Each competitor is expected to bring their own grooming kit to rally. Sharing grooming equipment is unsanitary and can lead to many health issues for the mount and sometimes the rider. Pony Club members are expected to be responsible for their own grooming equipment and use it correctly.
Requirements:
A note on cleaning brushes: Dandy brushes and body brushes are cleaned with the currycomb after a few strokes. But they should be cleaned occasionally to remove embedded dirt and dust, and can be disinfected at the same time. Fill a small bucket with warm water and put a few drops of liquid dish detergent in it. Swish the brushes in the warm water for about a minute. Fill another small bucket with one gallon warm water and about 3 tablespoons disinfectant (like Lysol) and swish the brushes in for about one minute to rinse. Shake excess water out of brushes then let dry, bristles down, overnight. Try not to soak brushes with wooden or leather handles for more than one minute.
Another method is to add a half a cup of baking soda to a pan with one to two inches of white or apple cider vinegar (make sure the pan has high sides, the mixture will foam!). Put the bristles into the mixture. The foaming action cleans and loosens the dirt. Rinse as directed above.
Hoof Pick: Used for picking out a mounts hooves before riding and after riding. For health reasons each mount must have their own hoof pick and they should never be shared (imagine sharing your toothbrush).
Rub Rag: great for removing stains and give a great final polish after grooming. They are also good for rubbing out sweatmarks.
Dandy Brush: A dandy brush is a stiff brush used to remove heavy dirt, dried sweat and mud. It works very well on mounts with long coats. Dandy brushes can be made with synthetic or natural bristles.
Body Brush: Has shorter, softer bristles then the Dandy brush and is used to remove dust, scruff and dried sweat from a mount. This is the brush that adds the shine! Oval brushes with handles across the back are usually (but not always) body brushes.
Wet wipes, moistened towelettes or 2 sponges: Used to clean the mounts eyes, nose and dock. Wet wipes should be thrown away after use.
Rubber or Plastic Currycomb:
In Pony Club a currycomb has three uses: loosening caked mud and scruff, rubbing the pony's skin, and cleaning your brushes after several strokes. A currycomb must have concentric rings with serrated or 'tooth' edges (the rings do not have to be in an oval shape, they may be other shapes such as a heart). In addition to the rubber/plastic currycomb you may include other types like a Grooma Groomer or Jelly Scrubber. Metal currycombs with three concentric rings and a handle work well for brush cleaning, but are too sharp to be used on a horse.
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| NOT OKAY - are not rubber or plastic; do not have concentric rings of serrated edges | ||||
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Body Sponge: Body sponges are usually large and squishy, and easily fill your hand. Can be synthetic or natural sponge.
Scraper: When washing a horse this pulls the extra water off their coats which speeds drying time. Usually plastic, aluminum or rubber, should never be metal.
Wash Bucket: Marked 'Wash Only'
Required Equipment pages
written by Mary Waldman, DelMarVa Region, 2009