1. Tie the horse securely in the stable with a quick-release knot. Cross ties work particularly well for grooming purposes.  If your horse is not used to cross ties, introduce the concept of cross ties to your horse slowly!  They can’t easily see the ropes connected to their cheeks and won’t immediately understand what is going on.

  2. Clean the horse's hooves with a hoof pick. Gently squeeze the back of the leg near the tendons and command the horse to raise his hoof. Hold it comfortably and dig out any detritus with the pick until the hoof is clean. Then use a small brush to brush any remaining debris away from the hoof.  Depending on the state of the frog, you may need to cut away a flapping frog with a hoof knife.  Clean all four hooves.

  3. Curry the horse's coat with a comb or grooming mitt. Sweep it along the horse's body in broad circular strokes, starting with the neck and working your way down to the flanks. Watch the horse's body language as you do so. If he swishes his tail against the stable wall or his ears go flat, you may be brushing too hard.  Try to maintain constant contact with your horse to reassure them but also to let them know where you are currently at.

  4. Brush the horse's mane and tail with a proper comb. Work out any tangles as you go and remove any nettles or burrs. It pays to use short strokes starting near the bottom of the tail and slowly work your way up to the base.

  5. Whisk away any remaining dirt on the horse's body with a body brush. Start on the top of the neck and work your way down one side, then repeat the process on the other side. Check the horse's body for any cuts or irritations as you do so.

  6. Clean the horse's face with a finish brush, using gentle strokes to get rid of any dust.

  7. Wipe the area around the horse's eyes, ears and muzzle with a sponge or soft cloth. Remove any detritus that you find there.

  8. Remove the horse from the stable stall and sweep out the area where you have cleaned. You can then return the clean horse to the stable.

Two more things. 

If your horse is kept out in a stall or pasture during a cold winter you may not want to brush your horse to much as that might disrupt the structure and oils of your horses winter coat.  Simply removing major debris such as mud and burrs should suffice.

And, if your horse is not a show horse and doesn’t need to stay super pretty and clean at all times, once you are done with the steps defined above – let your horse go for a good role.  I usually go through the above steps for the chance to bond with my horse and the opportunity to identify any problems with my horse rather than simply for the sake of keeping a clean horse.  A horse in the wild is never kept this clean.  Let your horse be dirty and happy!  Nothing puts a smile on my face more than seeing my big beast roll and frolic in the dirt (also, this is really an opportunity for your horse to adjust their back!).