[Shikoika]

Ok so my boys havnt been properly groomed and bathed in a LOng tiem and their shedding their winter coats , so I need to trim them down and give them a good washing and everything. But I'm not sure exactly what needs to be done first in so torough a grooming. Can you give me the steps?

[imacowgirl2]

When I thoroughly groom, this is what I do:

1. Brush with shedding blade, if shedding
2. Brush body with curry comb and/or massage comb
3. Brush with stiff brush, then soft brush
4. Clean out hooves
5. Clip as necessary (usually long hairs under chin, whiskers to ~ 1", fetlock hairs to ~1/2", bridlepath off)
6. Comb out mane and tail
7. Bathe all over with shampoo, rinse, then condition, paying special attention to mane and tail, then rinse again
8. Use sweat scraper over entire body, then rinse one more time just to make sure ALL soap/conditioner is out
9. Use sweat scraper again, then allow horse to graze in sun or put on light sheet to dry, depending on weather.

While drying, I often brush out the mane/tail a couple more times to make it look really nice. If I am going to be growing out the tail, I also put it up after it is completely dry.

10. Take picture of clean horse to prove he really can get that clean!

[myerspark]

To avoid having to do so much all at once it's best to groom daily.
just brush them all over in the morning once with the massage comb then with a stiff brush. This helps to get the extra hair off, remove dirt, bring oils out into the coat, massages the horse, and allows you to check for injuries.

Other than that imacowgirl2 has a nice regimen for thorough cleaning

[Buckshot]

Originally Posted by imacowgirl2

When I thoroughly groom, this is what I do:

1. Brush with shedding blade, if shedding
2. Brush body with curry comb and/or massage comb
3. Brush with stiff brush, then soft brush
4. Clean out hooves
5. Clip as necessary (usually long hairs under chin, whiskers to ~ 1", fetlock hairs to ~1/2", bridlepath off)
6. Comb out mane and tail
7. Bathe all over with shampoo, rinse, then condition, paying special attention to mane and tail, then rinse again
8. Use sweat scraper over entire body, then rinse one more time just to make sure ALL soap/conditioner is out
9. Use sweat scraper again, then allow horse to graze in sun or put on light sheet to dry, depending on weather.

While drying, I often brush out the mane/tail a couple more times to make it look really nice. If I am going to be growing out the tail, I also put it up after it is completely dry.

10. Take picture of clean horse to prove he really can get that clean!

Imacowgirl had really good advice-I'm not going to add to it.

[Shikoika]

thanks you! That helped alot. ;D

[reiner girl]

thats what i woulda said!! good luck take pics!!!

[codyntampa]

If they are shedding, pull out a shedding blade and hop to it! After the floor looks like a sheep shed its outer shell, you can curry to get some more hair, and then brush the rest off. Be prepared to wear the majority of the hair that your horse loses.

[Lacys Mom]

Originally Posted by codyntampa

Be prepared to wear the majority of the hair that your horse loses.

LOL! Yep, I always seem to have hair on my clothes and hay in my hair. Small price to pay, though, for clean, shiny, happy horses!

[imacowgirl2]

Originally Posted by LacysMom

LOL! Yep, I always seem to have hair on my clothes and hay in my hair. Small price to pay, though, for clean, shiny, happy horses!

Yep, the joke around our place is that the point of giving a horse (or dog) a bath, is to remove all the dirt, sweat, hair, stink, manure, etc from them and place it on your person LOL

[saylesgirl]

If your horse is really sensitive like mine, and won't let you get near her with a shedding blade, make a "claw" with your hands and massage them all over to help them shed out. I usually go over them with a plastic curry comb afterwards.