Using a body brush correctly: stroke direction, pressure and order

Cover image: AI-generated illustration (symbolic image)

Whichever body brush you have in your hand, the way it moves over the coat is what decides the result in the end. With calm, even strokes in the right direction, suitable pressure and a clear order, you reliably lift dust out of the coat instead of just spreading it around. And your horse feels that someone is working with calm and care. This article is not about choosing a brush, but about technique at the grooming spot: holding, guiding, cleaning out.

Holding the body brush correctly

Slide your hand under the hand strap so that the body brush lies flat in your palm. The strap should sit loosely enough that you don't have to grip hard, and firmly enough that the brush doesn't slip during longer strokes. Keep your wrist as straight as possible. The movement comes from your arm and shoulder, and you get the pressure from your body weight, not from a tense wrist.

A proven approach: on the left side of the horse, you guide the body brush with your left hand, on the right side with your right hand. In your other hand, you keep the curry comb ready to clean the body brush out in between. Stand to the side of your horse, roughly level with the shoulder, with your knees slightly bent. This lets you lean into the stroke with your body while still standing securely if your horse takes a step to the side.

With the hair: stroke direction and rhythm

The body brush always works in the direction the hair grows. Take a quick look at the coat first: on the neck, the hair usually runs diagonally downwards, on the shoulder and croup it forms whorls, and on the flanks the direction often changes. Follow these lines, even if that means changing direction several times.

Place the brush flat and guide it in long, calm strokes over about a hand span or a little more. At the end of the stroke, lift it off in a small arc. This lifts the loosened dust out of the coat instead of pressing it back in. An even rhythm matters more than speed: frantic wiping back and forth only stirs up dust, while calm strokes take it with them.

Work your way forward in slightly overlapping lanes. Start on the neck behind the ear, work over the shoulder, chest and foreleg to the body, then over the back and flank to the croup and hind leg. Then switch sides and do the same.

Pressure for each part of the body

Not every area takes the same pressure, and not every horse likes it the same way. Let yourself be guided by your horse's build and reactions. A relaxed neck, a lowered head or a contented snort show you that pressure and pace are right. If your horse flinches, pins its ears or moves away, ease off the pressure straight away.

Neck, shoulder, body and croup

On the muscled areas, you can work with even, slightly firmer pressure. Lean into the stroke a little so the bristles get through the top coat down to the skin. With a thick coat in particular, it is worth working through these areas calmly, lane by lane. On the back and in the saddle area, make sure no dust or hair is left behind before the saddle pad goes on.

Finer areas: head, belly, legs

On the head, belly, girth area, inner thighs and legs, the rule is: less pressure, more feel. Bones and tendons lie close under the skin here, and many horses are ticklish in these places. Guide the body brush here with just the weight of the brush itself, or use a smaller, soft brush. On the head, work slowly and calmly with one hand on the headcollar or the bridge of the nose, and leave out the eyes and nostrils. On the legs, brush from top to bottom and stay to the side of the horse rather than crouching in front of it.

The order at the grooming spot: curry comb, body brush, finish

The body brush is not a tool for coarse dirt. It only shows its strengths once the coat has been prepared. That is why a fixed order is worthwhile.

• Curry comb: With circular movements, you loosen dirt, sweat residue and loose hair. On the muscled areas you can apply a little more pressure; on the finer areas you leave the curry comb out or work very gently.
• Body brush: Now come the long strokes with the hair. The body brush picks up the loosened dust and smooths the top coat.
• Finish: Finally, a fine, soft brush or a clean cloth adds the final touch. It smooths the coat and removes fine remaining dust.

Mane, tail and hooves come before or after, depending on your routine. The only important thing is not to use the body brush on a wet or heavily soiled coat. Dried mud is loosened first, and a wet coat is left to dry first.

Cleaning out on the curry comb in between

After three or four strokes, the body brush is full of dust and hair. Then draw it once or twice across the teeth of a curry comb held in your other hand. This keeps the bristles able to pick up dust, and you don't carry the dust from one spot to the next. Tap the curry comb out from time to time, ideally on the ground or against an edge, a little away from the horse and not towards its head.

This small step makes a big difference between a coat that has only been smoothed down and one that is really clean. When hardly any dust is left on the curry comb after cleaning out, the area is done and you can move on.

Looking closely while grooming

The calm strokes of the body brush are a good opportunity to check your horse over with your hands and eyes. Look out for warm spots, swellings, scabs, bald or rubbed areas and for places where your horse suddenly reacts differently than usual. Don't brush over such spots. If you notice something or your horse clearly objects at one spot, have your vet take a look.

Finally, tap the body brush out and place it with the bristles facing down in an airy spot. Then it is clean and ready for the next grooming session. Over time, the technique becomes second nature: hold, stroke with the hair, adjust the pressure, clean out. And that is exactly where the calm lies that turns daily grooming into a shared moment with your horse.

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