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8 grooming essentials to make your horse gleam in the ring this summer

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What grooming items do leading showing experts swear by in order to make the horses in their care look their best in the ring? Renowned pony producer Katy Carter and Jo Jack, head groom to Katie Jerram, reveal eight essential items that give their charges the winning edge

Lightweight Hunter class

Katy Carter and Jo Jack’s grooming kit essentials

1. Oven gloves

Ideal for lifting coats out and, because they are soft, horses will allow you to rub their whole bodies, including their legs, top of the head and around their ears. According to Katy, a clean pair of oven gloves is also useful for a final wipe over.

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2. Baby wipes

Perfect for wiping bits, bridles and faces — as well as oily hands before doing up the girth. Katy swears by them.

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3. Head torch

A must-have for early-morning or late-night plaiting. You might feel silly at first, admits Jo, but it makes a fiddly job far easier when the light is poor.

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4. Dog grooming comb

Brilliant for helping to remove loose hair, says Katy.

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5. Tea towels

Both experts agree that you can never have too many of these to hand. Use a tea towel damp to remove any dust before spraying the horse’s coat, or mane and tail.

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6. Trimmed dandy brushes

Jo says that with the bristles shortened, these are sturdy enough to accurately draw on quarter marks that will last as long as you need them

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Continued below…

Expand 18 (tongue-in-cheek) reasons cobs are better than thoroughbreds

18 (tongue-in-cheek) reasons cobs are better than thoroughbreds

Tough, resilient, reliable and brilliant fun. Of course…

Expand 7 showing sins: could you be making these mistakes in the ring?
Judging of the Ladies side saddle Edenbridge & Oxted Show

7 showing sins: could you be making these mistakes in the ring?

Leading producers and judges explain the common mistakes…

7. Half a pair of trimming scissors

Great for pulling tails in a quick, efficient way without upsetting the horse, says Jo.

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8. Good old fashioned elbow grease

OK, this isn’t technically in a grooming kit but, according to Jo, it is the only way to make a coat look its best, so get brushing.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday


10 brilliant body brushes you need in your horse’s grooming kit

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Whether your horse is clipped or not, this selection of body brushes will give your horse's coat a healthy shine.

Body brushes are the best horse grooming brushes to remove the finer particles of dust and detritus from your horse’s coat and leave them with a good shine. The stiffness and strength of the bristle is important. A brush with stiffer bristles are good on horses with thicker coats, although a softer bristle can give a better shine and will be more comfortable for sensitive horses. The bristle needs to be made of a hard-wearing material such as polyester, pig hair or an other strong fibre, otherwise you will find they will not last. Lastly, a well designed shape to fit your hand will make your job of grooming easier.
NB: The shopping links below are provided to help you buy these items. We earn a small commission from these links.

HySHINE Pro Groom body brush

Best horse grooming brushes: HySHINE Pro Groom body brush
This HySHINE Pro Groom Body Brush is ergonomically designed to make light work of brushing your horse’s body. Also, there is a handy strap where you can easily place your hand in to give you better control over the strokes. The brush has a blue cover and multicoloured bristles.
Buy Now: HySHINE Pro Groom body brush from £8.34

Roma Soft Touch body brush

Best horse grooming brushes: Roma Soft Touch body brush
This colourful brush has a soft touch handle that is contoured to the hand making it comfortable to hold whilst grooming.
Buy Now: Roma Soft Touch body brush from £7.75

Leistner Schimmel grooming brush

Best horse grooming brushes: Leistner Schimmel grooming brush
Made with pure coco fibre, this brush removes all stains from light coloured coats and will be particularly useful to owners of grey, coloured and palomino horses
Buy Now: Leistner Schimmel grooming brush from £15.99

Cottage Craft Mix-Bristle body brush

Best horse grooming brushes: Cottage Craft Mix-Bristle body brush
This small body brush is good for small hands or for children. Features include a wooden back, fabric strap and mixed bristles to remove finer particles and dust and add a shine.
Buy Now: Cottage Craft Mix-Bristle Body Brush from £5.96

