| How to Brush a Horse Posted: 12 May 2018 09:00 AM PDT Properly grooming a horse can be a daunting task if you've never done it before! Luckily, you can break grooming down into multiple steps, one of which is brushing. By focusing on removing dirt and brushing the mane and tail, you can easily accomplish this part of your horse's grooming routine! EditEnsuring Safety - Secure your horse comfortably in the stall with a leather halter. Make sure the halter is properly attached to the horse and tied tightly to the stall by looping it around a hook or the stall door and tying a knot. The horse should still be able to move its head and body, but will be tethered to the stall.[1]
- Alternatively, you can use "quick-release" snaps attached to cross-ties to make sure the horse stays in place but can break away if necessary.
- You can brush the horse outside of the stall as long as it's comfortable and secured in one place. If the horse isn't secure, it can potentially run away in the middle of your grooming session. A good place to secure a horse outside of their stall is in the aisle or in a wash rack. Both areas have cross ties to keep your horse still.
- Approach the horse calmly and avoid sudden movements. Horses can easily be scared by new people or frightening noises. To avoid scaring the horse before you start brushing, make sure it sees you approaching. Pet it a few times and talk in a calm and soothing voice to let it know that you can be trusted.
- Sudden movements can cause the horse to kick and fidget. Always be aware of where your body is in relation to the horse.
- Horses sometimes stomp their feet when a new person approaches. Don't be alarmed! They're just communicating with you.
- Wear stable-friendly clothing to protect your feet, legs, and head. Horses are large animals and sometimes aren't aware of their own strength. When you're first working with a new horse, wear a helmet to prevent accidents from kicking or bucking. In the stall, wear jeans and boots to protect your feet and legs from being stepped on or cut by sharp objects.
- You can wear a short-sleeved or long-sleeved shirt while grooming, but a long-sleeved shirt will provide more protection and keep you cleaner.
- Wearing gloves can protect you from painful hair splinters, but may make grooming more difficult because it's harder to move your hands.
EditGrooming with Brushes - Brush in the direction of hair growth. Keep in mind that horse hair normally grows in the same general direction and pattern, like it does on a dog or cat. Brushing against the direction of growth can be uncomfortable and stressful for the horse.[2]
- Keep an eye out for any spots in the horse's coat where they might have some abnormal hair growth. For example, some horses will have hair that grows in a circular pattern on their stomachs or near their legs.
- Brushing with the hair and working in the direction of growth is also more effective for removing dirt.
- Break up large sections of dirt or caked-on mud with a mud brush. A mud brush is an oval brush that has very stiff, synthetic bristles. Wait until the mud has dried completely, then use the mud brush in small, circular motions to break up the dirt. You may have to apply some pressure as you're brushing especially if the horse has a thick coating of mud![3]
- Once the mud becomes loose and breaks off, use a lighter stroke to flake off all large areas of dirt.
- Use a rubber curry comb in circular motions to loosen dirt. A curry comb is an oval-shaped comb that has raised ridges that are made of stiff rubber to remove dirt and hair. Work your way from the neck down to the side of the horse and the rear, moving the curry in small circles to kick up dirt from under the hair. Once you finish one side, switch to the other and work from the neck to the rear again.[4]
- Never use the curry comb on the horse's face or bony parts of the body, like the legs. The stiff bristles can cause the horse to become uncomfortable and unruly. It's safe to use the curry comb anywhere else on the horse!
- Be sure to pay special attention to the saddle area if you plan on riding. The curry comb will prevent matting and sores in that area.
- Wipe off excess dirt in the hair with a dandy brush. A dandy brush has pliable, short, synthetic bristles that will bend when you touch them, almost like a broom. Using a flicking motion, like you would with a broom, wipe the dirt from the hair. Work from the neck to the rear, using long, sweeping motions.[5]
- You should see a little cloud of dust with each stroke of the brush. If you don't, adjust your "flicking" motion so that you're pushing the dirt out of the hair.
- You can use the dandy brush on various parts of the horse, including the neck, body, tail, and even the face.
- Smooth and flatten the hair with the body brush. The body brush has dense, long synthetic bristles that are soft to the touch. Use long strokes to flatten the hair and get the last of the dirt out. It may take you a few strokes to completely flatten and smooth all of the hair from the neck to the rear.[6]
- Avoid using a "flicking" motion with this brush. The goal is to make the hair appear smoother, and flicking the brush causes hair to stand up.
