Have you ever noticed that many pictures of horse owners feature them brushing their horse down? Why is it so important to brush your horse’s hair using the best horse brushes on the market?
The first reason is that a lot of dirt and debris can get tangled in a horse’s hair while riding. If you put a saddle on your horse without removing this debris, these things can irritate the horse’s skin, causing sores on its body.
Another reason that brushing is so important is that it helps your horse’s coat to stay shiny and healthy. Brushing it regularly ensures that the natural oils secreted by the horse’s skin are distributed evenly. A rubber brush can help you do this more effectively.
In this article, we will give our top five picks for the best horse brushes available on the market, and why we think they’re worth checking out.
Quick Guide For The Best Horse Brushes- Consumer Highlights Of Each Brand
In a hurry? Here is a condensed list of our favorite options based on their best characteristics.
Best Overall: Both Winners Mane and Tail Brush
“This was absolutely a dream come true. A wonderful brush, not too heavy, not harsh. Super easy to clean. A great product, absolutely worth a try.”
Best Alternative: Wahl Professional Equine Grooming Brush
“This little tool is FANTASTIC!! After currying the horses down with the curry comb, there was still a lot of winter coat to brush off, even in the state of Georgia where we usually have mild winters. Several swipes with this gadget and it takes even more off. Course, as everyone knows who owns horses, it takes a lot of grooming to ride the horses with their winter coats, this helps A LOT!”
Best for Thicker Hair: Tail Tamers Rainbow Paddle Mane
“My horse has a very thick, wavy and long mane. Most brushes and combs pull too much hair out when I groom. This paddle brush does a great job of brushing the mane without removing too much hair.”
Best for Horse Mane and Tail: Wahl Professional Equine Mane and Tail Horse Brush
“Finally found a brush that is perfect for brushing manes and tails! Love it! This brush is going to last a lot longer compared to all the others we have had. We use it on several horses daily and it works great!”
Best for Horse Face: Decker Face Brush for Horses
“I purchased this brush to use on a horse who just wasn’t comfortable with a larger brush being used on her face. The bristles are so soft and she really seemed to enjoy the feel of it. This brush, though tiny, is easy to hold. I recommend this brush.”
Best Horse Brushes: Review
1. Both Winners Mane And Tail Brush
The handle also comes with a soft touch grip that increases your comfort level. The bristles on the brush are soft but sturdy, making sure that they do not hurt your horse while also brushing its hair effectively. The rounded edges on the bristles make it safer for your horse.
The bristles are designed in a way that ensures that you can get deep into your horse’s coat. This can not only get rid of the dust and debris on the surface but can also reach deep within and knock out loose stray hairs from the undercoat.
The circular design of the brush also allows you to brush your horse’s hair in multiple directions without causing knots or pulling it.
One problem verified customers have noticed with this brush is that it occasionally does not work very effectively for a horse’s tail, which generally has a thicker coat. If you have a horse with a very thick or rough coat, you might want to look at alternate options.
Specifications:
- Brand: Both Winners
- Color: Blue
- Material: Plastic
- Shape: Circular
- Package dimensions: 9.92 x 7.17 x 1.89 inches
- Item weight: 5.43 ounces
Pros
- Soft and sturdy bristles with rounded tips (safe for horse)
- Removes hair from undercoat as well
- Minimizes breakage
- Can be used in multiple directions because of the circular bristle arrangement
Cons
- Not suitable for very thick hair
- Might not work on a horse’s tail because of longer hair length
2. Wahl Professional Equine Grooming Brush
Compared to the Both Winners brand, the bristles on the brush are much closer together. This means that if your horse’s face has ticks or other debris that has settled in, it will get knocked out. The bristles are also thin and soft, allowing you to brush your horse’s face without accidentally hurting it.
The soft bristles also ensure that horses of all ages can benefit from this brush. The sebum produced by the horse’s skin will get distributed evenly, leading to a shiny and healthy coat.
However, you should keep in mind that this brush is not meant for other parts of the horse’s body that have a thicker coat. While you can still use it for horses with light coats, you might want to look at different alternatives with bristles spaced apart for rougher parts of the horse’s body.
One problem with dense brushes is that they can be difficult to clean. If you use this on a horse’s tail, it might collect a lot of debris that will take multiple washes to remove. For this reason, it is advised that this brush be only used on a horse’s face.
