New Horse Owner Series – Grooming Benefits
Posted: Tuesday, September 06, 2011
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
Perhaps the most basic and beneficial horsemanship task is horse grooming.
There is no doubt that your horse loves his routine “beauty treatment.” He enjoys the fussing, primping and stimulation of a currying and brushing, and will look forward to the grooming sessions. For that matter, it is a time to connect, bond, and simply relax during this quiet time with your horse.
Well, there are quite a few. I’ve already mentioned several benefits that include creating a tight relationship between horse and rider.
Regular grooming enhances circulation, cleanses and stimulates his skin, and acts as a sort of massage for his muscles. And there are even more benefits. A vigorous brushing scuffs off any dead skin flakes and distributes his body’s natural oils.
This consistent grooming helps maintain your horse’s physical condition. You will learn your horse’s body, his well-being and weight. By grooming on a daily basis, you can note blemishes, bumps, bruises, irritations and new or old cuts to the skin and coat. You’ll uncover possible painful areas on his body, swellings or anything out of the ordinary. The overall satisfaction for you and your horse is that he will remain healthier, happier and “real spiffy” – his coat will be shiny and polished. Regular grooming in combination with good nutrition makes your horse feel and look his very best. Add exercise to the mix and you’ll both be happy!
Not to belabor the point, but this most basic grooming task is the best stepping stone to a tight bond and relationship with your horse. Really! Spending the time with your horse, talking kindly to him, briskly rubbing him down with a curry, brushing dust and grime off the body and legs, stroking his mane, cleansing his face with a soft cloth and picking out his hooves strengthen the all-important bond between both of you. Think about two horses in a field nibbling each other’s necks, scratching, showing affection and recognition to each other. Your interaction with your horse during grooming sessions stabilizes your friendship, fortifies your alpha role, all the while reinforcing his respect for you.
It’s amazing how many advantages can result from grooming your horse. Not only will your horse enjoy your company, he’ll anticipate the personal time and attention.
There is no better example that my own Patrick. He was afraid of everything in the beginning, even the concrete in the wash stall. One day at a time, and he began to blossom. Granted, I took a whole lot of time to work with him and gain his trust. This horse has made the most remarkable adjustment. I credit our grooming sessions. I also talked to him, a blue streak actually. Now he talks back – honestly!
During these sessions, you can also teach him to understand basic commands such as “pick up,” “over” and “step up.” Use a gentle touch and clear pleasant voice and your horse learns quickly. Since he wants to please you, and before you know it, he will understand and respond to an incredible vocabulary.
When all is said and done, grooming is about the best investment you can make in your horse. It costs nothing but time and pays off in a big way. You will feel great and your horse will feel even better.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I am going to be the smartest nonhorseman in all of Christendom. A question, how many wild horses are there in the American West? And do we try to thin them out with rifles from helicopters, or poison, or do we just let them live and die? Thanks.
Yours,
ChristoferThank you for learning about one of my favorite and the most noble of animals, the horse. You are a real sport! Yeah or neigh!!!
Some say that the wild horse population in America is dwindling fast, actually very fast, despite BLM having been "charged" with the care of the horses. In actuality, they are a distinctive problem too. Following is an appeal from Willie Nelson whose cause is Wild Horses:
"I'm a little prejudiced when it comes to horses. I have always loved them. I currently have about 68; 25-30 were rescued directly from slaughter. I got involved 8 years ago, when AWI first made me aware that American horses are being slaughtered and shipped overseas for human consumption. It's a shame horses - or any animal - be treated this way when horses are the foundation of America. Horses were a way to travel to get to where we are today, and it is our job to protect them..."
And more: "For decades, America's wild horses have faced tremendous pressure from the government, ranchers, the livestock industry, state wildlife agencies and others who do not support the protection of these iconic animals on Western rangelands. The situation turned catastrophic when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it was considering mass slaughter of wild horses in holding facilities as a means of balancing its books. Then a new proposal was offered by Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar to simply create additional holding facilities in the Midwest and East. The BLM seems incapable of protecting and maintaining these national treasures on the public lands that are their home. Yet, the answer is simple: wild horses need less intervention by the BLM, more non-lethal management when necessary, and more freedom to roam their legal and traditional ranges."
Some say there are less than 30,000 (others less than 25,000) horses left in the wild. The sad state of affairs, as described better than I could say it, is written above. And still "the know-it-alls" are at it. Make no mistake about it, they have their crosshairs on wild horses.Thanks. This is what I expected. The heavy, club-footed pace of the soul less government. You can hear them coming, loading up, gathering and butchering with their base plodding sense of righteousness and efficiency. Oh Gawd. Who will save them? Does Willie have a website?Thank you again! There has been such an outcry.
Here are two links that give more links. Both the wild horse issues as well as the horse slaughtering issues are very much all over the internet at the moment. DC is holding a symposium on these issues in September. To me it's sickening. It's pretty awful when you get into crosshairs - the persecution is relentless. What bothers me is that BLM is not merely "controlling" - statistics are showing they are "eradicating" - willienelsonpri.com/peace/4642/last-stronghold-of-wild-horse-herds-under-attack.html
and awionline.org/ht/d/sp/i/11223/pid/11223
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