- Brush the face using soft bristle brushes only. Grab your body or dandy brush to brush the facial area, using soft strokes and working slowly around the face. Avoid the eyes, and instead focus on the cheeks, ears, nose, and the top of the head. If the horse moves its head away from your touch, stop brushing for a few seconds before slowly re-approaching with your tools.[7]
- Only work on the face after you've brushed the rest of the body to give the horse time to adjust to your touch.
- If you touch the eye with a bristle and the eye is injured, seek care from a veterinarian immediately.
EditTaming the Mane and Tail - Separate any large tangles in the mane or tail with your fingers. If your horse has unruly hair, they will probably have visible knots. Use your fingers like a comb and carefully untangle the knots. Work slowly to avoid tugging or pulling on the hair, which can annoy the horse and cause it to start fidgeting.[8]
- Be patient while working on tangles. Eventually, with some effort, it'll come out.
- You should "finger comb" the hair daily to avoid the progression of major knots.
- Groom the horse's mane with a wide-tooth mane comb. The mane comb is made of plastic or metal and has one row of long, spread-out teeth. Start at the bottom of the mane and work your way up, gently running the comb through the hair. When you come across a smaller knot or tangle, use the comb to gently pick at it until it comes undone.[9]
- Use a detangling spray to help loosen knots and prevent hair breakage. Products like Cowboy Magic are great for detangling manes and tails.
- Combs can break the hair more easily than brushes, but they're better at removing tangles and knots. Be sure to work slowly to avoid breakage.
- Only comb the hair with a metal comb once per week to avoid excess breakage of the hair.
- Use the dandy brush on the tail while standing to the side of the horse. Start at the bottom of the tail and work your way up to the top. Work on small sections at a time and run the soft bristle brush through the hair after you work out any knots with your fingers.[10]
- Be careful when working behind the horse. Always stand off to the side to avoid being kicked if the horse gets scared or fidgets.
- Apply a detangling product to work out stubborn knots in the mane or tail. If you have a knot or tangle that you can't get out, apply a quarter-sized amount of baby oil or horse hair detangling solution to the knot. This will coat the hairs and make them easier to pull apart. Once the knot is out, rinse the product out of the hair.[11]
- You can purchase baby oil at grocery stores, and horse hair detangling solution is available at most tack stores or agricultural supply stores. Look for coupons online to help save money!
- If the knot still won't come out, try wetting the hair and re-apply the baby oil or detangling solution.
- If the horse starts fidgeting or moving away from your touch, step away for a moment to give them time to rest.
- Always be gentle when working on the face, especially the ears and eyes. Injuries in these places are often serious and require immediate medical attention.
- Avoid grooming a horse until you've had a chance to get acquainted with it by touching, walking, or riding it.
EditThings You'll Need - Mud brush
- Rubber curry comb
- Dandy brush
- Body brush
- Wide-tooth mane comb
- Baby oil or detangling solution
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| How to Surprise Your Mom on Mother's Day Posted: 12 May 2018 01:00 AM PDT Mother's Day is coming up, and you want to make your mom feel appreciated. You can give her a gift, make her a meal, help out around the house, write her a note, or take her on a day trip. The important thing is that your surprise comes from the heart. It does not need to be expensive or complicated, but it should be thoughtful. Think about what your mom would appreciate. EditSurprising Her with a Gift - Buy her a gift. Buy her something that you know she's always wanted, or find something that you know she will like. Try to buy something special that she wouldn't necessarily buy for herself. You don't need to break the bank with an expensive gold necklace. The important thing is that your gift is thoughtful and makes her feel appreciated.
- If you can't think of a specific item that she wants or needs, try to think of something that plays on her interests. If she likes to garden, give her a packet of seeds, or buy her a potted plant that she can replant in her garden. If she likes dark chocolate, buy her a bar of quality chocolate.
- If you don't want to buy her one expensive gift, try putting together a small gift basket of her favorite things. A bottle of wine, a bar of chocolate, a bouquet of flowers. Even if the individual items aren't very expensive, she will appreciate the thought that you put into choosing her favorite things.
- Make her a gift. Paint her a painting, write her a poem, carve her something out of wood, or arrange photos of the two of you together into a collage. You won't have to spend much money, and she will appreciate your gift all the more if you make it specifically for her. Don't be afraid to get creative.[1]
- Make her a mix-CD. Make her a card. Make her a thoughtful video and post it to YouTube or Facebook. Make her a picture-frame, a flip-book, a t-shirt, or a portrait.
