Metal curry comb...bad?

Goonhorse · 08-31-2006, 12:11 PM

I use a metal curry comb on my morgan, but I agree with TR, some thinner skinned horses like thoroughbreds and arabians are more bothered by it. I just use it gently on my Morgan. I don't see why it's okay to use a shedding blade but not a curry comb.

cjohns · 08-31-2006, 12:18 PM

I use it only on the tail and mane. I heard that it's too harsh to use on their bodies (unless of course, it's winter)

Chenelle · 08-31-2006, 12:24 PM

Since I was a little girl (-sigh- those were the days...) we have used metal curries. If you really think about it, a shedding blade is the same thing except it isn't round and doesn't have 3 rings... jeez. Unless you are pushing really hard, I don't see how it's going to do a lot of scratching or any other damage to your horse. Plus, they are for heavy winter coats, not summer brushing. If you reverse them, the other side has finer teeth and helps for those thinner skinned breeds. I like to use them to knock the mud off and really get the winter hair off. My shedding blade is useless compared to my metal curry.

faroutfax · 08-31-2006, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chenelle

If you really think about it, a shedding blade is the same thing except it isn't round and doesn't have 3 rings... jeez.

But with the curry you rub in hard circular motions. With the shedding blade you go with the coat and hopefully only hard enough to get the job done

ShezaBayDoc · 08-31-2006, 12:27 PM

cjohns- I've seen alot of my friends grab for a metal curry for tails and manes and I stop them, at least with my horses. Don't you notice any breakage?

MelissaH · 08-31-2006, 01:04 PM

Good. I have never had a problem either. I mean I am sure none of us do it so hard and rough that we draw blood.

Launa · 08-31-2006, 01:09 PM

I use a rubber curry. It has big nobbies, that way they get a massage too. Then I use a shedding blade to wisk the dirt away. Careful to go over boney areas. Then a hard bristle brush and then a soft bristle brush.

Cara · 08-31-2006, 01:17 PM

I've never had an issue with them either. I could see how some horses may not like them if they have sensitive skin... but I (and many others) use them for dried mud and dirt, and such like that, especially in the winter with the fuzzy coats! I only use them going with the skin (not in the circular motion of the rubber curreys), and I don't see any issue with it...

Goonhorse · 08-31-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faroutfax

But with the curry you rub in hard circular motions. With the shedding blade you go with the coat and hopefully only hard enough to get the job done

I use the metal curry comb the same way I would a shedding blade. You only use the circular motion with the rubber ones. It would be really hard to use the circular motion with a metal curry comb, IMHO.

I'm sure everybody here as noticed how a horse scratches himself. EEEEEEEOOOOWW!!!! That's gotta hurt, and he thinks it feels awesome. So I figure using a curry comb gently isn't going to hurt them.

freedom32 · 08-31-2006, 05:39 PM

Depends on the horse. Freedom loves the metal curry, she is always itchy. I use it alot in the winter to take mud off and in spring to shed out, but I don't use it in a circular motion, that would be hard like Goonhorse said. Melissa if you've been using it and your horse doesn't like it you'd know by now, they're not shy about letting their feelings be known about such things!

08-31-2006, 12:11 PM	#11
Goonhorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: A Hawkeye (IA) in the land of Hoosiers (IN) Posts: 2,629 Images: 263 Blog Entries: 150	I use a metal curry comb on my morgan, but I agree with TR, some thinner skinned horses like thoroughbreds and arabians are more bothered by it. I just use it gently on my Morgan. I don't see why it's okay to use a shedding blade but not a curry comb. __________________ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. -Psalm 139:22-23

08-31-2006, 12:18 PM	#12
cjohns Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 565 Images: 107 Blog Entries: 1	I use it only on the tail and mane. I heard that it's too harsh to use on their bodies (unless of course, it's winter) __________________ *Crystal*

08-31-2006, 12:24 PM	#13
Chenelle Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Millville, Pennsylvania Posts: 152 Images: 31	Since I was a little girl (-sigh- those were the days...) we have used metal curries. If you really think about it, a shedding blade is the same thing except it isn't round and doesn't have 3 rings... jeez. Unless you are pushing really hard, I don't see how it's going to do a lot of scratching or any other damage to your horse. Plus, they are for heavy winter coats, not summer brushing. If you reverse them, the other side has finer teeth and helps for those thinner skinned breeds. I like to use them to knock the mud off and really get the winter hair off. My shedding blade is useless compared to my metal curry. __________________ I don't like humans. For creatures capable of logical thought, they don't use thier capabilities well - nor frequently.

08-31-2006, 01:04 PM	#16
MelissaH Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 5,221 Images: 163 Blog Entries: 4	Good. I have never had a problem either. I mean I am sure none of us do it so hard and rough that we draw blood. __________________ I'm real curious about how all four candidates feel about NAIS, about maintaining horse access on federal lands, and about what bit to use on a gaited horse! ~Johne

08-31-2006, 01:09 PM	#17
Launa Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 3,501 Images: 683 Blog Entries: 87	I use a rubber curry. It has big nobbies, that way they get a massage too. Then I use a shedding blade to wisk the dirt away. Careful to go over boney areas. Then a hard bristle brush and then a soft bristle brush. __________________ Member of the 20lb Club! Started @156 pounds! Current weight 137.5 ..... Goal 136 pounds! Never give up!

08-31-2006, 12:27 PM	#15
ShezaBayDoc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wendell, NC Posts: 722 Images: 31 Blog Entries: 1	cjohns- I've seen alot of my friends grab for a metal curry for tails and manes and I stop them, at least with my horses. Don't you notice any breakage?

08-31-2006, 01:17 PM	#18
Cara Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: California Posts: 3,721 Images: 27	I've never had an issue with them either. I could see how some horses may not like them if they have sensitive skin... but I (and many others) use them for dried mud and dirt, and such like that, especially in the winter with the fuzzy coats! I only use them going with the skin (not in the circular motion of the rubber curreys), and I don't see any issue with it... __________________ ~It Depends~ Cara ~ http://dressagecowgrl.blogspot.com ~

08-31-2006, 05:39 PM	#20
freedom32 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Capital of the Steeler Nation--PITTSBURGH Posts: 8,118 Images: 438 Blog Entries: 144	Depends on the horse. Freedom loves the metal curry, she is always itchy. I use it alot in the winter to take mud off and in spring to shed out, but I don't use it in a circular motion, that would be hard like Goonhorse said. Melissa if you've been using it and your horse doesn't like it you'd know by now, they're not shy about letting their feelings be known about such things! __________________ Pittsburgh gals bleed black & gold ~originally posted by JBandRio~ she's out there grazing and pooping and napping and biting her buddy's butt

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