Horses and owners love springtime! When the days start getting warmer and longer, spending time at the barn becomes much more enjoyable. Another thing that springtime signifies is the return of sleek and shiny coats. These are revealed once the horses have shed their thick winter coats. As an owner, there's a few things you can do to help your horse's natural shedding process. In this guide, we’ll explore these methods, and you’ll discover everything you need to know when it comes to choosing the best horse shedding tool.
Why You Need the Right Horse Shedding Tools
Lots of people think that a horse's coat will start shedding as the weather gets warmer. But it’s not the temperature that the horse is responding to, it’s the extended daylight that prompts your horse to shed. This means that often, your horse will still have a thick winter coat on warm spring days. If it’s too warm outside then your horse may become hot, itchy and uncomfortable under its thick winter fur. It’s for this reason that many horse owners like to remove loose winter hairs.
Helping your horse to shed its winter coat is vital if you’re keen to get back into showing or eventing. Removing the winter coat will have your horse looking at its best and will keep it cool in the show ring.
What are the Main Tools that You'll Need?
As the days become longer, and the summer coat develops, your horse's winter coat will become loose from its body, however, a horse's coat doesn’t always fall off easily. Your horse will become very itchy and will scratch on anything to get rid of the loose hair and dead skin. You can help your horse become more comfortable during the shedding season with regular grooming. Below we'll explore the best shedding brushes to add to your grooming kit.
Shedding Blade
This is the most effective shedding tool that you can use on your horse's coat. A shedding blade is a thin strip of 1-2 inch stainless steel, with a handle on each end. The strip of steel has strong teeth on one side and often, a flat surface on the other. The metal teeth effortlessly pull out thick, dead hair from your horse's coat and the flat side can be used as a sweat scraper.
Curry Comb
A rubber curry comb is a very safe and effective horse shedding tool. Because it’s made from soft rubber, it can be used firmly on your horse. The rubber teeth are set out in circles and using them in circular motion is the best way to get deeply into your horse's coat. It brings dead skin up to the surface which can then be removed with a dandy brush.
A metal curry can also be used to remove thick horsehair. The metal teeth work in the same way as a grooming blade.
Grooming Gloves
Grooming gloves are a great way to keep your hands clean while removing dead hair from your horse. They're usually made of breathable material and have soft rubber nodules on the palms and fingers. With a pair of grooming gloves, you can use both hands to simultaneously groom your horse. They're also a great way to remove hair from delicate and hard to reach places.
Horse Shedding Block
A shedding block is similar to a big chunk of pumice stone and it’s great for removing dust, debris and loose hair. As well as removing hair, grooming blocks condition the hair and leave it with a healthy shine.
Vacuum
If you want to avoid the extra grooming that comes with the shedding season then you can invest in a horse grooming vacuum. These are expensive and may take your horse some getting used to but they effortlessly remove and collect any shedding hair.
Grooming Oil
No matter how many hours you spend grooming your horse during shedding season, there will always be loose hairs left on its coat. One way to mop up these loose strands is to use a soft cloth and some grooming oil to finish off your grooming session. The oil attracts any lose hair which then clings to the cloth.
How to Choose the Right Horse Shedding Tool
There's a huge range of shedding tools on the market so choosing the best one for your needs can be tricky. Below we've listed the main things to consider when it comes to choosing a horse shedding tool.
Horses Coat
The length and thickness of your horse's coat is the first thing to consider when it comes to choosing a shedding tool. If your horse has a thin coat then you should choose a softer tool such as a rubber curry or grooming block. For horses with thick woolly coats then choose harder, stronger tools such as a blade.
Comfort
For your horses comfort then you should choose tools that have been specifically designed to be used on equines. Other livestock shedding tools may be too harsh for horses. You should also consider buying two or three different grooming tools for using on different areas of your horse's body. A grooming blade isn’t suitable for use on the head, face or legs for example.
Ease of Use
When it comes to choosing grooming tools for horses then you should consider your comfort too. You’ll usually need to use a shedding tool rigorously so it has to feel comfortable in your hands. For extra comfort then look out for shedding tools with features such as hand straps or ergonomic handles.
Ease of Cleaning
Horse shedding tools have to deal with a lot of hair so you don’t want one that’s going to clog up after each stroke across the coat. This will take up twice the time you need for grooming. Make sure that the shedding tool you choose has a good method for dealing with too much hair. To save the most time, choose one that automatically releases the collected hair.
Reviews of the 6 Best Horse Shedding Tools on the Market
To help you in your search for the best horse shedding tool, we’ve reviewed our favorite ones below.
1. SleekEZ Deshedding Grooming Tool for Horses
This is one of the most comfortable and effective shedding tools for horses on the market that’s a favorite amongst horse owners. It effortlessly removes loose hair with patented, tooth and wave stainless steel teeth. These teeth are attached to a comfortable ergonomic, easy to use handle and it’s available in three different lengths, 2.5 inches, 5 inches, 10 inches.