- Make her a found-object sculpture that she can put in her garden. Make her a coffee mug, a bowl, or a vase out of fired clay. Carve and polish a cutting board out of a unique piece of wood. If she loves the beach, give her a mason jar full of shells that you collected.
- Make a special Mother's Day meal. Cook her favorite foods for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Consider serving her breakfast in bed for a classic Mother's Day treat. Make the meal, set the table, and clean up afterward.
- If you aren't confident in the kitchen, look up recipes online. Ask a sibling, a friend, or another family member for help.
- Consider making her sweet treats. Cookies, brownies, muffins—whatever she likes. Make a nice basket with a Mother's Day card. Consider decorating the treats with her favorite things. If she loves the beach, for example, you might decorate cupcakes with ocean-themed frosting: crabs, palm trees, dolphins, starfish.
- If you don't live with her, you can invite her over to your house for dinner. It might not be a surprise, but she will appreciate it. Consider taking her out to her favorite restaurant.
- Pamper her with a luxury spa treatment. Pay for a massage, a facial, a manicure, a pedicure, or all of the above. Show that you appreciate her by spoiling her for the day. She may appreciate the chance to lay back, relax, and let someone else take care of her for a change.
- Buy her flowers. If you know what kind of flowers she likes, buy her a bouquet from a flower shop. She will appreciate flowers no matter which type you give her, but there's a good chance that she has a favorite. Many grocery stores and drugstores also sell flowers. Pick the flowers yourself, if you can find them, and your mom will appreciate the effort.
- You can buy a wrapped-up bouquet and simply give it to her, or you can put the flowers into a vase that's filled with a few inches of water. Your mom will probably want to put the flowers into a vase or jar to preserve them, so she may appreciate the thought involved in giving her a vase.
- If you don't know what type of flowers she likes, consider just asking her. Commit this to memory and use it in the future. She will appreciate that you remembered. This does not only apply to your mom: casually ask significant others what their favorite flower is, and remember the answer for special occasions.
- If you can't give her the flowers in person, consider using a flower delivery service. Most florists will deliver flowers for you, and some may even have a special deal for Mother's Day. This is a simple process: you just need to call the florist or order from their website.
EditTelling Her How Much You Care - Take some time to think about your favorite memories with your mom. Find photos, souvenirs, and other mementos, if possible. On Mother's Day, reminisce with your mom about those special moments. Tell her how much those memories have impacted your life, and make sure she knows that you value your time together.
- Hang balloons around the house with personal, thoughtful messages written on them. Be specific. Think of your mom's best qualities and think of all the things that she does for you. Instead of writing something generic like "Happy Mother's Day," try something like "Thank you for being there at our baseball games" or "We love the delicious dinners you cook for us."
- Write her a thoughtful note. You can hand-write a note, you can make or buy a Mother's Day card, or you can print out a typed letter. It doesn't need to be wordy or complicated. Simply wish her a happy Mother's Day, tell her you love her, and list a few reasons that you appreciate her so much. Give her the note with flowers or another gift. If you can't give her a note in person, send her a thoughtful email or e-card, or post something sweet on her Facebook wall.
- Try writing several short, thoughtful notes and putting them around the house where she will see them. Put a note on the coffee pot, on her computer screen, on the front door, on the bathroom mirror. Write notes as simple as "Happy Mother's Day! <3", or write specific notes that describe her best qualities: for instance, adorn the refrigerator that says "You are the world's greatest chef! Thank you for cooking delicious dinners and making sure that we never go hungry."
- Consider mailing her a letter. If you don't live with your mom, and you won't be around to spend time with her on Mother's Day—even if you will—try sending her a heartfelt letter in the mail. Look up average mail-delivery times from your area to hers (or use priority mail) and try to time it so that the letter arrives on or just before Mother's Day.
- Try making her a custom fortune cookie. Simply remove the fortune from an existing fortune cookie without cracking the shell, then slip in your own Mother's Day message. She will be surprised, and she will be impressed at your creativity.[2]
- Make her a video to show her how much she is loved. Record her children, siblings, husband, and other special loved ones saying things that they love about her. Post the video to YouTube or another video-sharing website; post it to her Facebook wall; or, if she is not so into public displays of affection, simply save the video file to your computer and send it to her in an email. Your mom likely won't expect a heartfelt video that has been made especially for her.
- Write a Mother's Day essay. Write about what your mom means to you, what she does for you, and what makes her a great mother. It does not need to be long, and it does not need to be in a formal style—but if you are writing an essay and not a letter, it will probably not be addressing her directly.
