Over the years I’ve had my horse, Pea, I feel like I’ve refined the contents of my grooming kit to cope with all weathers and all events – am I missing anything?
Coat care
SleekEZ – An absolute necessity at this time of year – the best thing I’ve found for helping to shed a winter coat and we’ve tried plenty!
Metal curry comb – This will be out of my grooming kit for the summer months but right back in for winter as it is the best thing for dry mud on hairy ponies.
HAAS brushes – I have the white/grey/coloured pack from Eqclusive. The Schimmel brush (the first in the pack) is particularly amazing and I also keep the second in my everyday grooming box though I reserve brushes 3 and 4 (the dreamy sheepskin Diva brush) for my competition kit.
Curry comb – Forget traditional rubber and plastic curry combs, this “New Generation” one (from Eqclusive) is so good for mud, hair and using with the HAAS brushes to clean them after each stroke.
Magic brush – These get rid of dried mud but are also really good for scrubbing during a bath.
Hair care
Pea’s thick, gravity defying mane is pretty hard to manage but I think I’ve got as many tools as anyone can think of to keep it under control!
Mane and tail brush – Basic, robust – also functions as an emergency hairbrush!
Mane and tail conditioner – Carr & Day & Martin Canter Mane & Tail is my conditioner of choice.
Rake – A useful tool – this thins the mane (or tail). Mine is a Smart Grooming one and they have different grades depending on the type of hair you are trying to thin.
SoloComb – For those who are opposed to mane pulling the SoloComb is a good alternative. It doesn’t thin the mane as much as pulling but it is definitely kinder.
Metal comb – I’m not generally a mane pulling fan but I have given it a go. I usually use this to help me to trim Pea’s feathers – she is not a clipper fan so I have got pretty good at scissor trims in the last 6 years!
Hairdressing scissors – Perfect for trimming feathers and beards alike!
Equi-Shave – A Smart Grooming tool – some people use these on fine horse’s feathers or whiskers but I use mine for refining the trimming of Pea’s beard!
Dog trimmers – These don’t do a proper clip (and Pea doesn’t like clippers anyway) but they are useful for light jobs like beards and not-too-floofy feathers. I am using mine to try to get Pea used to the sound and feel of clipping. There are loads of different ones like these on Amazon and Ebay and they are cheap too.
Hoof care
Looking clean and pretty is all well and good but there is a important saying “no foot, no horse”.
Hoof pick – A staple in every grooming kit.
Hoof oil/dressing – I keep a homemade hoof dressing in my grooming kit which is made from lard, oil and tea tree. I do have black hoof ointment too but I keep that in my competition box.
If you would like a more visual tour of my grooming kit favourites head over to my YouTube.
Young Hip and Horsey 