New style grooming kits V old style grooming kits

Meowy Catkin

Meowy Catkin

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I used a friend's grooming kit the other day. It's a fancy, colour co-ordinated one in a cute grooming bag, but wow the dandy brush was definitely less effective at grooming off mud that my old dandy that I was given as a child. The body brush didn't seem as good either. The hoof pick worked great though! ;)

I need to replace some of my brushes as they're moulting bristles, but I don't think that I'll upgrade to a new fancy kit. Is there anything better than the old fashioned Equerry ones, or should I just get the same again?
 
Loads to choose from these days :)

But I'd suggest that you only buy when you've actually seen and held the item ;)

The brushes do seem less dense/efficient than when I set out, about a million years ago admittedly when fancy colours weren't eve dreamt of lol
 
Faracat said:
I used a friend's grooming kit the other day. It's a fancy, colour co-ordinated one in a cute grooming bag, but wow the dandy brush was definitely less effective at grooming off mud that my old dandy that I was given as a child. The body brush didn't seem as good either. The hoof pick worked great though! ;)

I need to replace some of my brushes as they're moulting bristles, but I don't think that I'll upgrade to a new fancy kit. Is there anything better than the old fashioned Equerry ones, or should I just get the same again?
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I'm an old school gal - I bought one of those new kits as I thought it looked pretty which it does but it doesn't get the horses clean so it's very much left unused... Old style dandy brushes do still exist but they can be hard to find .. They definitely make shortest
Work of mud ...
 
I have a mix of old fashioned and modern items. The best modern item is the magic brush which is great for mud the best old fashioned item is a jefferies body brush. Both items worth their weight in gold :)

I do have a posh kit of Borstiq brushes and find the whole kit very good, its old fashioned materials with the odd modern twist and every single brush is effective and useful
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's found this.

My local tack shop doesn't stock a great range of grooming items. :( I would much rather chose things IRL if possible.

I will look up Borstiq.

Now am I being mad wondering about sorting out one kit for the grey, and one for the chestnuts?
 
I've definitely found this and though I am wanting a couple of new kits I'm waiting till I can get my hands on them to see and feel the quality.

I'm not a great fan of synthetic bristles anyway as the coat finish isn't as good as natural imo, but another problem I have is with those new style body brushes and the poncy handles they put on them now..
Whatever happened to good strong rivets holding the handles on? So many styles have the webbing handle passed through two slots and a little hem on the fabric to supposedly hold the handle on. Well I can't tell you how many of those I've broken. I guess that method of fixing is fine if you are giving the horse a little tickle with the brushes but I find if you want to give a bit of welly to your grooming they don't stand up to it and the handle comes off.
Same with rubber curries, I want a good strong one with a rivetted webbing handle, not a fragile bit of one piece moulded tat, but they are harder to find than you'd think.

I'm going to be picking up random brushes here and there as I find replacements I like, with the right bristle, density, and quality. Good job I'm not faffed about my grooming kits being matchy matchy :p
 
I quite like the new brushes often heart shaped or butterfly shaped that have a round bobble type handle that you grip, you can really get some weight behind those and a really good sweep but the bristles arent as good which is a shame. Would love that design with older style bristles
 
Yes, there's no reason why you couldn't have a fancy, modern style shape or colour on the back of the brush, combined with natural, densely packed bristles.
 
I like the Borstiq brushes too. i've got stacks of brushes, but only seem to use this

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this

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and an old towel.
 
The shedding blades are great. :)

I think that one of the problems with the dandy I used the other day, is that the bristles were too long. Then there was a flick brush that had even longer bristles. I just wanted something that would get dry mud off the horse's legs, before the boots went on. She didn't have a normal rubber curry or a plastic curry in her kit.

I'd feel old (especially as the request for a 'stable rubber' was met with a blank look) only my friend is older than me! :p
 
the old style brushes were definately so much better, they were designed to work rather than look pretty!
one brush i remember getting years and years ago was a plastic curry comb but had the attatchment for a hose pipe, you'd put the hose pipe on and the water would come out through the holes in the brush meaning you could brush as well as wash/hose down. so much better than just a simple end of a hose pipe.
 