LeMieux Oval body brush

Best horse grooming brushes: LeMieux Oval body brush
The LeMieux Oval Striped Body Brush features alternate rows of pig and horse hair ,complete with a leather strap. This brush is perfect for deep cleaning and putting a shine on the coat.
Buy Now: LeMieux Oval body brush from £14.95

Karoo Equine Crystal body brush

Best horse grooming brushes: Karoo Equine Crystal body brush
The Karoo equine body brush has tightly packed, strong and durable synthetic bristles, set into a dark wood body with quality crystal inserts on strap. Ideal if you like a bit of bling.
Buy Now: Karoo Equine Crystal body brush from £13.55

Imperial Flexi brush

Best horse grooming brushes: Imperial Flexi brush
This brush has an unusual flexible design that moulds to your hand, the bristles are made of strong polyester and there is a canvas handle to help keep it securely in your hand.
Buy Now: Imperial Flexi brush from £7.19

Wahl body brush

Best horse grooming brushes: Wahl body brush
This body brush comes in varying bristle stiffness with a rubber grip, ergonomic shape and stylish design. We think the combo brush makes a good travel brush as one side removes tough dirt and with a quick flip, the other side adds shine.
Buy Now: Wahl body brush from £12.99

Horka soft body brush

Best horse grooming brushes: Horka soft body brush
A wooden brush with soft bristles, although there is also one with hard bristles one available. This brush comes in black, light blue, pink or purple.
Buy Now: Horka Soft Body Brush from £5.80

Gloria Design body brush

best horse grooming brushes: Gloria Design body brush
A brush available in two versions: either with pig hair bristles for coarse hair, or with horsehair for finer hair. The anatomically formed back minimises hand fatigue allowing you to work longer without discomfort. Ideal for those who enjoy spending a long time grooming.
Buy Now: Gloria Design body brush from £34

Horseandhound.co.uk is the home of expert buyers guides covering all things equestrian, from clippers to rugs, riding boots to safety hats. Whatever you’re looking for, we can help you to chose the products that really suit your needs.

8 genius grooming solutions — from biodegradable wet wipes to a car wash mitt

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Carolyn Henderson investigates the innovative turnout tricks and products loved by riders and grooms across the disciplines

THE PHILANDERER, JAYNE WEBBER

1. Freelance eventing groom Alex Van Tuyll, whose clients include William Fox-Pitt, counts flick brushes with long, soft bristles among her grooming kit must-haves.

“I have flick brushes in two colours — one for the mane and one for the tail,” she says. “This means that if I put detangler spray on the tail, I don’t transfer it to the mane and make it slippery.”

2. Showjumper Emma Hinkley swears by PRO:VOKE’s Touch Of Silver Brightening Shampoo, a purple shampoo formulated for people which she uses on her grade B showjumper, Heritage Silver, and that she buys from her local supermarket.

“Leave it in for five minutes,” she advises “It’s great for manes and tails.”

3. Riding school and livery yard owner Lorna Johnstone nominates hypoallergenic, biodegradable wet wipes as essential.

“They can be used for removing stains and for cleaning around small wounds,” says Lorna, who also uses individual wipes for cleaning noses, eyes and docks, as they don’t irritate and are easy to dispose of.

“They don’t smell strongly, are not scary to horses and don’t freeze or melt,” she adds.

4. Top model Amber Martinez, the face of Scottish Widows, knows more about hair care than most. She uses coconut oil on her own locks and shares it with her horses, too.

“It’s great for conditioning hair and encouraged new hair growth when the base of my mare’s tail was rubbed,” she said. “A little goes a long way.”

5. For dirty ponies, Highland enthusiast Rachael Stewart uses a car wash mitt, which costs £1 from her local supermarket. It has microfibre loops on one side and mesh on the other. The mesh side, says Rachael, is great for removing stains.

