Step1
Buy a tack box or bucket. Something with lots of compartments will help you stay organized, sturdy plastic will stand up to heavy wear-and-tear, and a comfortable handle makes toting your grooming kit to and from the tack room a breeze.
Step2
Choose an array of brushes. An extra-soft, soft-bristled brush is good for the face, a soft- or medium-bristled brush works well for the body, and a stiff-bristled brush helps get knots out of the mane and tail.
Step3
Find a rubber massager. These items work two ways: as a deep scrubber for getting out embedded dirt from the coat, and as a massager. Most are the size of your palm or have a handle that slips over your hand.
Step4
Get a hoof pick, either in simple metal or with a thick, plastic handle and stiff bristles to scrub away dirt and mud. Every time before you ride or turn your horse out, you should pick her hooves.
Step5
Spray bottles come in handy for mixing mane and tail conditioners, spritzing water, and quick cleanups.
Step6
Keep fly spray available for keeping the fly population to a minimum. You can also find packets of moist wipes impregnated with fly spray that are great to use around your horse's eyes, muzzle, and other sensitive areas.
Step7
Have a supply of rubber bands. These are great for braiding manes or tails.
Step8
Gather a small first aid kit consisting of betadine scrub for washing out wounds, antibiotic ointment to protect from infection, gauze pads to cover wounds, some sort of wrap to keep the gauze in place, and pain medication such as bute.
Step9
Add a small collection of safety pins, sunscreen, hair ties, leather ties, a flat-head screwdriver for undoing bridles and tightly laced leather.
Step10
Include a leather hole puncher for adjusting strap lengths.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 9/23/2006 If you keep your horse at a stable then most likely you keep your grooming kit there to. You should put your name, or at least your initials, on all of your items to prevent them from being stolen or lost.
Anonymous said
on 1/23/2006 If you have more than one horse, buy each horse a different color of brushes so they don't get mixed together (some horses may have skin problems you don't want to be spread).
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 While you are out getting grooming supplies, get the best you can afford, because your horse deserves it!
Anonymous said
on 8/7/2006 Always clean your brushes to get rid of the sweat and grease, otherwise the grime will transfer back on o your horse or pony's coat.