The weather is changing, and your horse or pony is leaving piles of hair everywhere! It can be overwhelming. So, what are the best grooming methods to deal with shedding season as the weather begins to warm up?
It depends a little on the weather in your area and if your horse lives in a barn or outdoors in a pasture or paddock most of the time. It also depends on whether or not you blanket during the winter. But whatever your situation, all horses will shed their winter coats. Here are some grooming methods that can help both you and your horse this shedding season.
Get Currying
Begin with good grooming, as this is the best way to attack the wintertime shedding. By saying “good grooming,” think consistent grooming—daily, or at least three to five times a week. If you can’t groom as often, then the task of helping your horse shed his winter coat becomes a bit more challenging.
Good grooming starts with a curry comb. Some thin-skinned horses, such as Thoroughbreds, don’t like a hard curry comb. There are many different types of curry combs. Some are made of hard rubber, and other styles feature soft, flexible rubber nubs. Sometimes you have to experiment to find what works best for your horse.
When used in a circular motion, the curry comb gets in deep and removes loose hair and dirt from the coat. When currying, you have to rub vigorously and put some energy into it. You can also use the curry comb to clean the hair that builds up on your brushes as you groom your horse. During shedding season, this can be a lot of hair!
One trick is to hold the curry comb in the hand closest to the hindquarters and a dandy brush with stiff bristles in the other hand, and quickly alternate using them in a rapid curry/brush process. Work from the neck toward the hindquarters, then switch hands when you switch sides. It’s a great workout and an efficient way to groom.
Remember to avoid the face or lower legs with a hard curry comb. Use a soft, flexible curry or grooming gloves for these sensitive areas.
In addition to grooming to help your horse shed his winter coat, grooming before and after you ride is very important. Not only does it keep your horse clean and comfortable, it also helps the shedding process and brings out the natural oils in the horse’s skin for a shiny coat. This is the best way to keep up with the constant spring shedding.
If your horse lives outside all the time, his coat will be thicker, and it will take more effort to help him shed. You can use a shedding blade (see photo at the top of the article); just be very careful, as the little teeth on the blades are quite sharp. Never use this tool on the horse’s face!
There are also softer shedding tools, such as rubber blocks and mitts, that may help ease the hair removal.
Consider Clipping
Some riders choose to clip their horses’ coats in the springtime if they are being ridden frequently or are doing fitness work (called “conditioning”) to get ready for competition. The longer coat can cause them to become overheated and sweaty, delaying the cooling-out process after you ride.
A clipped coat not only dries almost instantly, but it’s also much faster to groom if you are riding daily to get your horse fit. If your horse is stabled and you are showing in the early spring, then a full body clip or hunter clip (which leaves hair on the legs, a patch where the saddle goes, and sometimes on the head) may be appropriate.
On the downside, a fully clipped horse requires much more protection and blanketing for the cold and elements. However, you can strike a happy medium with a partial clip. This is a great solution and removes the hair just where it’s necessary.
For example, if your horse lives outdoors full time, you want him to still have enough warmth and protection from his natural hair coat. A trace clip, for example, leaves protective hair on the legs and topline while removing the hair from areas that tend to sweat heavily, such as the lower neck, flanks, and belly area (see photo above). This still helps the horse cool down after riding.
Whether you clip your horse fully or partially, you will need to plan to blanket accordingly until the weather warms up for good in late spring.
If you find that your horse has an excessively long and shaggy winter coat that doesn’t seem to be shedding out properly in early through late spring, you should have your vet check him for Cushing’s disease, also known by the more technical name of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). This is a common condition in older horses and ponies that can be managed with medication, and most likely will require body clipping as well.
With good care and grooming, your horse will have a shiny, healthy coat when spring finally arrives.
Brought to you in partnership with The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC or Pony Club). Pony Club offers education and hands-on opportunities for equestrians of all ages in a community atmosphere. To learn more or find a club/center near you, visit the USPC website.
This article about shedding season grooming appeared in the March/April 2024 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
