
Grooming Tips and Tricks from Sara Kelson
Grooming Tips and Tricks from Sara Kelson
As the head groom for Sara Kozumplik, I have lots of tips and tricks that I’ve put to good use. Here are a few tips that might help you and your horses!
Tip #1: Always have cookies on hand
Any kind of praise or reward– like pats or cookies– will always foster a positive feeling in the horses. My favorites to give them are Mrs. Pastures Horse Treats! Sara’s horses often look to me to know that they’ve done a good job, so I always make sure to give them as much praise as possible. Giving them that positive environment has resulted in them wanting to try extra hard! Horses are like people, the better you treat them, the harder they want to try for you.
Tip #2: Keep track of patterns
I like to constantly take mental notes of how all the horses are doing. Physically, I pay attention to what’s normal for them on a daily basis, which makes it easier to spot a problem if it arises. If they’re not performing at their usual level, I take a step back and think about what I can do to help them. It’s great to have myself, as well as our team, assess the horses and work together to pinpoint what areas might need to be addressed.
I also make sure to ask Sara how each horse felt during her rides. Combining what I see in the barn with what Sara feels under saddle helps me keep track of how the horses are doing each day. Sometimes, I get to ride her horses and we compare notes on how they feel physically. When I notice that a horse is performing really well at a certain event, I think back to what went into the lead-up to the event and recreate that for future competitions.
Tip #3: Routines are key
Something really important to us is keeping the routines for the horses as similar as possible from being at home to going to the show. They normally eat their hay off the ground at home, so that’s how they’re fed at shows. The horses are normally turned out every night, but of course at a show they don’t get any turnout. So, it’s really important that I get them out to graze as much as possible when at an event. Each horse has a different routine when it comes to their riding schedules, so I also try to keep those the same at shows. Having a routine as consistent as possible keeps them at ease and they know exactly what’s coming next.
Tip #4: Whiten in moderation
From grays to bays with white socks, whitening is a crucial part of my process to keep them looking their best. But, it can be easy to get carried away with too much whitening product. A product I cannot live without is Quic Silver. You don’t want to bathe the horses– especially grays– too much because their hair will get really dry and actually attract more stains than not. If you don’t bathe them as much, they’ll have more natural oils, which can make it easier to get the stains out!
The other thing with grays is accepting that their tails might have chestnut or brown hairs, so the tail might never be completely white. When you have a tail like that, it’s better to treat it like a normal one, knowing there is some natural brown color in there. Otherwise, if you go overboard with the purple shampoo, you’ll end up with a purple and brown tail!
Betadine is also a great product, not only for nicks and cuts, but it’s also perfect to whiten socks in a pinch. Sometimes if I forget Quic Silver, Betadine is my next go-to.
These are just a few tips and tricks that keep me, Sara, and the horses happy, healthy, and performing their best. Whether we’re at home or at an event, these four tips have been very useful over the years!