cleaning face and dock & hoof picking

[fleabitten]

Today we recapped on grooming in the BHS training as its a mixed group of Stage 1 and Stage 2. Im looking at my notes now at the minute and it made me think about cleaning the face and dock. I have to hang my head in shame and say that i never do it! As murphy lives out 24/7 all year round i just do a basic groom - hoof pick and brush off the mud, sometimes i brush out his tail, most days i just leave it as it doesnt get too knotted actually and i dont like breaking hairs, i wash it periodically, some days i brush his mane and sometimes i dont. At the minute hes just getting the plastic curry comb run over him to get the winter coat shifted!

Seeing as i have access to a horse to practice the whole way of doing things i might as well make myself do a little grooming routine and make myself do things more BHS safe!

So just wondering if you all regularly clean the eyes nose and dock as part of your grooming process? And if so what do you use? Do you use separate sponges and just rinse them or do you use wipes or something else?

Also, im curious, does anybody pick feet into a skip or is this just a BHS exam thing? I just pick it onto the floor and then sweep up all the winter coat and hoof pickings when ive finished.

[haffyfan]

If i was in a stable i'd use a skip for the feet - the short period i worked at a stables this was the yard practice (in or out) plus as they left the schools too. (It was a majorly suffocating bhs yard where grass was green and pretty and everything looked smart and despite having quite a few acres horses were stabled 24/7 - some not coming out for days on end - it was shocking!)

I wipe the eyes/bum if they need doing - mostly wiping away eye bogies with fingers/sleeve. I always use un fragranced baby wipes and keep them handy (for dirty willies making an appearance too).

[fleabitten]

Thanks haffy - I can see the logic with using a skip for the stable as you cant really sweep it up or lift it easily but i suppose its just as handy to use a skip on the yard as it does save brushing it up, although its a bit awkward trying to aim it into the skip! lol

Murphys bum is never really pooey at all but his eyes would get crusty so id do the same as you and just wipe them with fingers/sleeve! lol! I used to keep a pack of wipes in my grooming kit but i hardly used them and then they dried out so havent bothered replacing them.

[brigadier]

Pretty much what you do Flea- if they need a good groom they get it and sometimes its therapy for me! But as a routine no- not at all

[zara]

My personal thoughts are that BHS exams are a means to an end! I'm not a fan of over grooming or bathing and my boys are done as they need it. I use a skip if i do their feet in the stable but not otherwise. I never tie my horses up in aisle or stable, they learn to stand still; I've seen far too many incidents when horses are tied. Both of them will tie up but I choose not to. Tordi has melanomas in his sheath and around his bottom and I keep a close eye on them but I don't overly clean them as this seeems to precipitate the problem.

My advice is to learn it, practice it, pass your exams and then use what you believe and need to do!

[Blonde Donkey]

Hmmm. Mine get groomed as and when. I do Savs more because its my therapy but really I'm just poking her with a brush and cuddling.

We go for the approach that if it needs doing it gets done but otherwise we don't worry. Sunshine has to have his man sausage cleaned about once a month wheras the other boys don't need it that often, maybe twice a year. Again with bums, Billy and Savs need it doing regularly but the others not so much. Can't remember the last time I washed a tail let alone gave anybody a bath - probably for PC and I gave that up when we got Pest so.....

It entirely depends what I do with Rupe as to whether I groom him at all. If he's having tack on I towel dry between his front legs and his girth - He's always manky between there. Try and curry comb him without swallowing a ton of horse hair. Then get any loose hair off with a cactus cloth.

The one thing that I was taught was to go with the line of the hair. Whoever made that rule never had a hairy dartmoor with hair growing outwards and in every direction possible. I look like I'm practicing interpretative dance when I groom him.

[fleabitten]

zara - i think thats wise words! I think its good to know about how to do it the BHS way as theres a lot of good basic skills that you learn through doing it this way but i think in reality its rarely done - i wouldnt imagine a lot of yards would have time for a full grooming of each horse after exercise for example, they would probably just do basic after exercise care. I think knowing the whole picture means that you can then learn as you go along what needs done in each situation, plus what you have time for - prioritising the essential parts!

Its basically a situation of 'if its not broke dont fix it' - i.e. if it doesnt need done, dont do it!

Looks as if everybodys on the same page! Thanks for all input!

[racaille]

With all the others: I only do what needs to de done And as for cleaning willies ........... ...... mind you, if I tried to touch Dr Evil's I would end up orbiting Mars

[fleabitten]

I dont clean willies either!