How to Use a Soft Brush on Horses

Grooming your horse is not as simple as passing the brush and combing the tail, as the type of brush you use will depend on where and how you are working. A soft-bristled brush is an essential grooming tool and a few simple tips can teach you when, where and how to use it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Soft-bristled brush (long bristles)
• Body brush (short, soft bristles)
• Coat polish (optional)

1. Use a soft-bristled brush after you have used a curry comb to remove loose dirt from underneath the coat. You can use a hard-bristled brush on any meaty areas; however, only use soft brushes on the face, legs and bony protrusions.
2. Start high up on the horse, such as the face and front of the neck before working down towards the legs, sending the dirt towards the ground. Use short flicking motions with the brush, as you would with a broom, so that you pick up the dirt instead of working it back into the coat. You should see a small cloud dirt with each pass.
3. Work the brush well over the legs when grooming, as the legs tend to get the least attention with the curry comb and often catch the clouds of dirt swept away with the hard and soft brushes.
4. Polish your horse's coat using a body brush, a type of soft brush with shorter bristles. A body brush helps to settle the coat down after grooming, adding a nice shine. Use long smooth strokes always moving in the direction that the hair grows.
5. Apply coat polishes directly to soft-bristled body brushes to condition your horse's coat and give it a healthy shine.