What can grooming help to prevent in horses?

• A. Skin diseases like rain rot, dermatitis, and scratches.
• B. Colic.
• C. Tooth decay.
• D. Lameness.

Answer: (A)

Grooming primarily supports skin hygiene and helps prevent skin problems. Regular brushing and currying remove dirt, sweat, and loose hair, which helps keep the skin dry and less hospitable to bacteria and fungi. Keeping the coat clean and the skin dry reduces the chance of infections such as rain rot, dermatitis, and scratches. Grooming also gives you a close look at the horse’s skin, so you can spot early signs of trouble and treat them before they worsen. Colic, tooth decay, and most lameness are not prevented by grooming—these issues involve internal systems or the legs themselves, though you may notice early clues to lameness while grooming.