Grrrrrr GROOMING IN SUB ZERO

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Archie73

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JUst curious...had a convoi with the yard know it all yesterday.....her horses have not been out since icy snap started so she calmly announces that she might groom her fully clipped mare as she has not done it for a week even though she is up at yard all hours and horse is dying of boredom in box.

Her excuse was its too cold to groom her......Sorry but surely a good groom keeps the circulation going when a horse cant move around much, never mind how itchy they all get?????

I suggested just moving rugs bit by bit , like a third at a time but apprantly this is not a good idea.....

I have a no clipped warmblood and groom him every day and would if he was clipped too.

Am I being stupid here????
 
My baggage is out 24/7 and unclipped as well as naked and hasn't been groomed since before the start of the really cold weather. My reason for this is because I don't want to strip her coat of its oils etc making it waterproof etc


None of the other horses at the yard have been groomed either, rugged or not





I think its personal preference
 
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Ours are quatered for a super quick flick over every couple of days, but tbh when it is -6 or less grooming really isn't a essential! Ours do go out (with the help of lots of de-icing and salt!) in a little pen in the field with plenty of hay so they get some interest and time for a leg stretch - they would be going out of their minds grooming or no if they were kept in for all of the cold snap!
I don't think it is the worst thing someone could do - I would think it more strange to strip and groom a horse when it is this cold tbh!
 
I groom more in the cold weather as not riding as much. Mine can get miserable in the stable and once start grooming him he falls asleep and chills him out. Even the clipped horses need air to there coats so I fold the rug over to keep the areas not grooming warm.
 
Mine go in the field and are groomed every day, if it is very cold i fold the rugs in half and do one half then the other. Some are clipped some are not but they all get brushed, on the unclipped horses i only use a dandy brush. On the clipped ones it is business as usual. :)
 
Ellies_mum2 said:
My baggage is out 24/7 and unclipped as well as naked and hasn't been groomed since before the start of the really cold weather. My reason for this is because I don't want to strip her coat of its oils etc making it waterproof etc


None of the other horses at the yard have been groomed either, rugged or not





I think its personal preference
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My youngster who lives out doesnt get groomed at all hasnt had a brush on him in months, as hes not rugged to keep his natural oils in to protect him.
I check him over daily and he get scratches which he enjoys. So does depend on the horse, stabled/living out, rugs, mud.
 
Mine has been in 10 days now and has probably had one flick over. I dont see the point in taking his rugs off for him to have to work use calories to warm himself up again. He gets a good scratch every day in his favourite places and rugs are adjusted etc every day. Last night with his stable walls and bed starting to sparkle there was no way I was going to unnecessarily remove even small bits of rug!
I think its just a personal thing. No harm done by not doing I dont think.:)
 
Yes, also keeping grooming to a minimum.
My mare is unclipped, but has a very fine coat, and is very sensitive at the best of times.
I've tried quartering her, but TBH, she doesn't even like having a rug draped over her bottom!
She's in full work cos we're lucky enough to have an indoor school and round pen - our turnout is off limits most of the time as very icy.
I'm just flicking any bedding off before I tack up and put her boots on. Once she's warm from being worked, she gets a bit of a brush, which she enjoys, but it's pretty brief as I don't want her to get cold.
I should add that she's also grey, so covered in stable stains, plus some residual mud from when it did thaw a bit but I couldn't wash her as our wash bay was still frozen! Our slightly OCD YO and I are squinting when we look at her so that we can't really see the dirt :D
She is shown all thru the summer, so gets scrubbed within an inch of her life then, so I reckon she's appreciating the break from it!
 
Thanks:)

Makes sense to me....i think that horses that are kept in 24/7 due to the weather should get a little brush at least every other day....but then my horse grooms me the minute I walk in his box...

My non clipped well groomed beast is one of only 4 horses on a yard of 50 that has been ridden every day as the farmer kindly snow ploughed the "roads" on the farm...

And the horse I mentioned doesnt really get brushed that often anyway now I come to think of it:)

Anyway thanks and good luck to everyone coping with the rest of the winter.....off to the yard to do some horse skating.....
 
I groom my horse twice a day when I change rugs. I don't like the thought of her being itchy and uncomfortable because of dirt, bedding etc. It also give me a good chance to look all over and make sure everything is normal - weight, coat, skin, cuts etc. I would not stop doing this for any reason. I do wonder what people think will happen to a horse if it gets a bit chilly for ten minutes!!! You do realise horses can regulate their own temperature? I know we change their environment by clipping, rugging and stabling but they can honestly cope with a quick change of rug and a brush. Homeostasis is quite an amazing thing!!
 
