Galop 3Caring for the horse
Contents
- 01WelcomeOverview
- 02Life in natureKnowledge
- 03Bedding and waterCaring for the horse
- 04The points of the horseKnowledge
- 05The hoof and shoeingKnowledge
- 06A full groomingCaring for the horse
- 07Tack and bridleCaring for the horse
- 08The walk and the trotKnowledge
- 09The diagonal at trotIn the saddle
- 10Markings and whorlsKnowledge
- 11Coat colour variantsKnowledge
- 12BreedsKnowledge
- 13The aids to turnKnowledge
- 14The canter strike-offIn the saddle
- 15Position and balanceIn the saddle
- 16Controlling the gaitIn the saddle
- 17Curves and half-voltesIn the saddle
- 18Approach and jumpIn the saddle
- 19GroundworkOn foot
- 20The disciplinesKnowledge
- 21Revision and examRevision
A full grooming, and care of the feet and legs
Grooming cleans, massages and lets you examine your horse from head to foot. At Galop 3 you do all of it, in order, and you add the hind feet, hosing the legs and hoof oil.
In the exam programme
- Give your horse or pony a full grooming.Common module A
- Pick out the hind feet.Common module A
- Hose down the legs.Common module A
- Oil the hooves.Common module A
At Galop 2 you used the curry comb, the dandy brush, the body brush and the hoof pick. The full grooming kit adds what you need for the mane and tail, the eyes, the nostrils, the horn and the finishing touches to the coat.
- Hoof pick
- Rubber curry comb
- Dandy brush
- Body brush
- Metal curry comb (to clean the brushes)
- Mane comb
- Two sponges of different colours
- Stable rubber (cloth)
- Tub of hoof grease
- Brush, to apply the grease
| Tool | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Rubber or plastic curry comb | Loosening mud and dead hair, in small circles, on the fleshy parts. |
| Dandy brush | A stiff brush that flicks away the loosened dust, in the direction of the hair. |
| Body brush | Smoothing the coat and cleaning the sensitive areas: the head, the lower legs. |
| Metal curry comb | Cleaning the brushes between strokes — never used on the horse. |
| Mane comb or brush | Untangling the mane and the tail. |
| Two sponges | One for the eyes and the nostrils, the other for under the tail. |
Grooming in order
- Pick out all four feetStart with the feet: a stone comes out sooner, and the shoes are checked before work.
- CurryFrom the neck to the croup, in small circles, without pressing on the bones; never on the head or the lower legs.
- Use the dandy brushIn the direction of the hair, with brisk strokes that flick the dust away from the horse.
- BrushThe body brush all over, including the head and the legs; clean it on the metal curry comb every two or three strokes.
- Untangle the mane and tailThe mane lock by lock; the tail preferably by hand, separating the hairs so as not to break them.
- SpongeThe eyes and the nostrils with the first damp sponge, then under the tail with the second.
- Oil and polishOil the feet, then go over the coat with the stable rubber to make it shine.
Safety
Throughout the grooming, stay close to the horse and never behind it; go round from one side to the other by the front. If you find a wound, heat or swelling, tell your instructor.
Picking out the hind feet
- Get into positionWarn the horse with your voice, then stand close against it level with the hip, facing the tail. Put the hand nearer the horse on its croup.
- Run your hand down the legSlide that hand down the thigh and the gaskin to the hock, then down the inside of the cannon.
- Ask for the footSqueeze the cannon lightly and say “up”. When the horse lifts the foot, support the hoof at the toe, fairly low, without pulling the leg out to the side or backwards.
- Pick outFrom heel to toe, clearing the clefts on each side of the frog well, without digging into the frog itself. Finish with the brush.
- Put it downLower the foot all the way to the ground instead of dropping it.
Common mistake
Crouching or kneeling behind the hind leg, or reaching between the two hind legs: at the slightest movement, you are in the kicking zone. Stay bent over, feet ready to step away, your shoulder against the horse’s thigh so that you feel what it is doing.
Hosing the legs
After work, above all in hot weather, hosing cleans the legs and cools the tendons. With the horse tied up on a non-slip floor, set a gentle jet of cool water. Start on the hoof of a foreleg and work gradually up to the knee — or the hock — so that the horse gets used to it; hose each leg for several minutes, without aiming at the head or the belly, and stand to the side for the hind legs. Finally, dry the backs of the pasterns: damp there causes cracked heels.
Oiling the feet
Hoof oil keeps the horn supple. Brush it onto a foot that is picked out, clean and dry — on a wet foot it would seal the damp in — starting at the coronet, where the horn grows, then over the whole wall, and on the sole if your club does so. Follow the routine your instructor or the farrier recommends.
A word from the instructor
Two sponges of different colours: one for the eyes, one for the other end. The day you mix them up, your horse will remember it for a great deal longer than you will.