I use a stiff bristled “cowboy” brush to groom
before riding, and do the saddle area especially well. It’s much too cold
here to hose down before or after riding, but I do hose the muddy, sweaty, sticky
gunk off their legs afterwards. Then again use the cowboy brush to remove gunk
everywhere else when they’re still wet, and once again after they dry to
fluff them up as much as possible. I’ve never had any skin problems with
the horses.
