Will the hair ever end????

One thing I have learned about minis is they get a LOT of winter hair and shedding season goes on and on ... and on.  It also varies in degree from mini to mini.  I remember my big horses having a moderate winter coat and just quietly shedding with a little grooming here and there, and before I knew it they were slick and shiny without all that much effort from me.  Babe, who is still here, is like that.  But with the minis, it's like the invasion of little yaks and it's curry, curry, curry ... and then curry some more.  And, they are STILL hairy!!

Here are some tools I use in my fight against the fur:

Left to right:  mane/tail comb.  I love this one because it is easy to grip and does a great job going through thick tails.  I use a silicone based detangler as needed.  I've heard about it drying out horse's hair, but I haven't experienced that myself.  This stuff makes manes/tails easier to comb without ripping the hair.  It also repels dirt in between treatments.  I just bought a Sleek EZ yesterday (5" size).  This works great on Jerry (AKA Hairy Jerry!).  I didn't like it as much for Rosie, and she didn't seem to like it much either.  I find it more tiring to grip, but some of that could be my grip strength is still not 100% from the nerve damage affecting my hands from my cervical spine problem still healing after surgery.  I didn't try the Sleek EZ on Babe because I was worn out by the time I got done with the minis and just ran a quick metal curry over her--Sorry Babe, you'll get the royal treatment tomorrow.  The little pink brush with black bristles is a face brush.  I never used a little brush until I got the minis--their faces are so small, I have to use a small brush so I don't take out an eye with a swipe from a regular sized brush.  The yellow tool is my Furminator knock-off.  I LOVE this.  This works the best on Rosie, who has soft hair and she seems to like the feel of it better than the Sleek EZ.  The old reliable round metal curry comb with the handle works pretty well for everyone, especially on dried mud and I find it the easiest one to use while I'm healing from my neck surgery.  I don't think it removes the amount of hair that the Furminator and the Sleek EZ do though.  And, last but not least, a good body type brush for giving them a final brushing to make them a little sleeker.

Jerry walks around looking like either he is ready to go out dancing ... or, he's homeless and lives in a ditch.  Not really any in between for Jerry. 

Jerry as the "homeless hobo":

And Jerry after his beauty treatment:

Big difference, huh?!  And, in case you want to see the full extent of the Jerry hair removed today, mostly by the Sleek EZ with a little help from the metal curry.  It's like a pony died there!

There was plenty left that wanted to come off his body if my body would have held up. 

Rosie was locked in her stall while I was grooming Jerry because she will never leave us alone.  She was extra quiet and I peeked in to see her lying down sleeping.  It was really cute.  She got up when I told her she looked cute and then it was her turn for grooming.

Rosie looks pretty much the same all the time.  Usually clean and pretty despite whatever yuck the weather man throws our way.  As I said before, she is a true Princess! 

Here is her before grooming pic:

And here is her after grooming pic.  A little sleeker, a little neater, but really not much difference.

I think grooming took 30 pounds off her!  I wonder if the Furminator will do that for me??

I love grooming the minis much more than I ever liked grooming the big horses.  For one thing, it goes faster.  I can do two minis in the time it takes to do one side of a big horse.  The minis also seem to LOVE grooming.  Sometimes I bring a chair out and sit with Rosie just loose in the paddock and she will practically climb on my lap to get just the right places scrubbed and scratched by the combs and brushes.  Jerry just plain appreciates grooming.  I can see him saying "Thank you Mom" while I'm doing it, and when I halter and tie him for grooming, which seems to make him feel safer, I think it's one of the few times he forgets he's a nervous little guy who worries too much.  It's a great way to bond with my little friends.