IVC Haas Brush Guide

Quite often, those unfamiliar with the myriad of Haas brushes are overwhelmed with the choices available.  They often come to us with questions about which ones to select.  There are other companies who have packaged brush sets based on the coat color of the horse.  We take it one step further.  We ask the customer what the soil type is on the property where the horse is kept.  We have found that you may need to use different brushes depending on what type of soil is on the horse.  Sandy soil types have larger particle sizes than clay-based soils, and clay-based soils have greater “sticking power” than dry, sandy-based soils.  Horses’ dark-colored coats will show more fine dust than light-colored coats.  Dark coat hair may also be finer than lighter coat hair.

So based on that information, we recommend the following brush sets in the chart below to our customers for the best possible grooming result.  The brushes are listed in the order in which you should use them.  We liken brushing horses to sanding on a fine piece of wooden furniture.  You would use a heavier grit sandpaper first to remove major imperfections in the wood (like using a stiff brush for large dirt particles), and then use medium grit sandpaper before finishing with fine grit sandpaper to smooth those tiny imperfections in the wood (like using a soft brush for fine dirt/dust).  By using the different grades of the Haas horsehair brushes, you remove a greater quantity of dirt from your horse’s coat, and bring the oils to the surface, producing a natural shine!

Every set starts with the Haas Striegel New Generation Curry.  When we first got this brush, we were skeptical.  All curries are about the same, right?  Nope!  There is something about this brush that breaks up dirt easily so that you can get it off with the following brushes.  The bonus regarding the Striegel Curry is that it DOES NOT plug up with shedding hair!  Yup, it’s really that awesome.

The next brushes in the sets are stiff or very stiff depending on your soil type.  They bring the loose mud and dirt to the surface and remove the larger particles.  You might not have to use the very stiff brush if your horse isn’t full of mud on that particular day, starting instead with the stiff brush after the curry. The medium brushes take off the medium size dirt particles to make the using the following soft brushes easier to really get that last bit of dirt off the coat. The final brushes on the lists (marked with an *) are excellent at removing dust and really only necessary if you are going to take your horse to competitions.  While you can use them every day, it probably isn’t that necessary (but it is oh-so-satisfying to see that dust leave!).

One other point about the Diva lambswool finishing brush, you might want to get two, one for your horse and one for you!  It is not uncommon for customers to spend some time “petting” and caressing the Diva to their delight!  We had one customer call it the "emotional support brush"!  

*Necessary for competitions

The following brushes have a benefit of being either dual use, or are designed for a specific use.

For Everyday to just get the main dirt off, we recommend the following brushes:

Capriole – medium everyday brush

Effect - (two-in-one stiff and soft brush you can rotate to use either way)

Putzi - (two-in-one curry and medium brush)

For Face / Children’s brush – these are smaller, medium soft brushes

Kopfburste

Schmuseburste

Grundy's Finest Smile

For Washing – a superior way to wash.  No soap & water running down your arm!

Kombi – sponge and synthetic bristles

Men’s Size - for larger hands.  

Military - the most excellent stiff brush that convinced my husband to not hate brushing horses!  Yup, it's that good. 

Turnier – medium everyday brush

May we also suggest having two sets of brushes if you compete, or at least having two sets of the medium to soft brushes to use on already clean horses that may just have a bit of dust on them from the show stall.  Keeping one set of brushes cleaner for washed horses will save time in not having to wash dirty brushes before going to the show.  That being said, all Haas brushes are known for their cleanability properties.  You can just handwash Haas brushes in some mild soap in the sink and let dry overnight.

If you haven’t tried Haas brushes, you are missing out on a delightful and satisfying experience.  It is really great to see the mud, dirt, and dust leave the horse’s coat instead of just being moved around on it!  We have known people who have hated grooming horses who find it utterly enjoyable with Haas brushes.                      

P.S. - If you are reading this and considering buying Haas brushes, we do appreciate it if you purchase them from us.