How to Use a Hard Brush on Horses

While grooming a horse may seem as simple as passing a brush over the coat, there are actually a few tricks and a natural order to the process. A dandy brush, or a hard-bristled brush is generally the second part of the grooming process, used to remove dirt loosened with a curry comb. A few tips can teach you the most effective ways to use your dandy brush.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Hard-bristled brush (dandy brush)
• Soft-bristled brush (body brush)

1. Use a hard-bristled brush, or dandy brush, once you have used a curry comb to loosen dirt impacted in the coat. A dandy brush should never be used on the horse's face, legs or bony protrusions, as the bristles can harm sensitive areas.
2. Begin at the top of the neck, moving down the spine towards the tail. This is important, as you want to move the dirt further and further down the horses body towards the ground.
3. Use a quick flicking motion, as you use when sweeping the floor, to lift the dirt off of the horse's body instead of working it back into the coat. You should see a cloud of dust with each swipe of the brush.
4. Finish the entire body with the hard-bristled brush and then use a body brush, or soft-bristled brush to remove any dirt from the face, legs or other bony areas. Finally, return to the dandy brush and sweep the hooves, removing any dried-on mud, manure or other debris.

Tips & Warnings

• Always clean your grooming supplies thoroughly after use to prevent the growth and spread of germs and infection.