Girl Brushing Her Horse in the Barn coloring page

About this coloring page

A girl brushing her horse knows that daily grooming is about much more than looks. Each tool in the grooming kit has a job, and working in a set order gets the coat and skin truly clean without bothering the horse.

Most riders start with a curry comb, a rubber tool with short nubs that is rubbed in small circles to loosen dried mud, dust and dead hair. Next comes a stiff dandy brush, flicked in the direction the hair grows to sweep that dirt away. A soft body brush follows to smooth the coat and bring out its shine, and a mane comb or fingers work out tangles in the mane and tail.

One of the most important steps is picking out the hooves. With a hoof pick, riders clear stones, packed dirt and bits of bedding from the underside of each foot, paying attention to the frog, the triangle-shaped area in the middle. It helps prevent lameness and catches problems like bruises or thrush early. As an old saying goes, no hoof, no horse.

Grooming also builds trust. Many horses relax during those minutes of attention, lower their heads and even nudge their favorite person, making it a perfect time to talk softly and check that all is well.

• horse grooming
• girl
• barn
• cat
• horses