Grooming Resource
Top Turnout is
more than achieving a naturally healthy glow
and clean, well fitted tack. A winner is focused
and confident, the result of
managing time well, minimizing mishaps,
communicating clearly and promoting comfort.
The Grooming Resource shares practices of
top
grooms to keep horses sound, affordable and
winning while
conserving resources. It will grow to include more
contributors and how-to's. So, let me know what you
want to learn. And, please tell your friends.
Grooming Resource
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More Info
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The time is now. Horses need not be such a drain on
resources. You can conserve water, save gas,
minimize toxins and cut waste dramatically with
healthy horses,
sound of mind and body. Let's shoot for needing far
fewer products
and having less problems for minimal environmental
impact.
Going green can also mean horses' tails are big,
comfortable and low maintenance. Heels are
resistant to scratches. Grey coats gleam with less
work. Accidents are averted. Bathing water is cut by
~ 75%, packing is light, horses have deep fluffy
beds with minimal output, and braiding becomes a
lucrative means for gelling with the horse as well as
instilling the confidence that wins.
Conventional grooming is wrought with myths. Yet, the
soundest horsemanship is eco-friendly,
economical and winning. So, in an effort raise the bar,
I am committed to sharing best care practices of top
horsemen online, at clinics and in bilingual groom
trainings.
I hope you will use and share this
information
to help make a difference.
Thanks!
Ruthann
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Erase Stains
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TOP PICK: Horse Journal, the
consumer reports
of the
industry
declared, "The Lucky Braids system was tops for
bathing and stain removing."
For stain removing tips, visit the Grooming
Resource.
Lucky Braids All-In-One
Shampoo is proven most effective for: daily use,
whitening, medicated and
detangling. It requires less work, water and no toxic
detanglers. Just comb the tail wet. Twist
and hold the tail from the bottom to comb. If dirty,
spray and wipe off the Lucky Braids Whitener/Color
Resorer enzyme.
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Save Water
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Use a shampoo pH balanced for horses
to rinse clean quickly
Avoid sodium chloride (salt), standard for
creating shampoo lather. It parches hair, leaving it
thirsty- grabbing onto everything. So, water is wasted
and horses get dirtier!
Turn off water while soaping and scraping.
In a half bucket of water, a 2 oz. glub of
Lucky Braids Shampoo is plenty. Wet horse. Apply
soap with a sponge. Exfoliate with a mitt. On heels,
gently scrub with fingers. Place tail in bucket to scrub
hair and dock.
Rinse thoroughly and quickly. Proper pH is
key.
DO NOT spray horses in the face. See article.
Scrape well. Towel legs from knee down.
To prevent scratches, only bone-dry legs should enter
stalls.
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Keep Sound
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Arnica is my favorite remedy for swelling and
soreness. It promotes soundness and won't burn or
blister. That's why Sore
No More liniment is standard among great grooms
and trainers. I use it on myself!
Lay-up specialists have told me they believe 80% of
lameness can
be avoided by warming up and cooling out well.
So, it makes
sense that rubbing tight muscles with Sore No More
before and after exercise can help loosen up and
soothe
them. And, if it lathers, that's surely a sore area.
Another trick is to rub it into a sore back and cover with
a hot towel for maximum effect.
Now Sore No More's arnica base is also in a poultice,
which can also be used as hoof packing. So, check it
out.
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Clinics & Groom Trainings
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I'd love to share more tips I've picked up working with
countless inter-national grooms- those that work most
efficiently and even make horses want to win.
Clinics involve a full-day live-horse demo and hands-
on workshops. Groom Trainings are customized, with
Spanish optional.
Clinics are scheduled in MA, MD and the Bahamas,
with more currently coming together in NC, NJ, NY and
CA.
To join us this weekend at Grazing
Fields phone: 508/759-3763.
To host, call:
781/665-5988.
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