Winter Weather Grooming Guide and Tips!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter weather can really take it’s toll on our equine’s coat so it is a great time to talk about grooming. Grooming ensures the skin and coat remains in optimum condition, especially important when windy, wet and muddy weather is upon us! 

All horse owners want our horses to look and feel good throughout the year and whilst we retreat to warm houses and hot showers our horse’s cleanliness during the wintertime is solely dependent on our own efforts. Though taxing in these temperatures our equine’s will be grateful for our efforts, not to mention looking set for the show ring too; perfect for the busy winter competitors!

World Wide Tack’s Guide to Grooming with Top Tips!

1.) Thorough grooming on a regular basis offers care and maintenance of the skin and hair and allows your equine partner to remain clean and healthy preventing the build up of dirt and bacteria in the coat. Regular grooming sessions also allows horse owners to learn their horse’s individual anatomy and keep on top of any lumps, bumps or blemishes. This can prove extremely beneficial for the horse and also often protect the horse owner’s bank balance if problems are spotted and dealt with immediately!

2.) Top Tip! Invest in quality brushes and keep them clean. You can’t do a thorough job grooming your horse with dirty or dusty brushes. Plus, keeping them clean will help them last longer!

3.) Don’t neglect your horse’s hooves. They should be picked out daily, not just when you are getting ready to ride. Hoof picks are cheap so always use one to remove rocks and debris and replace the pick when it no longer does the job easily.

4.) Grooming is a fantastic way to build your relationship with your horse or pony as the simple task offers a is a great bonding mechanism allowing you to build a stronger and more fulfilling relationship between you. Giving him this attention will be sure to go down a treat as grooming is in fact a horse’s natural way in which to bond and communicate with other equines. Top tip; Get to know where your horse’s ticklish spots are and be extra gentle around those areas!

4.) Removing the sweat and dirt from the coat is vital as it makes it much less likely that your horse will suffer tack sores and rubs. These rubs can develop when the leather work of your tack comes into contact with dirt and debris and then rubs this grime against your horse’s skin causing it to break and become sore and damaged.

5.) Using ‘horse friendly’ products to protect a healthy skin pH is crucial when bathing your horse. World Wide Tack stocks a range of specific equine shampoos and conditioners from big name brands such as Absorbine, Quic and Cowboy Magic not to mention a selection of detangling and coat shine products to get that special sparkle this season! Top Tip; If your horse’s mane or tail gets a stubborn knot in it, don’t cut or pull the knot out. Use Cowboy Magic Detangler & Shine to soften the knot, and carefully detangle the hairs with your fingers.

6.) Curry your horse every day. The more you curry, the more you bring the oils in the skin to the surface. When it comes to currying, there is no substitute for good old-fashioned elbow grease!

7.) Including a supplement in the diet can be highly beneficial to improve skin health and coat quality. Grand Coat from the Grand Meadow’s range available from World Wide Tack provides a rich source of omega fatty acids, key minerals and amino acids. The ingredient that really sets Grand Coat apart from other products is lecithin, which supplies phospholipids, a vital requirement for helping maintain healthy skin and coat color. If your horse’s coat is looking dull why not consider adding Grand Coat into the diet and encourage visible improvements from the inside out!

8.) Keep up with routine grooming chores, such as mane pulling, trimming fetlocks etc… That way horse owners will not be overwhelmed with last minute clean-up before a show.

9.) Grooming mitts are great for wiping dust off your horse and help promote circulation and cleans and polish the skin. World Wide Tack offer a gorgeous Sheepskin Grooming Mitt for just £6.25 excl. VAT or available FREE with any Cowboy Magic Product bought! Click here to view today.

10.) Remember; though your horse getting mucky and dirty is time consuming for you, rolling is a natural therapy for your horse and dirt isn’t permanent, so let him enjoy himself and try not to let your heart sink too much when you see him rolling in the field!

Visit World Wide Tack’s website to see the full range of equine grooming products  and supplements available today by visiting www.worldwidetack.com

Grooming your Horse

 

 

Grooming your horse is an important equine management task not just ensuring your four-legged partner looks good but also ensuring that their skin and coat remains in optimum condition, contributing to their  general well-being.

The importance of equine grooming is often by-passed as a simple or obvious concept but this can mean in some cases that this essential part of equine care is in some cases neglected.  In our latest blog as experts in equine grooming and top of the range grooming products World Wide Tack takes a look at why this equestrian task really is so important.

Five Top Reasons to Groom your Horse; A Guide from World Wide Tack 

1.)    Regular, thorough grooming offers good care and maintenance of the skin and coat and allows your horse or pony to remain clean and healthy. A good grooming session prevents a build up of dirt and bacteria in the coat limiting the risk of bacterial or yeast infection developing in the coat and offers the horse owner the opportunity to spot any skin irritant such as lice or mites.

2.)    Removing the sweat and dirt from the coat by grooming and bathing regularly with products such as the Cowboy Magic, Absorbine or Quic range from World Wide Tack reduces the risk of your horse suffering rubs or tack sores which can occur when the leather work of your saddle and bridle come into contact with dirt and debris resulting in this being rubbed against your horse’s skin sometimes causing it to break and become sore.

3.)    Grooming is also a great way to bond with your equine allowing you to build a stronger and more fulfilling relationship. Giving your horse attention he enjoys will be sure to go down a treat! In addition grooming is in fact horse’s natural mechanisms to bond and communicate with each other!

4.)    Regular grooming sessions allow horse owners to really know their horse’s anatomy and this helps them keep on top of any lumps, bumps, blemishes, rashes or skin complaints enabling horse owners to spot any problems pronto! This can prove extremely beneficial for the horse and also often protect the horse owner’s bank balance if an issue is highlighted and dealt with immediately.

5.)    Finally, complimenting your grooming routine remember it is important to consider the horse from the inside out. The skin and coat will not look it’s best if your equine is nutrient deficient so always ensure their diet is rich in the nutrients they need such as the vital macro nutrient; water, protein, carbohydrate, fats and vitamins and minerals for equines to look and feel good! Supplements such as Grand Vite from the Grand Meadows range from World Wide Tack supply over 40 essential nutrients and the supplement packed with vitamins and minerals can boost coat and skin condition promoting a lovely glossy shine!

To find out more about the range of grooming and bathing products from World Wide Tack visit the website today at www.worldwidetack.com