DellaMoon said:
I groom my horse twice a day when I change rugs. I don't like the thought of her being itchy and uncomfortable because of dirt, bedding etc. It also give me a good chance to look all over and make sure everything is normal - weight, coat, skin, cuts etc. I would not stop doing this for any reason. I do wonder what people think will happen to a horse if it gets a bit chilly for ten minutes!!! You do realise horses can regulate their own temperature? I know we change their environment by clipping, rugging and stabling but they can honestly cope with a quick change of rug and a brush. Homeostasis is quite an amazing thing!!
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OK...Della This is what I REALLY think lol
 
I've been grooming all of mine whilst they are snowed in, I just peel their rugs back so they don't freeze! they seem to enjoy it and it keeps their coats shiny too.

I'm thinking of investing in some of the sunswitch lamps if this cold snap continues which will help keep them warm whilst I groom and before they are ridden too.
 
DellaMoon said:
I groom my horse twice a day when I change rugs. I don't like the thought of her being itchy and uncomfortable because of dirt, bedding etc. It also give me a good chance to look all over and make sure everything is normal - weight, coat, skin, cuts etc. I would not stop doing this for any reason. I do wonder what people think will happen to a horse if it gets a bit chilly for ten minutes!!! You do realise horses can regulate their own temperature? I know we change their environment by clipping, rugging and stabling but they can honestly cope with a quick change of rug and a brush. Homeostasis is quite an amazing thing!!
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Neither is the horse going to keel over if you dont! My horse has a lovely shiny healthy coat and no signs of being itchy in the slightest! He despises a cold rug being put on and therefore I dont wish to do so! He is also skinnier that I would like and I would prefer he didnt feel the cold - even for 10 minutes.
 
We have very different horses so different ways of doing things. Mine benefits more from the groom as she's a filthy pig and gets stuff under her rug. She also wouldn't suffer if she lost an ounce or two!!
 
I haven't groomed the two little ponies since the start of the cold snap. They are unclipped and rugged up and live out 24/7 and are happy enough. I do however pick out their feet regularly. My two other boys are out in the day and in at night. One is fully clipped and one has a blanket clip. I try to groom them every other day but I quarter them as I don't want them standing there getting cold. Tbh, I have mainly been just giving them a quick flick over before I ride as I am quite busy and haven't had the time to give them a full groom everyday. Also, I find it's better to groom, them after they have been ridden as they are still warm. I always put a rug over them while I am grooming though to stop the muscles from going into spasm.
 
DellaMoon said:
We have very different horses so different ways of doing things. Mine benefits more from the groom as she's a filthy pig and gets stuff under her rug. She also wouldn't suffer if she lost an ounce or two!!
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Lol! Yes I would kill for an extra ounce or two on mine! :D
 
I like to exercise my two (loose school them together) and then let them have 10 - 15 minutes standing grooming each other in the indoor school as (a) gives their skin a chance to have some air and (b) they really enjoy having their rugs off so they can groom each other.

I then do a quick flick over - 5 minutes brush, and rug up again. They are fully clipped but being hardy types don't get too cold in 10 - 15 minutes of no rugs each day. That said coldest we have had is -5.

Each to their own, but I personally like them to have some time daily without a rug if I can.
 
Mine has a blanket clip, though it's half grown back now. There is no way I am removing his rugs totally to give him a thorough groom - it's -7C here and it's not really very fair, IMHO, to take everything off and make them stand in it. How would you like it?!

Every day his rug is adjusted, if not twice a day, to ensure it isn't rubbing and is sitting straight. Most days I fold back the front third to give him a flick over with the brush, same with the back end, and I do the middle section just by putting my hand under and giving him a scratch. I did take his rug off one day and you could see how cold he got - it is cold enough out there that my tea made with boiling water is cold within a couple of minutes so I won't be removing his rugs totally! Every night I do fold back the neck cover to give him a scratch with rubber curry comb though, which he enjoys :)
 
Archie73 said:
JUst curious...had a convoi with the yard know it all yesterday.....her horses have not been out since icy snap started so she calmly announces that she might groom her fully clipped mare as she has not done it for a week even though she is up at yard all hours and horse is dying of boredom in box.