6. Dressage rider Emma Penny’s secret weapon is Smart Grooming’s Super Groomer, which is made from recycled polypropylene and moulds to the horse’s contours.

“It’s very basic, but great for removing dried mud — and when you’re bathing a horse,” she says.

Continued below…



7. “We use a capful of Dettol in a quarter of a bucket of hot water, scrubbed on with a small towel,” says showjumping specialist Shirley Light, of Brendon Stud.

This technique removes grease and the horse also gets a massage.

Event rider and trainer Laura Powell also favours Dettol.

“I use Dettol to hot-cloth after exercise,” she says. “My horses love having their faces done.”

8. Tack cleaning is many riders’ least favourite job.

“If leather is really dirty, then use lukewarm water with a couple of drops of washing-up liquid — and I mean drops — to degrease and remove mud, then rinse in clean water [and allow to dry before applying saddle soap],” says retired international saddler and lecturer Malan Goddard.


9 show basket essentials that might surprise the general public

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Emily Flynn riding LEYHILLS GILLIE GLAS at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10th-14th May 2017

Every show team has a set of items which they swear by and routinely use throughout the season. Whether you’re trying to add some extra show ring sparkle while on a budget or you’re celebrating after a class win, there are some items in that show basket, which might not be so essential to the green observer.

If a non-horsey person was having a nose through your kit, what would they look twice at?

1. Baby oil  ­

While most adults would either purchase this silky soft liquid for its intended use, moisturising baby skin, showing folk rely on this greasy bottle of goodness for giving the muzzle, eyes and general points of judge’s interest that all important extra gleam before the class.

2. Plastic Prosecco glasses

At 9am, really? Yes, you’ve been up since four o’clock and your horse has just won so pass a celebratory tipple please. If you’re the lorry driver then you’ll have to do with some lemonade, but at least a glass makes it easier to pretend it’s something more exciting.

3. Mr Sheen

If you need to get a dull tail gleaming there are a wide range of shine-enhancing tail sprays on sale, designed specifically to do the job, but many find a can of furniture polish can also be a super-handy show basket companion.

4. Ear plugs

Never have two small pieces of cotton been so essential and valuable to some horses’ success. While to the untrained eye they may appear to be nondescript pieces of matted tat ready for the rubbish bin, to the rider of the young, highly-strung riding horse who is about to launch herself into the evening performance, they are more precious than diamonds.

5. Hair spray/ VO5 Gel 

For keeping the human bun and pony plaits neat and flyaway free.

6. Blue rinse

No, not for your grandmother’s perm, but instead for your skewbald or grey’s white tail.  Who knows where or when he will choose to poo through his beautiful silvery tail hair.

7. Glitter spray

Don’t lie, somewhere at the bottom of your show bag will be a half empty bottle of silver, gold or even pink glitter spray you’ve been slightly over keen with prior to an evening performance. While you claim it’s ‘only for the kids’, we all know showing people of any age love the OTT feel a bit of glitter can bring to the party. While it’s all good fun, the major downside is that you will be picking sparkly bits off your show saddle for the next three seasons.

8. Leg bandages with sheep on

If you’re going to go to the effort of owning a pony with white legs, you might as well wrap them in something funky during the warm up.

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9. Oven gloves, tea towels or any other kitchen-based fabrics

A pair of oven gloves or a tea towel is great for a final rub over before the class. Ideal for wiping grease and lifting coats, or mopping up unwanted bit slobber. Just remember to wash it (or pretend to) before your better half uses it to dry the dishes…

Cavalor Star Shine: ‘worth every penny’ 10/10

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Welcome to our group test of mane and tail detanglers. All of the sprays in this group test have been thoroughly tested by busy yard owner and hunting enthusiast Harriet Rimmer. Find out what she thought below.

Best mane and tail detanglers 2018: Cavalor Star Shine review

Official description

Cavalor Star Shine is a long-lasting hair conditioner with a unique and pleasant aroma. It gives a brightening gleam to your horse’s coat and makes it appear as a real “star” on the show circuit. The horse’s tail and mane can be expected to remain tangle-free for a week after application.

