At some stage of our lives we have all wanted a horse.
Some are lucky enough to actually achieve this dream.
Part of the fun of owning such a magnificent stallion, stunning mare or cute little pony is grooming them in order to make them look beautiful whether for pleasure or show purposes.
To look beautiful, a horse must be brushed, combed, washed, hooves picked and coat polished, which takes up to an hour each day.
Just like humans, horses require a number of different items in their grooming kit.
What essential equipment must a kit possess and how do they keep the horse looking healthy and attractive? It is vital that the kit must be kept together to ensure that nothing is lost; it can be stored easy and at the ready.
Some choose to store it in specially designed tough plastic pouches or shoulder bags while others may decide plastic tubs; tackle boxes or buckets are a better option.
A happy horse is one that likes to move around, go for rides and sometimes roll around on the ground.
These actions will no doubt pick up dirt and pieces of natural material such as leaves, twigs and small rocks.
A harsh rubber or plastic currycomb is used to slacken these in ground particles and hair.
The action of the currycomb also aids the natural oil production of the skin.
A dandy brush will remove debris left by the currycomb as well as any sweat marks, but it should only be used on the tougher parts of the horse due to its rigid elongated bristles.
Moistening the dandy acts as a water brush, which can be used to wet through the tail and mane.
The areas that cannot be brushed using this implement can be done so using a less harsh body brush, which eliminates less course particles while shining the coat.
A plastic, or metal, currycomb is used to remove the debris gathered in the dandy brush.
The mane and tail must also be maintained through the use of a mane brush to keep up its appearance.
This will detangle and unknot the hair for a slick, smooth and straighter look while eliminating debris.
Mane combs are not to be used to perform this function but can be used to section them for plaiting or thinning them out.
Other useful products to have in your kit include: hoof pick to clean the hoof, sponges to clean the face, shedding blade for tougher mud and assisting winter coat shedding, sweat scraper to mop water and sweat during the washing stage and a stable rubber for shining up at the end.
Of course there are numerous other non-essential but helpful tools that one can use to keep their pet looking beautiful: horse hoof paintbrush, hoof polish, clippers and hair shampoos and conditioners.
Grooming your horse can bring hours of enjoyment for both you and your horse.
Having the right tools in your kit can make keeping your pets looking beautiful a lot more convenient.
The only stressful factor when performing this task is what design and colour you want the kit to come in.