Brushes – Which ones and what are the best

Brushes – Which ones and what are the best

Every weekend you can go to any horse event and see meticulously presented ponies. Hours go into preparing them to shine and sparkle. Whether it’s local pony club or the Sydney Royal, the same pride and dedication are shown so our horses look their absolute best. 

 Everybody may have different ways of prepping their horses and many little tricks and secrets, but what does each brush in your grooming kit do and which ones are the best?  

  Types of brushes 

• Dandy Brush – Generally has slightly stiffer bristles to help remove mud and dirt from the coat. Often used after a curry comb to help get rid of any dirt that maybe trapped deeper in the coat. Being a little harder, care should be taken when using on horses with thinner coats or sensitive skin. 

• Body Brush – Softer than a dandy brush, smooths the coat and removes surface dust and dirt. Your most general brush that can be used all over the body and legs. 

• Flick Brush – Has longer bristles than a body brush and is used to flick away remaining dirt and debris from the coat that the body brush may have missed. Generally used after the body brush.  

• Finishing – The final step in the brushing process. Generally, a very soft brush often made of natural fibres, used to polish the coat and create shine.  

• Face Brush – A smaller softer brush to use on the face. A very gentle brush to wipe and clear dirt from the sensitive areas.  

• Curry comb – Can come in different materials, such as metal, hard plastic or rubber. A stronger harder brush for removing mud and stubborn dirt. Often used in a circling motion 

• Mane and tail brush– Resembles something like a human brush to detangle manes and tails 

• Mitt – Often seen as the final step, usually made from a natural fibre to polish and smooth the coat. May have a conditioner or coat shine product applied to it. 

With so many different brands of brushes out there and conflicting advice, deciding which ones to choose can be hard. Let’s have a look at both synthetic and natural fibre brushes. 

Synthetic V Natural fibres 

Synthetic: 

• Synthetic brushes are generally made from a Polypropylene 

• Easy to clean 

• Hard wearing can handle the rigors of constant cleaning or being left out in the weather 

• More budget friendly to buy but still very effective 

Natural: 

• Tend to produce a better shine on the coat 

• Stimulate the natural oils in a horse’s coat 

• Known to be better at removing dust  

• Gentler and softer for horses with sensitive or fine coats 

• Can be slightly more expensive 

• Knowledge you are using a natural fibre 

Choosing the right ones for you will be a personal decision. Some final considerations; 

• Coat – whether your horse has a coarse, fine or clipped coat will help you decide if you need a harder brush or a much gentler bristle 

• Time of Year – In winter you will probably be looking for a brush with a bit more strength to help smooth those winter coats, were as in summer you will want something a bit softer.  

• Budget – How much money you have to spend. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get good quality brushes, there are choices out there for every budget. 

• Intended use – You might be looking for a simple brush to just clean you horse before riding which you can leave out in the stable or some more specific brushes for prepping for a show.  

As with lot of the decisions we make, it is purely a personal choice and there is really no right and wrong. So, choose the one you like the best and enjoy! Happy shopping!