First impressions

I liked the simplicity of the packaging and the bottle looks like a handy size to use post-wash as a coat shine and detangler. I was fairly surprised when I saw the price tag though.

Overview of performance

I was really impressed by this fantastic product. This is definitely best in this group test. It does exactly what it says on the bottle. It detangles, softens and has a long-lasting effect. The shine it adds to the horse’s coat is second to none. It is a superior product compared to anything I’ve ever used before. Very, very impressed.

Likes and dislikes

I don’t just like this product, I love everything about it and I cannot fault it. I wish I had more of it. It is more expensive than the others on test, but it’s worth every penny.

Carr & Day & Martin Gallop Extra Strength shampoo: ‘long-lasting and effective’ 9/10

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Welcome to our group test of horse shampoos. All of the shampoos in this group test have been put through their paces by dressage rider Jamie Broom and his wife Georgi, who run a busy livery and training yard near Windsor. Find out what they thought below.

Carr & Day & Martin Gallop Extra Strength shampoo

Official description

The Carr & Day & Martin Gallop Extra Strength Shampoo has an extra thick consistency that has double the amount of active ingredients for a deeper cleaning, perfect for really dirty, greasy or light coloured horses.

First impressions

This looked like a really smart, professional looking bottle and from the description seemed like it would do the job.

Overview of performance

This shampoo worked on every horse — it made the darker horses shine and cleaned my lighter-coloured horses. It also smelled really nice and I didn’t need to use very much to clean the whole horse.

Likes and dislikes

I like that it takes out the overnight stains from a grey horse, but also gives a shine to the darker horse. I also like how concentrated it is, meaning that you only need a small drop in water to give a good bath. If I had a dislike, it is that it doesn’t lather very well on the tail, but it does give a good shine.

The (tongue-in-cheek) beginners’ guide to the grooming kit

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pony club horse and pony care competition

Giving your horse a good groom every day means you can keep them looking smart while keeping an eye out for any problems. Sara Walker explains what you’ll need to do the job…

Hoofpick

The Houdini of the grooming kit, the hoof pick has the ability to dematerialise at will and reappear somewhere unexpected. You can hang it on your stable door, you can nail it to the wall, you can Velcro it into your pocket – but it’s never there when you want it. An hour later, you’ll give up the search and immediately find it in your feed bucket.

Dandy brush

A brush with stiff bristles, carefully designed to remove mud from your horse’s coat and transfer it to you.

Curry combs

These come in metal, plastic and rubber varieties. Metal and plastic are for cleaning the hair out of brushes, while rubber is for removing quantities of winter coat. They’re called ‘curry combs’ because after you’ve been using one for half an hour you really fancy a takeaway.*

Mane and tail comb

Plastic or metal combs used for pulling and tidying manes and tails. As far as actual combing is concerned, they only really work on slender thoroughbred types with aristocratic manes. Try one on a cob’s mane and you’ll be looking for it for weeks.

Sponge

Used for cleaning around the eyes, nostrils and dock areas. It’s best to buy them in batches of 10, especially if you have any small terriers on the yard.

Body brush

Used for removing excess grease from stabled horses, and adding a nice shine to the coat. It’s called a ‘body brush’ because using one for 20 minutes a day gives you a figure like Elle MacPherson.**

Article continues below…


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Sweat scraper

This delightfully-named piece of equipment is used to remove excess moisture from the horse’s coat, for example after a bath. Sweat scrapers are also great escapologists and can give hoofpicks a run for their money in terms of never being where you left them.

* OK, this isn’t exactly (or even slightly) true – ‘currying’ is an old English word meaning grooming. We prefer our explanation though.
** This one’s definitely true.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Leovet Shiny White Stain Eraser Spray: ‘easy to apply’ 7/10

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Welcome to our independent group test of stain removers suitable for use on horses. All of the stain removers in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below.

