We have grooming buckets, complete with any item you may need to groom the
horse in the tack room. These buckets are to be signed out and it is your responsibility to make sure that before and
after you sign for them, that all tools are clean, in good condition and accounted for.
Do not leave grooming buckets on the ground in close proximity to the horse. They can be stomped on
or tripped over, causing injury to yourself and the horse. It is best to place it up on something (such as a sawhorse),
however, if one is not available, keep it a safe distance away from the horse's feet.
Do not leave buckets unattended.
Do not take one or two items out of another grooming bucket to supplement the one you have. If you
bring your own grooming supplies, but lack some items which we have available, then you still must sign out the whole box.
Please take good care of our supplies. We are on a tight budget, and cannot afford to replace items
that are lost or misused.
Also, under no circumstances are any of our equipment or supplies ever to leave the ranch. As stated
before, we are not in a position to replace items on a continual basis!
Horses are to be only soft-brushed in late winter/early spring. Do not shed them out!
In the winter, you may remove caked mud with a shedding comb, being extremely careful to remove the mud only.
Matted hair should be brushed lightly back so that it can standup freely. Hair that is caked with mud or is matted interferes
with the ability of the horse to keep himself warm. Also, if the winter coat is removed too soon, he can chill when
temperatures dip and catch cold.
Manes and tails are NOT to be cut, combed, or pulled!! Twists and tangles are to
be removed with the use of a conditioner, which you must place on the tangle first. Work the tangle out with your fingers,
starting from the bottom, and work your way up. Be very careful not to remove or pull out hair.
Check your horse thoroughly when working withhim. If he has any cuts, scrapes or bites, doctor it
with the mixture kept in the refrigerator in the tack room. Check for any scratches in the pastern area. These
must be cleaned and treated with an anti-fungal medication. Look for unusual bumps or swellings. Watch for excess
drainage from eyes or nostrils. The more you work with a horse, the more you will become familiar with him and notice
any changes in parts of his body, or even in his behavior.
Place any rags you use in the tack room "hamper". If it is wet, do not throw it in the basket, but
rather drape it over the edge so that it may dry. Clean rags can be found in the plastic hampers found near the door
of the tack room.