Her excuse was its too cold to groom her......Sorry but surely a good groom keeps the circulation going when a horse cant move around much, never mind how itchy they all get?????

I suggested just moving rugs bit by bit , like a third at a time but apprantly this is not a good idea.....

I have a no clipped warmblood and groom him every day and would if he was clipped too.

Am I being stupid here????
Click to expand...


I have groomed my horse every other day in this cold weather but thats not because I think every day is bad for the horse just because I haven't had time to do it every day as I have been working and am anxious to get off home after mucking out/feeding. He gets his feet picked out every day though. I think pyschologically its very good for the horse as its building up a continual bond.

When I whipped his rugs off on Saturday to groom him I was staggered at how much condition my horse has lost and how much muscle as I've only been able to ride him twice in about ten days even though I only ride him for 20-30 mins 4-5 times a week usually anyway.
 
Haven't read all of the replies, but I can tell you that is most racing yards that the horses are groomed every evening and most are fully clipped now. They are quartered so do not get cold and many are hot towelled too. Quartering is a dying art though and I have been shocked at how many people don't even consider the effects of stripping a horse fully to groom it. Sigh.
 
nativetyponies said:
not one of mine have been groomed for at least 1 or 2 months now..and certainly wont be anytime soon.

its winter, they need the grease/dirt to help with insulation..i haven't removed their rugs for over 3 weeks...
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You should be very careful about not removing rugs regularly, my old boy had scarrs from where his loaner did not remove his rug over a period of time, he always was very thin which had been handily concealed by wearing a rug - he was a fit, young hardy type that require little to no hard feed. She was an Equine Sci lecturer and should have know better.
My young boy is not groomed at the moment as I am not riding him (too cold) but I take his rugs off every could of days to readjust and check his weight.
 
I always give mine a decent groom, he's an itchy boy and really enjoys it. I also like to let the air at his coat for a while!

I do take his rug off whilst I am grooming but I'm careful to 'cool him down by degrees' lol. Ie neck back , then over shoulders, then halved, then off. He seems to be coping just fine ;)
 
I'm not really fussed about grooming daily unless the horse is worked, but do feel the rugs should be adjusted daily though. I hate seeing horses whose rugs have slipped back or are crooked, it must be uncomfortable. Have also seen some fairly nasty, and completely avoidable injuries caused by tight rugs. Ouch...:eek:
 
So, a fair few nasty experiences from rugs not being taken off. Anyone had any negatives from taking their horses rugs off?

Anything could be going on under a rug in 3 weeks, not something I would personally do!
 
Laafet said:
Haven't read all of the replies, but I can tell you that is most racing yards that the horses are groomed every evening and most are fully clipped now. They are quartered so do not get cold and many are hot towelled too. Quartering is a dying art though and I have been shocked at how many people don't even consider the effects of stripping a horse fully to groom it. Sigh.
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Yup. We quarter the clipped racers, each horse gets a thorough half hour groom everyday and hot clothed. They don't get groomed when they are turned out together in the summer, but should we have any in on box rest then they also get a good groom every day as they are stuck in so can't mutual groom with other horses.

I would hate for my loan horse to be stuck in and bored in this weather. She falls asleep with a good groom and it gets the circulation moving a bit. Also get to check for any cuts or nicks, as even though they are stood in not doing anything, I bet somehow they will hurt themselves!!! Also I would want to see what is going on underneath the rugs!

I probably wouldn't groom in this weather if my horse was naked and turned out with other horses.
 
If fully stabled I would groom twice a day as mine get very itchy when in.

If partially stabled and/or rugged I usually groom when they come in to check for injuries and prepare for ridden work.

The field kept unrugged horses get checked over daily for injury and are not groomed until they moult.
 
i will always make sure i redo his rugs every day but no i dont often groom him in this weather because he is fully clipped and it is freezing! About once or twice a week i groom him after ive ridden him, give him a good scratch and wack the rugs back on. I dont think they need it aslong as the rugs arent left on without being moved for days on end
 
DellaMoon said:
So, a fair few nasty experiences from rugs not being taken off. Anyone had any negatives from taking their horses rugs off?

Anything could be going on under a rug in 3 weeks, not something I would personally do!
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Only giving yourself a hernia removing the 22 layers that some people seem convinced their horses need. I surprised that some of these horses don't come out of a winter several hands smaller!:D
 
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