Grooming poll

[Baileyboo]

So I just wondered how clean you get to go out for a hack. I know most of us just throw on any old clothes but what about your neddies?
Do you:

 

[Gingerbird]

I'm afraid Jim has to be spotless and I get really frustrated with my friend who always manages to leave a mud patch either behind Muff's ears or under her mane!

 

[vennessa]

When i went to a rideing school as a child all the horses/ponies had to be spotless. The owner would come out and check them and my word was a rider in trouble if their horse had a spot of dirt on them. He was ex militery!

 

[Baileyboo]

I just wondered you see as it really depend how much time I have, somedays Cerys is spotless and looks fantastic (i'm biased ok!) but other days we do look slightly mud-monter-ish.

 

[catembi]

2 mins with an american curry comb, 2 mins with a body brush & that will do. He's grey & I have to bath him every time we compete which is most w'ends, so I can't get too excited about him being on the grubby side for hacking. After all, he will have a roll when I put him back out.

Don't know how he gets so muddy cos we're on sand & the field really doesn't get that bad. Sometimes you could grow tomato plants on his back...

 

[amandathepanda]

I feel it isn't fair on my gorgeous horses if they leave the yard looking anything less than beautiful! I do have a grip on reality and sometimes have to accept that the odd bit of mud won't kill us if it means not riding to take more time and get horsey spotless, but generally I like them to go out looking clean & professional and preferably with hoof oil on every time we hack out. One of my friends drives me mad as she regularly turns up dressage comps with 3 horses doing hippo impressions - I fail to see how she can expect to be taken seriously by a judge when she doesn't show the judge any respect by making an effort with her turnout.

 

[josiesmithuk]

i confess, so long as the saddle and bridle area is clean I'm happy.

 

[newtonpark]

bridle area/saddle area and thats it.....

i rarely groom all over more than once or twice a week..

the youngsters are lucky to be brushed at all over the winter!

 

[lexiedhb]

[ QUOTE ]
I feel it isn't fair on my gorgeous horses if they leave the yard looking anything less than beautiful!

[/ QUOTE ]

tee hee...... Im sure your horses really care!!!

I tend to groom Boris pretty well (he loves it and I think its a really good way of checking them over properly!) but am not anal about it, and regularly find he has a muddy ear when I get on 17hh, bit big to see from the ground!

 

[GinaB]

For a hack out when we're leaving the yard I do the best I can on a grey who loves rolling! Although she has a really full tail and it always has shavings in it

For a dander around the land at the yard she gets the essentials brushed!

 

[nikkiportia]

I have OCD when it comes to grooming

Like Ellis to be spotless before I ride, even if I'm not going out.
I blame work for it!

 

[Eira]

I don't hack out

But when I ride Sol is usually spotless

apart from when she gets lunged and she looks like a gypsy

 

[Hullabaloo]

I'd never have time to ride if I had to get my horse spotless every time. I only give him a really good clean if we're going to a show. Otherwise as long as his saddle and bridle area are clean I couldn't care less.

 

[Eaglestone]

My two have the mud off their face and saddle area, but I was 'brought through' a Riding School where NO straw, hay or stray shavings can be seen in their Mane or Tail .... so their Maine and Tail are always immaculate

 

[fairhill]

My horse is often seen with patches of mud under her mane or on her ears. I brush her saddle and bridle area off every day if I'm riding, and attack the worst of the mud with a curry comb, but I don't care if she gets ridden muddy.
Her tail hasn't been brushed through all winter

 

[Pidge]

shavings in the tail is most becoming I find

only give a 100% groom when I have a lesson, show or have the time

the rest of the time he has the bits clean that are needed

 

[blackcob]

Mine must be spotless before tack goes anywhere near her, even just for a quick hack. Shavings in the tail are a huge no-no - even if she's only going to be turned out to sprawl in mud.

The YO is of the brush the saddle area and slam the tack on variety and I hate to see his horses come back after hacks; covered in sweaty muddy sludge and clearly uncomfortable.

I am somewhat of a hypocrite in that my saddle is often splattered with mud, my excuse being that when in it my capacious arse covers the worst of the dirt

but my bridle must be spotless before and after use.

 

[DiablosGold]

Third option down! He's coloured with white legs so only spotless for shows/if I have a lot of time on my hands!