For colder weather, you may consider changing the horse grooming tools in your routine to better deal with fuzzy winter coats! As you change out grooming tools, give your stored tools a thorough cleaning so they stay fresh until spring.
Keep the grooming gloves! They are not just for shedding and bathing – their nodules can get through the fuzziest of fuzzy horses, bringing dust and dirt to the surface. They are also super for removing clumps of mud.
Add in a stiffer brush. Stiff brushes, if tolerated by your horse, can be great for removing all of the dirt that your grooming gloves bring up. Their extra durability and stiffness can also get through more of a winter coat.
Add in some washcloths! A steamy hot washcloth is perfect for removing stains. Use a warm washcloth for noses and sensitive parts.
If you don’t have hot water at the barn, you can use an insta hot kettle. Perfect when you need to warm up a bit or remove a stain with a warm cloth.
Find a good grooming oil. This adds luster to a winter coat, repels stains, and can be used in hooves to help keep snowballs from forming. A little bit goes a long way!
Fleece or wool coolers. Super for helping sweat marks dry, and can be used by you to get warm at the barn! And, they come in a ridiculous number of colors and patterns.
A hoof pick with a brush if you don’t already have one! The brush is great for getting mud out of the nitty gritty areas of your horse’s hooves.
How else do you mix up your winter grooming routine?