Auslander said:
I like the Borstiq brushes too. i've got stacks of brushes, but only seem to use this

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this

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and an old towel.
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Does your horse by any chance live out unrugged? I only ask as this is also my grooming kit :D (I do also have an old style long bristle dandy brush for days when I don't need to loosen mud crusts and a furminator for, well, last week's all over moult...)
 
What is a grooming kit ? you lot are putting me to shame.

I have a plastic scrubbing brush, (pound shop) it is the best thing ever for getting mud off. Another one of my secret tips for you, bucket of warm water, good splash vinegar and a big cloth. Cuts straight through a greasy coat and lifts the scurf out.
 
Brightbay said:
Does your horse by any chance live out unrugged? I only ask as this is also my grooming kit :D (I do also have an old style long bristle dandy brush for days when I don't need to loosen mud crusts and a furminator for, well, last week's all over moult...)
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They live out, but are clipped and rugged. I'm on clay, and the shedding blade is the only thing that will get through the caked on plaster of paris style coating they tend to adopt.
 
Auslander said:
I like the Borstiq brushes too. i've got stacks of brushes, but only seem to use this

$(KGrHqZ,!loFJt8F5szYBSclVnS,-!~~60_1.JPG


this

$(KGrHqJHJBIE-eqSiEkjBP)0js!New~~60_1.JPG


and an old towel.
Click to expand...

I'm with you there for when he's fluffy! I have the round and oval shedding blade plus two mane and tail brushes, one Roma, one Bentley Slipnot. I use a plastic curry comb too.
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My other essential is a rubber curry comb for when he's clipped, removes stable stains, mud, everything!
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Dandy brushes are useless these days, I tend to use shedding blade, rubber curry and magic brush mostly! Love the hoof picks with brushes on too!
 
OldNag said:
Old grooming kits were so much better (except shedding blades, they are ace) ....and metal curry combs seem to be an endangered species. I guess I am an old fogey ��
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I use my metal curry comb when I can be bothered using the body brush haha!
 
Aye, I got that one in the end.
Ordered some from another place prior to that with the picture the same, webbing handle etc., what did I get in the post but a one-piece moulded jobbie. I was more annoyed than was reasonable, looking back, but I wanted what was in the picture not some random one they had lying around :D
 
I hate the horrid ridiculously long bristled ones that are as much use as a chocolate firguard. Had equiderry ones for a while but my current favorite I haven't a clue what brand it is but it's smaller than normal (prob meant for a child but I have tiny hands and really struggle with full size brushes as I'm constantly dropping them... yeah my co-ordination isn't the best!) and has pretty stripes on the handle. Is a little bit softer than a normal dandy brush but has short bristles and is actually really good at getting mud off as long as it's not too thick and horrid in which case the shedding blade (seriously how did I ever live without one, most awesome remover of thick, dried on mud from a thick coat I've ever found), rubber curry comb and magic brush come out. Don't think I ever use either my body brush or plastic curry comb any more!
 
I defo prefer the old style, I've had my brushes for 13 yrs but when my mare got ring worm last winter I got rid of them all and bought some rubbish brushes, they are nice colours but they don't work so well!
 
I prefer the old style too. You can generally pick them up at Burghley and Badminton etc, or good old fashioned type tack shops. Natural bristles are waay better than plastic.

I have an individual grooming kit per horse, then in the travel kit there is a set of brushes for greys and another for the chestnut and bay. Anyone who uses the wrong one gets murdered. The skewbald used to have to be carefully mixed and matched!

Everything from the past was better! My first water bucket from 29 years ago has just died. As has my first hard feed bucket. I even wrote my name on them in nail varnish for a pc camp, and that is still in tact. I can't imagine modern nail varnish lasting nearly three decades outside.
 
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