Have you ever wanted to know the grooming secrets of the top show grooms? When you watch a beautifully groomed hunter or jumper horse gliding effortlessly around the show ring, it’s easy to be mesmerized by their gleaming coat, perfectly braided mane, and overall polished appearance. You may not see the countless hours of meticulous care and expert grooming that go into preparing these equine athletes for competition.

But before we can get to the ‘secret tips’ we need to break things down. I want to start with the basics. So let’s talk about daily grooming. These are the steps you should strive for if you are planning on getting your horse to look his (or her) best. Then, the top-secret secrets will be the icing on the cake! So let’s get started on daily grooming….

Behind every stunning horse is a skilled groom working tirelessly to ensure every detail is perfect. While it might seem like achieving such perfection is reserved for professional show barns, many of the grooming secrets that top grooms use can be applied to horses at home. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective daily grooming techniques used by the pros and how you can incorporate them into your routine.
Consistency is Key
One of the biggest secrets of top grooms is that they don’t wait until show day to start grooming. Daily care is the foundation of a show horse’s impeccable appearance.

Make grooming a regular part of your routine, even when you aren’t showing. Daily currying, brushing, and mane/tail maintenance keep your horse’s coat shiny and free of tangles.
Spend time checking your horse for small issues like cuts, scrapes, or areas of dirt buildup that could lead to skin irritations if left untreated.
The Power of Proper Currying

Currying isn’t just for loosening dirt—it’s a key step in stimulating the skin and bringing out the natural oils in the horse’s coat. Top grooms curry for longer than you might think, working in circular motions to really massage the skin.
Take your time with currying. Spend a few extra minutes every day using a rubber curry comb, paying special attention to areas where dirt and dander accumulate, like the girth and flank.
Use a curry comb daily to loosen dirt and stimulate natural oils. This helps keep the coat shiny and healthy. The curry comb is a very useful tool to keep in your grooming tote. Personally, my favorite curry comb is made of rubber and has a web strap for you to slip your hand under.

It makes it easier to curry for longer periods. And let’s face it, if it’s easier to do, the more likely you are to do it.
After Currying Comes the Stiff Dandy Brush
A dandy brush is a stiff-bristled brush used for removing dirt, dried mud, and other debris from a horse’s coat, particularly after using a curry comb. The bristles are often made from natural fibers, synthetic materials, or a mix of both. Its main function is to flick away the loosened dirt and hair, especially from the horse’s legs, body, and areas with more caked-on dirt.
A stiff brush helps remove the dirt and loose hair brought to the surface of the hair coat by the curry comb. And even though the brush is doing the work, don’t put your curry comb away yet – use the curry to brush over the dandy brush every few strokes to remove the dirt, hair, and debris that will collect in the stiff brush.

Smooth and Polish with a Soft Body Brush
This is one of my favorite things to do, brush my horse to make him shine! And my favorite polishing brush is by Haas. You can see the wear on the handle in the picture. But this is by far my most treasured brush. I love the glossy look of my horse’s coat after I use this brush. Which is probably why it is so broken in – I use it all the time! I love this brush.

A soft brush adds the finishing touches by removing fine dust and giving the coat a polished, smooth look. It is usually referred to as a body brush.
A body brush for a horse, which is used to polish the coat and remove finer dust and debris after currying, should generally have shorter bristles. Short bristles are more effective at picking up and removing fine particles from the coat and can provide a smoother, shinier finish. They also help distribute the horse’s natural oils across the coat, which gives it that healthy, polished look.

For polishing the coat, natural bristles are generally considered better because they’re softer and more effective at distributing the horse’s natural oils, resulting in a smoother, shinier finish. If you want to get that show ring shine, like the pros, a natural bristle body brush is the preferred choice to get a beautiful shine without relying on a coat polish.
Synthetic bristles can still be effective, particularly for durability and ease of cleaning, but they may not offer the same level of finesse as natural bristles.
My absolute favorite soft brush to use is the Haas Diamond Gloss Soft Brush. If you want to have a shiny horse, this is the brush you need.

This brush has natural bristles, which help to get a better shine in a shorter amount of time. The dense bristles and leather handle are embedded in a waterproof sparkly black resin back without any glue, tacks, or other foreign material. I really like this. And the brush can be easily cleaned in light soapy water without changing shape or losing bristles. This is always one of the brushes I use on my horses to give them a little extra shine.
Clean and Detangle the Mane and Tail
Cleaning and detangling a horse’s mane and tail is an important part of grooming that helps maintain the horse’s overall appearance, comfort, and health. A well-maintained mane and tail not only look great but also prevent tangling, matting, and even discomfort for the horse.