Leovet Shiny White Stain Eraser Spray review

Official description

Sprayed directly onto persistent stains like urine, manure or grass, Leovet Shiny White Stain Eraser Spray helps loosen stains for easy removal from the horses coat. Stains disappear as pure white re-emerges and the shine on the coat is brilliantly enhanced. A complex of natural proteins from the African moringa tree prevents the accumulation of new dirt particles and stains for up to two days. When used regularly, the coat will be full of volume and extensively protected from stains. This spray will restore hair and coat to a naturally radiant white without undesirable yellowish discolouration.

First impressions

The spray came out as a white liquid so I felt that it should do a good job.

Overview of performance

Although this spray made stains less visible quickly and easily, it did not completely remove them.

Likes and/or dislikes

I like that it is easy to apply, but I found it better on faint stains than darker or more ingrained ones.


Carr&Day&Martin Stain Master Green Spot Remover: ‘effective when applied liberally’ 8/10

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Welcome to our independent group test of stain removers suitable for use on horses. All of the stain removers in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below.

Carr&Day&Martin Stain Master Green Spot Remover review

Official description

The Carr&Day&Martin Stain Master Green Spot Remover is ideal for removing dirt and manure stains with no need to rinse. It is fantastic for last minute show touch ups as an ‘on the spot’ brightener for white markings. Stain Master can also be used as a dry shampoo when it’s too cold to bath.

First impressions

I thought it was a smart bottle that looked really professional.

Overview of performance

This spray cleans well on the specific area that needs cleaning. I did find that I need to spray quite a lot of it on the dirty area to get the best result, more than some of the others in the group test.

Like and/or dislikes

I liked how well it removes stains, but the spray needs more pressure when squeezing the trigger.

Nettex Stain Remover: ‘good on grass stains’ 8/10

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Welcome to our independent group test of stain removers suitable for use on horses. All of the stain removers in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below.

Nettex Stain Remover review

Official description

Nettex Stain Remover quickly and effectively removes deep seated grass and stable stains from your horse’s coat, making it the perfect choice for competition riders this season. Used regularly, Nettex Stain Remover will prevent the build-up of stains on the coat and it’s gentle on the skin, making it suitable for even the most sensitive of horses and ponies.

First impressions

Smart bottle that makes it easy to store. I liked that it came in a smaller version as well.

Overview of performance

I found this spray was more effective on grass stains than on stable stains, although it did work on both types.

Likes and/or dislikes

It like how quick and easy this spray is to use.

Equimins Stain Remover: ‘easy to use’ 8/10

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Welcome to our independent group test of stain removers suitable for use on horses. All of the stain removers in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below.

Equimins Stain Remover review

Official description

Equimins Stain Remover is a spray-on clear lotion that helps to remove stable and grass stains with ease. Simply spray on, work into the stain and rinse off for best results.

First impressions

This spray had a smart, stylish bottle that looked quite simple compared to the others.

Overview of performance

It sprays on well, and removed the stains with a good wash off.

Likes and/or dislikes

I did like this spray; it was easy to use and does what it says on the label.

NAF Muck Off: ‘effective when given time to work’ 8/10

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Welcome to our independent group test of stain removers suitable for use on horses. All of the stain removers in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below.

NAF Muck Off Stain Remover review

Official description

Stubborn stable stains mean nothing to NAF Muck Off’s powerful formula. Simply apply a little mousse to a sponge and massage well into the stain. Leave for five minutes before lifting the muck off with a damp sponge or cloth leaving your horse or pony spotless. So even for those stains that seem impossible, it’s definitely worth a try.

First impressions

A smart bottle that looked like it would do the job.

Overview of performance

Worked well as a shampoo-type product, but not so much as a quick stain remover.

Likes and/or dislikes

I like that it was easy to use, as the spray was good to put on. I disliked the ‘wait 5 minutes’ as we don’t always have time to do that.

