What's In YOUR Groom Bucket?

Ahh, the sacred groom bucket. An appendage when it comes to readying your horse. 

This blog post was inspired by the 10 dirty, grimy, and smelly horses that I brought in from the muddy pastures today...

Before I head in to Lenny’s stall to groom him, I always triple check my groom bucket to make sure everything is there. I have told you about Lenny's tendency to have "off days" and when this occurs, I need to be on top of my grooming game so that I can get everything done quickly and safely! The simplicity and ease of carrying everything you need in a simple caddy (and in one trip) makes grooming a horse quick and fun. When your horse is tied to the wall or clipped in the cross ties, you should do your best not to leave the him unattended. It is important to get your tack ready and place your groom bucket in an accessible place so that you do not have to leave your horse to retrieve anything. 

I would like to thank my cousin Megan for letting me borrow her perfect groom bucket for this example—mine was far too dirty for the public eye (a bad role model…keep yours clean!)

Whenever you load up your bucket, always think of “The Big 6”: Brushes, leg wraps, fly spray, hoof pick, extras, and post-ride spray/towel. 

 

• Brushes: When it comes to brushes, you should always have three kinds in your groom bucket: a mane and tail brush, a curry comb, and a dandy brush. All three are shown in the image provided. The curry comb should always be used before the dandy brush, and I would suggest getting an extra soft and small dandy brush for your horse’s face and nuzzle. The mane and tail brush is essential to keeping your horse’s longer hair healthy and free of dreadlocks (you would be surprised how easy it is for those things to form!). When brushing, do not neglect your horse’s legs and stomach!  

 

• Leg Wraps: after brushing and hoof-picking, you should have your leg wraps ready to go. Next week, I will have a leg wrap tutorial for you, so stay tuned!

• Hoof Pick: Try to find a hoof pick with a brush on the end! This will ensure every bit of dirt is clear from the hoof. When picking your horse’s hoof, take care to avoid snagging the sensitive frog, or the “V” in the center of the foot.  

• Fly Spray: Fly spray is especially important during the summer months when the flies are at their worst. When it comes to brands…do your research! If your horse is prone to skin allergies or fungus, be sure to buy something that caters to your horse’s needs. Fly spray ranges in expense (and not all of the expensive ones work!), so it will take a lot of trial and error to finally discover which fly spray works best for you and your horse. 

 

• Extras: This is basically the “whatever you have room for” category. For example, I like to keep a roll of tape and some saddle soap in my groom bucket. Tape is good for mending any last-minute tack failures, and is a must-have when it comes to reinforcing leg wraps (again, stay tuned for that demo!). Also, if you notice your tack is a little grungy, you will want to have saddle soap on-hand to clean up the dirt.  

 

• Post-Ride Products: Even though your ride may be done, the grooming must continue! After untacking your horse, you must curry comb and dandy brush your horse and then towel the sweat off of your horse’s stomach, mouth, and chest. Keep one or two clean towels handy, and always wash your towels after use. If you have more than one horse, have different towels for each horse to avoid transmitting dirt, and possibly fungus, from horse to horse.  

 

Keep your groom bucket clean, and check the status of all of your soaps, sprays, and conditioners so that you are not running out! For some reason, every time I need something important, I do not have it! 

Maybe I should take a dose of my own medicine...hmm.