Loose hairs don’t collect on this horse shedding brush, instead, they fall to the floor unaided. This will save you time when it comes to springtime grooming. This is a top-quality grooming tool that’s made in the USA and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
These are the most popular grooming gloves on the market and can be used on all kinds of pets as well as short and long-haired horses. The gloves are made from durable nylon and are secured at the wrist. They’re also fitted with non-abrasive flexible rubber nodules on the palms and fingers which are comfortable and pleasant for your horse.
These gloves are versatile and can be used for general grooming, bathing and massage as well as for de-shedding. They’re lightweight and comfortable to use with a flexible grip. They’re available in several colors and come in 5 sizes, including junior. These gloves are hypoallergenic, mildew resistant, chemical-free and are machine washable.
This is a fantastic metal shedding comb for horses from Both Winners that’s sure to remove hair easily from your horse's coat.
It has a soft ergonomic handle that's easy to use and it conforms to your hand for maximized control and comfort. By making an easy adjustment, you can use both sides of this reversible metal curry. One side has longer teeth for extra tough and hardened mud or particularly thick hair.
This is a strong and durable product that’s sure to last you through many shedding seasons.
When it comes to equine care then Farnham is a brand that you can trust. Their Slick N Easy grooming block is made from durable fiberglass and is easy to use. It effortlessly removes dust debris and loose hair from your horse's coat. As well as making your horse's coat look shiny and conditioned, this grooming block also makes a great shedding tool.
This is a versatile tool that can be used all year round and will give your horse a more beautiful coat in minutes.
If you’re looking for a blade then this one from Safari will make the molting season much easier.
It’s made from stainless steel and has both a coarse and fine edge for short and long coats. It can be used as a long blade with open handles for large coverage, or as a looped blade with the handles together. This blade has comfortable handles and it’s made to an ergonomic design.
All Coastal products are made in Ohio USA so quality is guaranteed.
This is a high-quality rubber curry comb from Le Salon essentials that your horse will love you using, particularly in shedding season. The firm rubber nodules will comfortably massage dead hairs away from your horse's body and it can be used for bathing too. The soft rubber design and loop handle means that this tool is very comfortable to use.
It’s durable and easy to clean too and is a useful grooming tool for any grooming kit.
Tips for Helping Your Horse Shed
If you’re in a hurry to get back into the show ring there are things you can do to help your horse shed it's coat quicker. Below are some common things that horse owners do to help speed up the shedding process.
Regular Grooming
The best way you can help your horse shed it's coat is with daily grooming sessions. Be vigorous and remove as much hair as you can in each session.
Clipping
Some owners will even get the clippers out at the end of the winter season to make the springtime molt less dramatic. If you do clip your horse, be sure to replace its hair with warm blankets in the early spring.
Exercise
Removing blankets and giving your horse regular exercise can also help with the shedding process. Exercise will get the horse's blood flowing and will encourage it to shed its hair. When you give your horse a break from blankets, they can roll around and itch away unwanted hair.
Bathing
Some owners swear by soaking their horses overnight in grooming oil and then bathing them the following day to remove winter hair. If you use this method, be sure to bathe your horse on a warm day and don’t overdo it with oils and shampoo. This could remove your horses natural, protective oils.
Daylight
Because it’s the horse's response to light that causes them to shed their winter coats then exposing them to more daylight can help them to get shedding. You can do this by opening up skylights and windows at the barn or by giving them more turn out time. In some cases, owners will even install artificial lights in their horses stable. These lights can fool horses into thinking it’s spring which makes them start shedding their winter coats.
How to Use a Shedding Blade on a Horse
A horse shedding blade looks like a severe type of grooming tool but as long as it’s used safely then it’s one of the best things for removing loose hair. Just like with all grooming brushes, you should use the blade in the direction of your horse's coat. Because it’s made from hard metal then you should always use the grooming tool with little pressure.
Be Cautious
Never use a shedding tool on delicate areas such as the face and legs or on horses who have short coats or delicate skin. And never go over areas where bones are sitting close to the skin, like the ribs, hips or spine. If you use the shedding blade in the wrong way then it can cut and injure your horse. You should use metal curry combs with the same caution as shedding blades.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best deshedding tool for horses then we highly recommend the SlickEZ Shedding Tool. This is the most comfortable tool for both you and your horse and it does an amazing job of effortlessly removing loose hair. This tool can be used all year round, making it a valuable piece of equipment to have in your grooming kit.
Shedding season is a satisfying part of the equestrian year. When your horse starts to lose its hair then you can be sure that spring is approaching and your horse will soon be shiny again. To make the molting season more comfortable for your horse and to get it looking at its best then it’s worth investing in some helpful grooming tools. By using this guide you’ll be able to pick out the best horse shedding tool for your needs.
