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Volunteer Team Talks

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Grooming

1. Why Groom?
1. Health
1. Look for:
1. Skin problems
1. Tics
2. Fungus
3. Other
2. Injuries
1. Bruises
2. Lacerations
3. Punctures
3. Irritations
1. Rashes
2. Other
2. Avoid Skin Problems By Cleaning:
1. Saddle Area
2. Girth Area
1. Appearance
1. Everyday "Cared For Properly" Look
2. Show Quality
2. Bonding
1. Relaxing (for Both of You)
2. Enjoyable (Mostly for the Horse, But it can be Fun)
3. Horses Groom Routinely Groom Each Other (Heard Behavior)
2. Equipment:
3. View location where kits are stored.
1. Important to keep kits clean.
2. Private
1. Each horse has their own for hygiene purposes.
3. Return kits after use.
4. Review the items in the kit
1. Hoof Pick
2. Metal Curry Comb
3. Round Rubber Curry
4. Grooming Glove / Curry Glove
5. Stiff (dandy) Brush
6. Body Brush
7. Soft (finishing) Brush
8. Terry Cloth Towel
9. Mane Comb
5. Tie the Horse in the Aisle:
1. Place Kit in a Safe Area (where horse does not step on it)
2. Keep the horse perpendicular to the wall.
6. Cleaning Hooves:
1. Have Horse pick up his feet properly
2. View for Obvious Problems or Injuries
3. Check for Thrush
4. Demonstrate How to Properly Have Horse Lift Feet
5. Demonstrate How to Hold Horse's Foot
6. Demonstrate the Picking Method.
7. Cleaning the Coat:
1. Metal Curry—not used on face or legs
1. Is used carefully for heavy dried mud
2. Could be used to clean hair from brushes
2. Rubber Curry—not used on face or legs
1. To remove loose fur & loosen deep dirt, dander
2. Demonstrate Circular Motion
3. Stiff Brush (Dandy Brush)
1. To remove deep dirt & dander
2. Use for First Brushing
3. Short Strokes that end by Flicking Dirt Out and Away
4. Follow direction or the Hair
4. Curry Glove—all over horse
1. For sensitive areas where horse objects to use of stiff brush/curries
1. Legs
2. Belly ( Especially Girth Area)
3. Face
5. Body Brush-all over horse
1. To bring oils to surface of coat, makes the horse shine
2. Use long sweeping strokes
3. Follow direction or the Hair
6. Finishing Brush-all over horse
1. to remove surface dust
2. Has the softest, longest bristles
3. Use long stokes
4. Makes coat shiny
8. Cleaning the Face
1. After brushes use a terry cloth to clean
1. For neat, finished appearance
2. Eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears
9. Grooming the mane & tail:
1. Tail: Comb with Fingers or wash & condition to Prevent Damage to tail
1. Eliminate Knots and Snarls w/out breaking hairs
2. Use Stiff Brush to finish tail
2. Use Comb to Finish mane
3. Pulling, Trimming, and Braiding are safety and aesthetic options

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