Guide to Safe Electric Grooming Safe Grooming With the BackPack Groom ‘N Vac Most horses and ponies take to electric grooming very easily provided you are careful about how you introduce them. Introduce your horse to the BackPack Groom ‘N Vac in the same way you would to a set of clippers i.e. VERY SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY. Time spent now will avoid problems later and ensure that your horse is relaxed about the experience. Step by Step Guide to Electric Grooming This is the best way we have found to accustom the horse to the Groom ‘N Vac and how to get the best grooming results. Step 1. Well away from the horse assemble the Groom ‘N Vac ready for grooming. Without turning it on familiarise yourself with the machine, how to fit and adjust the harness and the on/off and power speed controls. To turn the machine on you will need to depress the upper button and turn it to adjust the speed (and therefore noise). Step 2. With the machine on your back become familiar with the location of the on/off switch so that you can turn the machine off quickly if you need to. The lower button is for retracting the flex. If you need to move around retract the flex and store the brush end of the hose using the velcro loop on the belt as shown: Step 3. Remove the Groom ‘N Vac from your back and get the horse ready for grooming. Find a suitable place to tie the horse up - a stable or other confined area. You might want to give him a haynet to occupy him. Step 4. It’s a good idea to let the horse get used to the noise of the Groom ‘N Vac for a while before starting to groom him. Plug the machine in and position it a short distance away from the horse, e.g. just outside his stable. Turn it on at the slowest, quietest setting and leave it running. As he gets used to the noise move it nearer and gradually turn it up to full speed. Continue to leave the machine running. Step 5. Keep the machine still running in the background a short distance away from the horse and then, when the horse seems relaxed, take the unattached body brush and quietly introduce the horse to it. (The body brush is the best one to use for this as it is the softest). Let him look at it, sniff and touch the brush if he wants to. Then start to groom him very gently with the unattached brush until he is used to it. Go very gently around his head if he will tolerate this - if not, do not force the issue. Similarly use the unattached mane brush on his mane. Then turn the machine off and attach the body brush onto the end of the hose. Step 6. When the horse seems relaxed about the brushes put the machine on your back and secure the harness. Pull out only as much flex as you need so that it does not trail on the ground. IMPORTANT - AS WITH CLIPPERS YOU MUST USE AN AUTOMATIC POWER SUPPLY CUT OFF. Turn the machine on again - this time on the lowest setting - and approach the horse at the shoulder with your back away from him and holding the body brush in the hand away from his head (assuming you are right handed, stand on the left and vice versa). Again let him get used to the noise. Step 7. Then begin grooming gently. Take long gentle strokes. When the horse is comfortable with the body brush (just on the body, not the head), you can introduce the mane brush. If your horse is happy with it you can use the body brush around his head, however, some horses are not so comfortable with this so use your discretion. It may be better to wait until the horse is completely comfortable with the machine. The usual routine will be to use the mane brush first, followed by the body brush. When using the body brush gently brush the hair at an angle for the first pass then brush it in the direction in which it grows (like applying a quarter marker). Step 8. When you have finished you can use the vacuum hose to clean off the brushes. Make sure you empty the dust chamber and clean the filter regularly - see accompanying general operating instructions for the machine. How often should I use the Groom ‘N Vac? The Groom ‘N Vac is extremely effective and so it should not be over used. You need to avoid stripping out too much of the natural oils in the horse’s coat because this could result in skin problems. Much depends on whether the horse is stabled and rugged or lives out but generally five or ten minutes in total per side is adequate and usually it is unnecessary to groom more than a couple of times a week, except for the moulting seasons.