- If you have good news to tell her, consider saving it for Mother's Day. She will be a proud mom when you tell her about the A that you got on your test, the exciting new job that you were just offered, or your successful proposal to your now-fiancee. Don't make the day about yourself, but tell her things that will make her proud to be a mother.
- Act out a Mother's Day skit. Bring your siblings together to plan and act out a short, funny skit that honors your mom. Playfully re-enact a memorable family event, a funny camping trip, or a time when Mom did something especially caring or courageous. A comedic sketch can be a great way to lightheartedly poke fun at your mom's quirky traits while still showing her how deeply you care.
EditSurprising Her with a Gesture - Come to visit her. If you don't live in the same area as your mom, consider surprising her with a Mother's Day visit if you can afford the trip. Drive, rideshare, fly, or take a train. Do not tell her that you're going to come, then show up at her door with flowers and her favorite treat. Plan it out beforehand: speak with siblings, relatives, or your other parent to make sure that your mom is going to be around when you arrive.
- Try further setting up the surprise by making up a story about how you can't come. Tell her you have an exam, or a meeting, and that you are very sorry that you aren't able to make it. She will be even more surprised if she specifically expects you not to come!
- You don't need to show up on Mother's Day, specifically. You can come on Friday or Saturday and spend the whole weekend. If you do plan to stay the whole weekend, make sure that your mom has space for you to stay.
- Set the day aside to spend with her. Take care of all your homework, projects, and other obligations before Sunday rolls around. Don't make plans with friends or arrange to be out of town. Tell her that you want to spend the day hanging out with her, then take her out for a hike, to a show, or to dinner. She will appreciate the gesture, and she will love the chance to spend quality time with you.[3]
- Be present. Set aside your phone, and don't spend your day on the Internet. Make the time to be there for your mom and give her your undivided attention.
- If you think that your mom would rather spend Mother's Day reading in bed or being pampered at a spa, then arrange it so. If you think that she'd like to spend the day with you, then take the time to make that happen.
- Give her a call. If you aren't living with her, and you can't pay her a visit for Mother's Day, surprise her with a phone call. Wish her a happy Mother's Day, tell her you love her, ask her how she's doing, and tell her what you're up to. Life can get busy, and she will appreciate hearing from you. The simplest gestures can be the most powerful.
- Plan a party for her. Invite her friends and family, book her favorite band, and make sure that there are plenty of refreshments. Ask a sibling, your father, or other family members for help. Bear in mind that if you hold the party on Mother's Day, many of the guests may be busy with their own Mother's Day plans—so plan accordingly.
- You know your own mother best. If she is a social butterfly, then a party might be the perfect Mother's Day surprise. However, if she is less prone to partying, she might prefer to spend a more intimate day with you and your family.
- Help out around the house. Stay up late the night before Mother's Day, wake up early in the morning, or simply tell her that you're going to do her chores for her that day. Do the things that she's been planning to do: fix the leaky pipe, mow the lawn, do the laundry, clean the kitchen. Show your love with your actions.[4]
- She will surely appreciate your help with the regular chores, such as laundry, yardwork, and dishes, but she may be even more surprised if you take the initiative to begin a big project that she's been planning. Help her install a new flowerbed, wash her car, or trim the hedge. Do something rare and special.
- Bear in mind that while she will surely appreciate the thought and effort on your part, she may prefer to spend the day with you rather than laying around while you work.
- Take her out. Bring her to her favorite restaurant, take her to the movies, or take her for a hike. Think about what your mom likes to do, and plan a day that allows the two of you to do that thing together. If you have siblings, be sure to plan something that you can all enjoy, or schedule with them ahead of time: for instance, you can agree that you will take your mom for a hike, but your brother will take her out to dinner.[5]
- Although it can be great to surprise your mom, you may want to tell her about these plans in advance. If she doesn't know that you plan to take her out to dinner, she might make other plans for the evening. You can still surprise her in advance by telling her about the plans you've made.
- She will be especially surprised if you plan out an unexpected excursion. If her favorite band or play is coming to town, buy tickets for the two of you (and, perhaps the rest of your family) to go. She may not even have been aware of the show, but there's a good chance that she will appreciate the gesture.
- Make her feel appreciated and let her know you love her, no matter what.
- If you make her something yourself instead of buying it from a store, it will show you love her and that you have time for her.
- Keep your surprise a secret. If you decide to share it with the rest of your family, make sure they don't pass it on to your mom. Otherwise, the surprise will be ruined!
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