Grooming Brushes

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Stenners

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My grooming kit is soooooo old and my brushes are just grim and worn and in need of generally throwing! I want to replace my brushes etc. what does everyone recommend?
 
I don’t recommend any one brand, I’ve bought expensive sets but what I love it to go into a tack shop, feel them and just buy individual brushes.
I do have a Haas kit but don’t think they are better than some of my other really nice bits.
 
I have some Haas brushes and whilst they aren't miracle workers they do do a really good job! You don't need to full colour set just a good body brush and I LOVE the Diva one - it's a line of bristles round the edge with a big piece of super soft lambskin in the middle which whisks away any dust and leaves a proper gleam!
 
I've got Haas brushes and they are better than others I have (Oestler, cheap non branded and an expensive goats hair one I was bought as a gift that just shed light hairs all over my bays)

I would suggest the diva as elf said, the gloss/fellemgsntz body brush and s stiffer brush for dirt.. I bought the light bay/chestnut set (it was on offer) and not sure I need both the cavelliere and military. Some people rate the schimmel for light colour horses and stains but much too stiff for my tb. I also really like the curry comb which is the only thing that removes mud that my horse will tolerate.

They've lasted well too.

I'm sure there are other good quality brands using similar materials that are just as good, I just don't have experience of them.
 
Stenners said:
So would you suggest just buying these separately and choosing a stiffer brush?
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Possibly but you may find it's cheaper in a set, mine was as it was on special offer and only £60 for the chestnut light bay set plus a curry comb and mane and tail brush. I'm not that fussed about the mane and tail brush.


I found a fairly good explanation of some of the brushes and when to use them here

https://blog.citrus-lime.com/rbe/hass-brushes-our-quick-guide-and-why-we-love-them/
 
I like the Haas Schimmel, I have that plus a bunch of assorted mud / hair removal tools for my cob who lives out. Plastic magic brush, bobbly palm grooming gloves, shedding blade. But in the summer I just use the Haas, plus a hoofpick and a mane / tail brush. He's shiny because he gets linseed oil in his feed....not because of my grooming efforts.
(That said I'm tempted to buy one of the softer Haas brushes now - perhaps I'll be able to use his sides as a mirror if I do?)
 
I have HAAS and I do rate them! But I’m weird and only use them for best (showing days).
I did just get a couple of cheap ones from Harry Hall, cottage craft ones. Wooden backed and sturdy. Inexpensive but do the job!
 
I've got the haas set for chestnuts, their rubber curry and mane & tail brush. Absolutely love the curry comb and thr mane & tail brush is the one I use the most all over, highly rate it.

My mum had the dark bay haas set and another friend had the one for skewbald horses. There are different brushes in each kit and I think one colour kit has an extra brush. Of course a brush will work on any colour but I'm guessing g they picked what they did for optimum results.

TBH I didn't see a massive difference using the haas kit but I'm a pretty thorough groomer anyway. Friends that usually just do a flick over found a big difference but I think that's more to do with doing 4 -5 goings over the horse with all the different brushes.

Mine are 5yrs old now and still as good as new.

Prior to the Crafty Ponies idea stealing I did buy some le mieux brushes. I had a dandy brush and long bristle flick brush, both were useless. They felt heavy, clumpy and uncomfortable in my hand and all the bristle fell out in clumps.

I also have their flexi back rubber curry and body brush. The horse likes that curry for a scratch and the flexi back does work well. However I would never buy from le minus again so I'd look at flexi back from another company.

I can't remember the brand but it's a well known one (edited: equerry)...but from there I have a black leather backed body brush. It's quite a big rectangle shaped brush with firm bristles. I really rate it too.

https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/equerry-leather-backed-body-brush-black-horse-hair.html

Also a big fan of a flick brush. I have a cheapo plastic one and it does a great job
 
I'm a fan of old fashioned properly made brushes with wooden or leather handles.
I have a friend who swears by Haas brushes and has a set for every horse she owns plus a set for her lorry. I have to say I'm not a fan really, I've got small hands and I find then big and cumbersome. She bought me the 'welsh' brush for xmas as I had welsh ponies I 'had' to have it apparently. I have to say they really are not my thing.

I did get a lovely wooden handled dandy/flicky type brush in a goody bag at the sunshine tour last year which I now use it most days on the babies.
 
I rarely replace mine because it's difficult to find good quality grooming brushes, even my sheepskin ( decorators) mitt is ancient. However, I love the Haas military brush, which lifts a lot of dust and grit out of the coat. Despite frequent washing, it still comes up like new.
 
I have to think that the Haas brushes produce such a great result in part to the fact that you stand there for so long using each brush in the correct order etc. I’m sure if you put that much effort into the job with similar brushes (eg start with stiffer, end with super soft polish types) your going to end up with the same results.
 
poiuytrewq said:
I have to think that the Haas brushes produce such a great result in part to the fact that you stand there for so long using each brush in the correct order etc. I’m sure if you put that much effort into the job with similar brushes (eg start with stiffer, end with super soft polish types) your going to end up with the same results.
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I don't, I use a max of 2 on any grooming session and sometimes just 1. I tend to do the minimum grooming wise and what I like is I get more from doing less but I didn't have expensive brushes before.
 
Elf On A Shelf said:
I won't touch anything le mieux after what they did to Crafty Ponies.
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I won’t touch anything LeMieux after what they did to me ?

In terms of brushes, generally any brushes will do, it’s the grooming that makes a difference. I think the reason the Haas brushes have been so popular is that they make people groom properly - a series of brushes, and grooming for a good period of time. I was taught growing up to groom for an hour a day, and I am absolutely religious about it. I get stopped a lot with people commenting on how shiny my horses are, and I’m so proud it’s just good nutrition and proper grooming rather than sprays and products.

I have a selection of lovely brushes, some more than 20yrs old, Borstiq, Equerry, and some so worn I can’t tell what make they are anymore. Using the right brushes in the right order, for a good amount of time, every day, makes an enormous difference to a coat.
 
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Eqclusive have some things on sale at the moment, not the sets so much but reasonable discounts on popular individual brushes for anyone who wants to put together their own pack

https://eqclusive.com/collections/haas

They recommend the chestnut pack for sensitive palominos and duns but not what you do for the non sensitive.
 
Barlow said:
Now I’m intrigued!
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Applied for a role, got offered an interview, drove for almost four hours for said interview, had already detailed the minimum salary I needed. Got there to be told they wanted to interview me for a different role, and they couldn’t offer me the salary I needed. I hadn’t been told this beforehand and wouldn’t have gone all that way for the role they actually wanted to put me in.
Definitely put me off!
 
Starzaan said:
Applied for a role, got offered an interview, drove for almost four hours for said interview, had already detailed the minimum salary I needed. Got there to be told they wanted to interview me for a different role, and they couldn’t offer me the salary I needed. I hadn’t been told this beforehand and wouldn’t have gone all that way for the role they actually wanted to put me in.
Definitely put me off!
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That’s appalling! I would have been livid!!
 
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