When grooming a horse's tail, it's important to use a silicone or conditioning spray to help the comb slide any debris from the tail. Find out how to avoid getting kicked when grooming a horse's tail with help from an equestrian riding instructor in this video on horse grooming.
Hello, my name is Chelsey Sawtell, Primary Riding Instructor at Black Friar Farm in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. And today, we're going to discuss how to properly and safely groom your horse's tail. When grooming your horse's tail, it is always best to use a clean condition tail, but this is not always possible. Before you begin, it's always good to have some kind of silicone or conditioning spray on hand to help the comb slide the burrs from the tail. It is also good to have a wide tooth comb as well as a finer tooth comb to remove any small bruise that might be present or pieces of shavings that might be present in the tail. Begin by standing at the side of your horse's hunches. Using your hand, gently sweep behind the horse and pull the tail to the side. This will prevent you for get, from getting kicked should your horse object to pulling of knots through his tail. Begin at the tips and spray the tail with silicone spray or some other conditioner. Wipe the conditioner through the tail with your fingers. Starting at the tips, move the brush through the tail in an upward motion up to the dock of the tail. It is always good to check the tail for burrs or tangles. Improper grooming of the horse's tail can cause burrs or mats to slowly become giant knots within the tail that will soon have to be cut out or removed. If you live in a climate where there are ticks or other insects, check the tail bone for any signs of ticks or insect bites. The tip is an all time favorite for ticks as the vein runs down and makes a point at the bottom of the tail bone. Horses tail is very important as they use it to deflect flies and other object from their body. Without their tail they have no way to remove biting flies or other insects that might be annoying them. So in conclusion, it is always best to start with a clean tail, a silicone or slicking spray and begin your combing while standing to the side and not behind the horse. Always start at the tips and work your way to the dock.
Specialty: Young Stock and Horsemanship