Mastacare Snow White powder: ‘left my horse very white’ 10/10

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Official description

Mastacare Show White Powder helps to banish stains! Show White Powder leaves a brilliantly white finish to your horse’s coat. It is a safe and non-allergic whitener that can be used on the body, legs and feather helping to cover any stains or discolouration.

First impressions

The pot this came in looked really easy to store and the powder inside looked like it would do the job.

Overview of performance

This powder was excellent in getting rid of bad stable stains quickly and efficiently. I also found it very easy to use and it really made my horses very white.

Likes and dislikes

I liked how well it took out any stains and left me with a well turned-out horse. I also liked how easy it is to apply. And it’s not expensive either.

KBF99 anti-bacterial body brush: ‘really comfy to hold’ 7/10

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Welcome to our group test of body brushes. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below

Official description

The KBF99 anti-bacterial body brush has been proven to kill over 99% of bacteria and fungal conditions, as well as some viruses, and so helps to maintain bio-security measures. Available in five colours.

First impressions

I liked the idea of it being anti-bacterial, but I was sceptical that it would make a difference. I also loved the handle — it was comfy and fitted all hands.

Overview of performance

This brush is practical, good and cleans the horse the well. It was really comfortable to hold and use, as well as lasting well and being easy to keep clean. I can’t say I noticed any benefits of the anti-bacterial properties.

Lisa’s likes and dislikes

I think this product is functionally good, but quite expensive as I didn’t feel it would have much effect on bacteria.

HyShine Deluxe horse hair wooden body brush: ‘particularly good for finishing’ 8/10

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Welcome to our group test of body brushes. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below

HyShine Deluxe horse hair wooden body brush review

Official description

The HyShine Deluxe horse hair wooden body brush is a dark brown lacquered wood oval body brush with a mixture of black, white and brown horse hair and finished with a durable leather strap. It gently removes dust, leaving an impeccable shine. Also available in small size.

First impressions

This brush was really nice looking and in general it appeared like it was well made and would be a good brush.

Overview of performance

This brush was better at giving a finishing polish than it was at general cleaning. It was comfortable to hold as the handle was quite loose. It lasted well, was fairly easy to clean and dried quickly after washing.

Lisa’s likes and dislikes

I liked how smart it looked. I would use again but I prefer brushes with a leather back over wood.


LeMieux Heritage dapple body brush: ‘good for polishing and finishing’ 8/10

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Welcome to our group test of body brushes. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below

LeMieux Heritage dapple body brush review

Official description

The LeMieux Heritage dapple body brush is a natural horse hair bristle, which is preferred by professional grooms for enhancing the hair’s natural shine and anti-static. The stylish two-tone effect bristle gives the perfect resistance for a deep and therapeutic clean. A natural-grained wooden oval back is complete with a quality leather handle and beautiful solid metal LeMieux badge.

First impressions

This brush looked really smart and well made. I really liked the metal badge logo and thought it looked classy.

Overview of performance

This brush was very soft so I only really used it as a finishing brush. Being soft also made it good for clipped horses. It was comfortable to hold but I found that the handle was too big for me. It lasted well, was easy to clean and dried quickly.

Lisa’s likes and dislikes

Overall it was a very smart brush and nice for finishing. I would recommend this for a finishing polish for show horses.

Sprenger body brush: ‘cleans the horse really well’ 8/10

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Welcome to our group test of body brushes. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below

Official description

The Sprenger body brush is of superior quality — it features a mahogany back and leather straps. It is created from strong tail hair, so is durable and designed to last. This all-purpose body brush is comfortable to use and soft on the horse.

First impressions

This brush looked really smart and like it would do a good job.

Overview of performance

This brush is not only good quality, but it actually cleans the horse well, too. It was comfortable to hold and lasted particularly well. It was easy to clean and dried well.

Lisa’s likes and dislikes

This is a good hard-wearing body brush. If you look after your kit it’s a good investment, but often yard staff don’t appreciate its value, and it’s quite pricey.