Specifications:
- Brand: Wahl
- Color: Black
- Material: Rubber
- Shape: Rectangular
- Package dimensions: 2 x 2.5 x 6.25 inches
- Item weight: 5.92 ounces
Pros
- Thin, soft, and densely packed bristles to make your horse’s face easy to brush
- Patented ergonomic rubber grip for a comfortable brushing
- Dense bristles ensure proper distribution of sebum produced by the horse’s skin
Cons
- Not suitable for thicker or coarser hair because of the densely packed bristles
- Difficult to clean if used on other parts of the horse’s body that collect dust and debris
3. Tail Tamers Rainbow Paddle Mane
Besides just making the brush look good, the rainbow bristles also help you spot debris or loose hair once you brush your horse with it. This makes cleaning it easier. It can also help you check if your horse is shedding too much hair by checking the brush’s contents.
The brush also has a unique design where the bristles are featured in wavy designs instead of straight ones. The curves on the bristles help penetrate the coat of the horse further and can effectively knock out dust and loose hair from the top of the coat as well as the undercoat.
The brush pads included on the brush are slotted and laser sealed. This ensures that they are tightly fit in the base of the brush, so brushing coarse, thick, or rough hair will not pull them out of the brush.
The rubber grip handle on the brush is ribbed to make sure that you have a tight, comfortable grip while brushing your horse’s hair. The brush comes in a rounded square shape, letting you brush your horse’s hair in multiple directions without facing problems like knots.
While the bristles are attached well to the base of the brush and will not come off, verified customers have claimed that the bristles themselves are slightly weak and not of the highest quality.
Some customers have also reported that the bristles have broken while brushing their horse’s tail. The rainbow color on the bristles might also not appeal to everyone.
Specifications:
- Brand: Tail Tamers
- Color: Rainbow
- Material: ABS Plastic + Rubber
- Shape: Rounded square
- Package dimensions: 10.75 x 1.5 x 4 inches
- Item weight: 4.8 ounces
Pros
- Laser sealed bristles are strongly attached to base of the brush
- Rounded rectangle design lets you brush in multiple directions without knotting hair
- Wavy design of bristles is good for massaging and for reaching deeper portions of horse’s hair
Cons
- Not the strongest bristles; customers have reported some breakage while brushing tails
- Rainbow color choice might not be the best fit for everyone
4. Wahl Professional Equine Mane and Tail Horse Brush
The bristles on the brush are long and come with rounded tips. This ensures that while the brush can easily reach difficult spots in the undercoat and in the tail of the horse, it will not hurt the animal’s skin. The rounded bristles also ensure that the sebum produced by the horse’s skin is distributed evenly for a healthy, shiny coat.
The brush can also be used to give your horse a gentle massage and knock out loose hair, dirt, and debris from its coat. This is especially important for horses that you ride, as putting a saddle on the animal without brushing its coat can lead to sores and other injuries if there is debris stuck in its coat.
The brush comes with a patented ergonomic design and a rubber grip that is comfortable to hold in your hand, giving your horse the most comfortable brushing experience. The brush also curves forward from the handle, making it easier to reach the more difficult spots in the horse’s mane and tail.
One complaint verified customers have mentioned with this brush is that it can be difficult to clean. It might also be difficult to see the hair on the brush if you own a horse with black or very dark hair.
Specifications:
- Brand: Wahl
- Color: Black and gray
- Material: Rubber
- Shape: Rectangular
- Package dimensions: 2.75 x 3.25 x 9.75 inches
- Item weight: 5.43 ounces
Pros
- Long bristles help you reach difficult spots in the undercoat, mane, and tail of the horse
- Rounded bristles ensure that your horse does not get scratched or hurt
- Handle curves forward, enabling user to reach difficult spots
Cons
- Can be difficult to clean
- Hair on the brush might be difficult to spot because of the dark color
5. Decker Face Brush for Horses
This brush is made specifically for horse’s faces, and features a small design with soft bristles. The brush is made out of wood and provides a gentle touch for sensitive areas on a horse’s face.
The small size of the brush also ensures that it can fit in your hand easily, providing a comfortable experience for both you and your horse.
However, the bristles on the brush are very densely packed. The size of the brush is very small as well. This only makes it suitable for your horse’s face and might not work for other parts of its coat.
Specifications:
- Brand: Decker
- Color: Brown
- Material: Wood
- Shape: Rectangular
- Package dimensions: 1.8 x 1.8 x 4.8 inches
- Item weight: 3.2 ounces
Pros
- Soft bristles are ideal for sensitive areas
- Small size fits comfortably in your hand
- Perfect for grooming horse’s face
Cons
- Bristles are too soft for other parts of the horse’s body
- Small size of the brush doesn’t cover large volume of body
Now That You’ve “Brushed” Up On The Basics About The Best Horse Brushes Available, It’s Time To Choose One!
Brushing your horse’s hair on a regular basis can help to achieve a shiny coat and also prevent injuries and diseases. We hope that this buying guide about the best horse brushes available today has helped you make an informed decision about which of these options is the best fit for your needs!