an ugly color. very dull brown, with a red mane and tail.
I brush the CRAP out of her. Lots of brushing and more brushing.
Using a soft brush will help distribute that natural oils and brush off all the little tiny dusties.

This picture is her, just with lots of brushing and work:)
Her coat was only brown, now the red pops out :)
 

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#23 ·
Avoid SOY if you can - though it is high in protein it has a history of causing metabolic problems in humans and with the increase in its use in feeds has come an increase in horses with metabolic problems.

For a really shiny coat add up t 1 cupful daily of freshly ground Flax seed - you can grind it in a coffee grinder. Also looks after joints to if freshly ground.

For ultra white socks.

Wash with a mild washing up liquid and a soft nail brush and hand hot water. Work lather up well untl the skin shows through pink.

Rinse well, towel dry then wash with Blue shampoo, leave on for 20 mins or so before rinsing off. Towel dry and then here is the special tip

Mix Curash baby powder with some warm water to make a soft paste then rub into the sock with a toothbrush. Then bandage over. I use whhite towels as bandage pads and either white or blue bandages to wrap over the towel.

If you cannot get 'Curash' baby powder you need to get the type that also contains zinc - often advertised to help babies with diaper rash.

Once the socks are dry - I usually wait until I'm at the show, remove bandages and gently brush off any exccess dried powder. Make sure you don't use the brush elsewhere

Curash socks on my Clydesdale
 
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