Shires Ezi-Groom Contour goat hair body brush: ‘good for sensitive horses’ 8/10

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Welcome to our group test of body brushes. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below

Shires Ezi-Groom Contour goat hair body brush review

Official description

The Shires Ezi-Groom Contour goat hair body brush is plastic with a rubberised coating and contoured shape for comfort in the hand. It features super-soft goat hair bristles for raising a brilliant shine and a useful hanging loop on the brush. Available in three colours.

First impressions

This brush looked good and the first thing I noticed was how lovely and soft it was.

Overview of performance

This brush was good for a finishing polish. It was very comfortable to hold and use — a nice size for small hands. It lasted well, was easy to clean and dried well.

Lisa’s likes and dislikes

I love how soft it is — it was ideal for heads and sensitive horses.

Equerry Luxury XLH body brush: ‘great for quarter marks’ 9/10

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Welcome to our group test of body brushes. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by event rider and BHSII Lisa Spence. Find out what she thought below

Equerry Luxury XLH body brush review

Official description

The Equerry Luxury XLH body brush is rectangle-shaped and leather-backed, filled with dense short fibres for a close-contact in-depth groom. The brush is finished with a wide leather handle, stamped with the royal warrant from The Queen.

First impressions

This brush looked well-made, up to the job and really professional.

Overview of performance

This is a good old fashioned brush — it cleaned the horse well, was comfortable to hold, lasted well and was easy to keep clean. I can’t fault its performance.

Lisa’s likes and dislikes

It was really great for quarter marks. I would buy again and definitely recommend.

Best body brushes 2020: Horse & Hound’s tester ranks her favourites

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Having the best body brush will up your grooming game. Not only will it clean your horse, but it will give a good finishing polish. The bristles can vary — some sensitive horses prefer the softer, while some need a firmer groom. Your brush should be comfy to hold and a good size for your hand. It should be well made, easy to clean and dry quickly after washing. A smart-looking brush is a bonus.


Horse & Hound has been working with a number of professional riders, trainers and yards to put a range of products to the test in a busy yard environment. And here are the results…

Horse & Hound’s pick of the best body brushes 2020


*H&H APPROVED*

Equerry Luxury XLH body brush

RRP £24

Equerry Luxury XLH body brush review

“This is a good old fashioned brush — it cleaned the horse well and it was really great for quarter marks.”

9/10

Read full review >>


Shires Ezi-Groom Contour goat hair body brush

RRP £12.99

Shires Ezi-Groom Contour goat hair body brush review

“This brush was good for a finishing polish. It was very comfortable to hold and use — a nice size for small hands.”

8/10

Read full review >>


Sprenger body brush

RRP £40

Sprenger body brush review

“This brush is not only good quality, but it actually cleans the horse well, too. It was comfortable to hold and lasted particularly well.”

8/10

Read full review >>


LeMieux Heritage dapple body brush

RRP £18.95

“This brush was very soft so I only really used it as a finishing brush, but this made it good for clipped horses.”

8/10

Read full review >>


HyShine Deluxe horse hair wooden body brush

RRP £8.50

HyShine Deluxe horse hair wooden body brush review

“This brush was better at giving a finishing polish than it was at general cleaning, but it was comfortable to hold.”

8/10

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KBF99 anti-bacterial body brush

RRP £17.20

KBF99 anti-bacterial body brush review

“This brush is practical, good and cleans the horse the well. It was really comfortable to hold and use, as well as being easy to keep clean.”

7/10

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Meet the product tester

Lisa Spence BHSII has been working in the equestrian industry for more than 25 years and has experience with a wide range of horses. She currently runs a training and livery yard in Essex. Being a regular on the British eventing circuit and a previous Pony Club examiner, Lisa knows exactly what she wants from a product and enjoys giving them a thorough test.


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Horse & Hound is in the process of testing a wide range of equestrian kit, clothing and equipment, the results of which will be published on HorseandHound.co.uk

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