Now this is when I will recommend, and use, a product on my horses mane and tail. I want to keep as many of those precious hairs as I can. The best detangler I have found is EQyss Survivor Super Detangler. And it truly is a SUPER detangler. But keep in mind that products like this one that use dimethicone, can build up in the hair and block water and nourishment from getting past the protective outer cuticle. This eventually can make the hair dry and brittle, and it may even weigh the hair down and make it appear flat. So the key to avoiding this is to use as little product as necessary to achieve desired results and wash the mane and tail thoroughly regularly to remove any build-up that can happen.
Grooming Secrets of Top Show Grooms
Ok, now the process….
Finger detangle first. This is important because if there are tangles, you want to work through them instead of ripping them out. This will take some time, but it will be worth it when your horse has a beautiful, thick, and flowing mane and tail!
Once you have worked through any tangles, now is when you use the mane and tail brush. And believe it or not, not all horse tail brushes are great for manes and tails. The best one I have found is made by BioMane.

Out of all of the tail brushes I have tried, this is the best by far. When you run the brush through a mane or tail, you can ‘feel’ when there is a snarl or tangle. Then you simply work through it, and you will save extra hairs.
One very important thing to remember when brushing a mane or tail is to start at the bottom and work your way up. Tangles tend to happen at the end of the hair. So it’s best to work through the tangles, and then work your way up. It also helps to section out the mane or tail, and work in a small area first versus the entire tail, or mane.
Clean the Face with a Damp Cloth or Soft Brush

The face is a sensitive area that can accumulate dirt, so a soft approach is needed. And using a damp towel is a perfect way to gently clean your horse’s face.
Wipe the eyes, nostrils, and muzzle gently with a damp towel, or use a soft brush designed for the face. Be gentle to avoid irritating the horse, and check for any signs of eye discharge or injuries. After you are done with the towel have a bin or something to collect used, washable laundry and bring them to your laundry room for cleaning. Sometimes an empty bucket is a great laundry hamper!

A 12×12 size cloth works well, and can be very affordable if you buy them in bulk. I bought a large package from Sam’s Club and I use them for everything in my barn. But if you don’t have a Sam’s Club, or Costco membership, Amazon has them as well. The Utopia Washcloth Set is a good deal, and they have over 67,000 reviews with a 4.6 rating.
Daily Hoof Care
I should have listed this first instead of last because daily hoof care is so important for our horses. Daily hoof care is essential to keep your horse’s feet clean and healthy, reducing the risk of infections like thrush, and checking for any injuries.
Clean and inspect the hooves daily. To clean the hooves, you need a strong and durable hoof pick. The best one I have bought is called the Ultimate Hoof Pick. I have the Jr. Size because it fits better in my hand. And it’s pink. I like that.

Another helpful tool for hooves is a stiff hoof brush. The Legend’s hoof brush is a wonderful addition to your grooming kit, trust me. I love this brush for removing debris from my horse’s hooves as well as removing dried mud. it also removes manure stains. This is very helpful, especially for my horse Jesse who seems to make it a goal to get manure on the white parts of his legs.

You can also apply a hoof conditioner or oil to prevent cracking and dryness. And it makes the hooves look great. To me, this is the finishing touch to the overall appearance of my horse. And it helps keep his feet healthy. Remember, no hoof, no horse.
Grooming Secrets of Top Show Grooms
Or maybe I should say the daily grooming secrets! When it comes to having your horse look the best, there are no shortcuts. It takes dedication on your part to get your horse to look incredible. I like to think of it as having my horses ready for a photo shoot at a moment’s notice.
Let’s go over everything in little bite-size bits:
Currying for Shine: Daily currying is a groom’s secret weapon. It increases circulation and brings natural oils to the surface, which gives the coat a natural glow.
Avoid Over-Washing: Show grooms know that bathing too often can strip the coat of essential oils. Use dry grooming techniques regularly and only bathe when necessary.
Tail Care Without Breakage: Top grooms often avoid brushing the tail daily. Instead, they use their fingers to detangle and condition the tail regularly to maintain thickness and prevent hair breakage.
Conditioning the Coat: Professional grooms often use a shine-enhancing spray or conditioner as a final touch. You can do the same at home, applying it after each grooming session to keep the coat soft and shiny.
Attention to Detail: It’s not just about speed – top grooms spend extra time on the little details. Make sure you clean hard-to-reach areas like between the legs, under the belly, and the delicate areas around the face.

I hope I have inspired you to focus on the daily grooming of your horse. It doesn’t have to take hours. Once you incorporate these steps into your daily routine, it will be worth it when you get ready to step into the show ring!
Happy Horse Grooming!
I am a great fan of Eqyss products. One of the reasons is that NONE of their products contain dimethicone (which is another name for silicone). I cannot stand that slippery feeling that silicone leaves on my hands and my horse. Eqyss products are made according to human standards use according to the company rep I just talked to which is another reason. For detangling my favorite is the Avocado Mist Conditioning spray. Smells sooo good! For questions about Eqyss products, 1-800-526-7469