To brush or not to brush, that is the question

[ladyndibs]

I've got three horses, they are all still naked and Lady especially is doing a daily hippo impression. Dibbles is running a close second but Silky, well she doesn't really do dirt, not on the same scale anyway.
Would you try and get the all the mud off each day, just the worst of it or leave well alone, btw none are being ridden so no worries about sore backs from saddles rubbing.

[handm]

I wouldn't brush them everyday - if they're out unrugged they need the grease in their coats. Mine is out unrugged and is grey - he gets filthy! If I am riding I brush him, otherwise I tend not to but I do check him over.

[BJMM]

I only groom when I'm riding, they are checked daily for injuries but pointless grooming as they go straight back out and roll in the filthiest patch they can find ;D
They are brushed before rugging but no strenuous grooming, they need those oils in their coats to keep warm xx

[ladyndibs]

I tend to use an old hair brush with very widely spaced bristles just to get the worst clumps off but would it be then best if I stopped and left them au naturelle.

[penny70]

Mine is out rug-free 24/7 and is utterly filthy. He doesn't get brushed. He rolls in the muddiest spots he can find! Even when being ridden, I'll brush just the worst off where the saddle and bridle sit IF the mud is dry, otherwise if it is wet it gets left as I have always been led to believe that brushing wet mud off can cause skin sores...

[mandal]

I'm not a brusher either except saddle and bridle areas. I do use a hair brush if they've been really soaked with rain and the coat has dried in clumps. None of mine are clipped and depending where they migh have rolled change colour as the day goes on. Sophie was white yesterday after rolling in the gravel heap but is shiny red brown today. Mane and tail detangling for Dommi takes up most of my grooming time. Plaits, plaits and more plaits and she's still here.

[troop]

Im a leave them alone unless im riding kind o gel, i check them over and sometimes just neaten them up when they get to bad.

[julz]

me either... leave alone UNLESS horsy gets mudfever, and then only the bits where the MF is, otherwise, leave it be, no point in removing it only for them to go do it again, time and daylight is precious enough without worry what horsy looks like

[mags]

I generally just scrape the mud off where I put tack (I like to use a dog slicker brush for it). But I've become a bit more cautious about checking legs for injuries. Last year, my gelding got a small nick over his hock from being kicked, and I didn't notice until three days later when he went lame with swelling and infection in the wound. It is easy to overlook slightly matted coat from a small injury when they are very hairy and the coat is clumped together with mud anyway. So I do try to make an effort and also brush all mud clumps off the legs, at the same time doing a thorough check for injuries. Slight swelling is so easy to miss when their legs become double-wide in winter with all that coat.

[Deleted]

Similar to mags I do have a feel for injuries each day but only brush where tack is going to go or occasionally after rain I'll brush Henry's back to loosen up when his hair has dried in clumps. The only time they have a full groom is when the physio comes!

[anastasia55555]

i let them keep the mud, extra layer of insulation when its dried lol! Just chip it off the saddle, girth and bridle area, dont have enough time to ride as it is!

[lancashirelass]

Last year, when I still had my boy, he was rugged up, but still managed to roll and get filthy muddy UNDER the rug. Swampy was his middle name. Local ponies out - ungroomed, muddy, and happy! Stick with checking for injuries and au naturellle is best.

[ladyndibs]

Sorry to say I had to give in on the rugs, well with two. Dibbles was getting sooooo stroppy, he went at me with both barrels 4 times the other day, he has plenty of food hasn't lost any weight just hates the cold, he's been quite a s*d, as soon as the rug was laid across his back he stood like a 'dope on a rope' and Silky has quite a long coat on her didn't really feel that warm and despite a field stable that she can use 24/7 she's standing out in all the wind and rain, she wasn't even going in to eat her hay. Lady is still unrugged and I'll just carry on with the hairbrush but just getting the huge clumps of mud off.

[marsayy]

I clean them off once a week check for any injuries and or sores, also keep them well handled as I don't ride much in winter. They seem to enjoy all the fuss and I don't think it interferes with their natural oils. I also clean any poop off the tale, trim it back so it doesn't trail in the mud getting heavy and matted. I trim feathers etc back a little to make sure there are no mites making a home or mud fever setting in. It's always a difficult balance, in the wild they would be able to roam further and seek baths etc but when we restrict their choice of grazing we have to replace some of that natural instinct that has been lost. No doubt other people will disagree. ;D

[emilyhume1988]

i have a ID x Dales and a Dutch Warmblood both get turned out without rugs so i dont brush them unless im riding them. i will at some point tidy them up they are looking very butch but they love been messy and always find the mudest patch to roll in.