It's no news from me that grooming horses in the late fall is the most challenging time of year. For the rest of the year it's pretty straightforward; they are spotlessly clean in the cold of winter and bathing is at least an option on a warm day in the spring and summer. As my wrists and hands age taking care of 5 horses, endless currying and dusty brushing of a mud-encrusted horse just isn't the meditative practice it used to be for me. So, I look for options.
While we set up our new farm here, I got serious about adding gravel and sand to keep the horses higher & drier, and started using rain sheets more often on the horses I might like to ride after work. Last year I posted about discovering burlap as a useful tool to help break up mud and shine up the horse's coats. This year, it's the Shop Vac.
While we set up our new farm here, I got serious about adding gravel and sand to keep the horses higher & drier, and started using rain sheets more often on the horses I might like to ride after work. Last year I posted about discovering burlap as a useful tool to help break up mud and shine up the horse's coats. This year, it's the Shop Vac.
The Device
| 
The Process
|
The previous owners left one behind in the tack room. John likes to say we paid big bucks for it and got the farm for free. I use it to tidy up hard-to-sweep areas of the stable and to keep the innards of the automatic waterers clean. It has a 10' long hose on it and we bought 2 attachments from the local tire store: a round brush and a small widemouth. The horses were more wary of the hose snaking around than of the suction, but they stand very still while I pass it over their fleshy parts after a quick curry. Muddy legs can still be washed and dried in the colder weather, and with a final sweep of a slightly damp soft brush, they are pretty darn clean, right down to the skin.
Best practice!
Best practice!
The Result! One fine looking Andy
RSS Feed