Do you spend more time brushing, or riding?

Daisychain

Daisychain

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One thing i find interesting on my yard is the amount of time people spend grooming their horses to go out for a ride, then quickly take it round the block
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Personally if im short for time, i would quickly brush and spend more time in schooling/hacking or whatever. I always think get your main prioritys right, its often the cleaning freaks which then moan that their horses are badly behaved, wont school etc, you only get out what you put in LOL!

So are you a brusher or do you spend time on the ridden side of things?
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depends on how much time I have available, but I like to give them a good groom even if it is just for a quick hack not cause i'm a clean freak but I know they like the grooming and it's a good time to check them over whilst brushing.
 
Grooming because it helps you get to know your horse and spend time with them with them not having to always do hard work
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I probably brush more than I ride; I won't put tack on a less than spotless horse.
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In real terms though a full groom takes me far less time than it would most people because she is groomed every day regardless of whether she is to be ridden or not, and so is vastly cleaner to begin with!
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Used to spend more time riding than grooming Tiggy, I think because she was lame so often (or so it seems looking back) that I rode whenever possible!

But, I feel I've missed out a bit, so as I couldn't ride the Dizzy one today, I still groomed her (fifteen minutes) before turning her back out.

We used to have ride each horse for an hour every day, and to strap each horse for an hour everyday. My arms are no longer up to it!
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It does have the advantage that you get to know a horse's body intimately, thereby being able to spot anything unusual as soon as it appears.
 
my boy gets a very quick flick morning and eve when he gets a rug change coz he gets abit of scurf round his wither from his mane.
if i have a long time then i get him as clean as i can and then ride. if im short for time i just make sure his saddle area and bridle area is clean and thats it.
i must admit. if i have a spair 20 mins i will groom him before he goes to bed for him to roll the next morning
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Definitely riding. On a normal day D would be ridden for at least an hour and groomed for about 5 mins. I just do the bits where the tack goes and a very quick flick over the rest. She lives out most of the year and doesn't want me taking her waterproofing out. (Well thats my excuse for riding muddy horse
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Riding, just a lick and a promise, altho i always make sure that saddle area is clean and brush off any sweat marks, cos usually on time limits. I do a thorough grooming probably twice a week.
 
i'm too scared to ride so i enjoy polishing my horses. TBH i think as long as horse and rider are happy it matters not what other's do with their horse! get on and enjoy your own, if you want to ride for an hour then ride, if people are happy to groom leave them to it.
 
I've got a grey and I won't hack what if she's filthy but I would school. Having said that, I know I always feel more like doing something after I've made an effort and had a shower etc so I'm sure my girl feelds better after she's groomed
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Grooming doesn't stop me riding
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I spend the time I need to on both - I brush the mud off my horse and brush the rest of him as well as mane and tail every day whether I'm riding or not, I don't like to ride a muddy horse (because I think it looks common) or put rugs on a muddy horse, also if you don't groom them every day it just builds up and takes longer the next day. I use nettex 7 day mud away or baby oil to repel the mud so it really doesn't take that long - no excuse really!
 
Riding, but I do spend a fair amount of time brushing too. Normally she is given a quick flick in the morning before I ride and a decent groom in the afternoon when she comes in. On her days off she gets a decent groom both ends of the day.
 
I'd love to be able to to get the mud off neds before riding, but a lack of mains water (and awaiting new tanks), we are low on water and therefore have to either leave in overnight or go out muddy legged and muddy tailed
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Even leavign in at night will not get the clagged mud out of the tails
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brushing takes ages our mud is clay!! however various probs mean i haven't ridden for 3 weeks now
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so by the time we get sorted he'll be groomed to perfection!!
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It's generally a cat's lick from me! I try to keep his tail and mane clean and comb-able (?) then where the tack goes and always pick out his feet before and after, he loves a tickle and a good itch around the ears! Winter is a nightmare with his fetlocks so I wait for summer to wash them! So, I'd say 15-20mins grooming and tacking up then ride out for about an hour!
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With three stables and a family to look after I seem to spend more time mucking out than anything else at this time of year.
Roll on the warm weather.
 
Quick skite (Scottish word i think!) and i'm away!! If i have loads of time will groom before i go - otherwise (ie getting dark) will groom properly when i get back, As lomg as the important bits are clean i dont really care - I jut wear a false nose and moustache so noone knows it me
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Tend to brush off the worst of the mud and then ride
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Still trying to work out how the moody so and so managed to get mud under her jaw and under her mane the other day
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Only thing I can think of is she found the only bit of mud in the field and slalemed (sp) through it
 
What is this brushing you speak of?!
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I do Murph's legs and the bits where tack goes and thats it. I don't have that much time normally, and he doesn't like people fannying around him. If he has to stand in the stable too long when his friends are out then he starts feet stamping and generally being moody.
 
Riding. I brush off the surface mud, and spend extra time with a rubber curry comb on his itchy spots (under his neck, for some reason), and a soft brush on his face (he seems to like that too).
 
I prefer riding as my beast likes to have a daily mud bath. I used to love grooming. I now detest it. But I do know how important grooming is and I love his nice glossy coat, I usually brush for about 20 mins then ride then brush all his legs, oil hooves etc just general pampering whilst I wait for him to cool down so I can feed him and tuck him up!
 
Riding definately, my boy will get a quick flick over before/after a ride, and a full groom once in a blue moon! He's a clean, clipped horse so no need to spend a long time grooming. Plus I find it boring!
 
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