The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
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38 TheHorse.com THE HORSE March 2018 scrunches down, I'll run my hand along the area to see if he is sensitive to the curry comb or truly sore." The back and girth area are spots we're used to checking, as we ensure we have a clean, injury-free canvas for placing tack. Some parts of the horse, however, might get overlooked, say our sources. Here are four crucial areas to include in your grooming routine. Clear Eyes and Nostrils As prey animals, horses rely on sight and smell to sense danger. While the eyes and nose are critical to horses' survival in the wild, we often don't consider their importance as we groom our domestic horses. In America it's customary in many disciplines to shave eye and muzzle whiskers closely, a practice Corcoran says is not allowed in Europe. Virginia-based practitioner Eleanor Lenher, DVM, encourages riders to only trim and not shave the eye or muzzle whiskers. Removing these wispy hairs— especially around the eyes— interferes with the horse's ability to 'feel' his environment. "I used to do this, and most show peo- ple do this," she says. "Trimming these too short can increase the horse's chance of eye injuries. If your horse is kept ex- clusively in a stall (and that is not a good thing, either), then you can get away with shaving these areas, but be cautious." Trimming is often the most thought people give to "grooming" around the eyes and muzzle on a regular basis. But Corcoran says these two areas deserve regular attention. Weepy, runny eyes become crusty when they dry. "Think about the crust that can form in your own eye. It's uncomfortable," she says. "It's important to clean these areas, and they are often overlooked." Use a warm, clean sponge or rag to loosen and gently remove the discharge. If your horse exhibits chronic eye tearing or oozing, Lenher suggests having a con- versation about it with your veterinarian. Even if an eye doesn't seem painful, there might be underlying issues. "Blocked tear ducts can cause a lot of discharge," she says. "The discharge might cause the horse to rub his eyes, which can lead to injury." Corcoran uses the same approach when cleaning nostrils as she does with eyes. "I always keep a damp rag around and wipe the dirt out," she says. "Dirt in the nostrils can be inhaled while the horse is working (and inhaled dirt can create or aggravate respiratory issues), so wiping it out reduces that risk." Tidy Tootsies When it comes to the lower leg and hoof, Corcoran is a stickler for trimming the hairs around the coronet band. She keeps them trimmed neatly year-round. "Longer hairs soak up hoof oil, and dirt sticks to the hair as soon as (the horse) steps into arena footing," she says. This becomes particularly messy for competitive horses or horses in training that work in arenas regularly. It can also be problematic for horses on turnout. When the hair soaks up a hoof moisturiz- er, for instance, dirt attracted to the con- ditioner creates a gummy, gooey residue in the hair that's not only difficult to clean but also can cause skin problems. Corcoran says using a pair of scissors Equine DETAILING ISTOCK.COM Your horse needs whiskers to feel his environment. If you want to tidy them up, be sure to trim, not shave, them. ISABELLE ARNON Gently wipe weepy eyes with a clean, damp sponge or towel to prevent them from becoming crusty.