Grooming for many people is very important as it shows how much care you take in cleaning your horse. There are many types of brush the curry comb a dandy brush a body brush a duster dandy brush and many more. When people take their horses to shows they normally groom them very carefully and well. The most important place on a horse to groom or in this case pick out is the hoof. The hoof makes a big difference in weather the horse can use them properly. The longer you put off grooming your horse the more likely the horse is to get ill or at least get very muddy. Some times the mud is just impossible to get off so i would either try a harder brush or try some hot water and a sponge to try and scrub it off, and if that does not work use hot water and a dandy brush.
If you brush your horse before you ride and then after your pony or horse should stay clean. If you are putting your horse/pony out in the field and they have a tendency to role in the mud right after they have just been brushed then put a coat on them let them role wait until they move out into the field go up to them take off the coat and send them off, you might just find that they wont go back to the mud which is normally by the gate until you or some one else goes over and calls him or her. This is only what has happened in my own experience so it might not apply to all horses or ponies.
When grooming an area that your horse is sensitive about it is best to ether give the horse a hay net or just give him/her something else it concentrate on, if that still does not work rub the brush or tack which you want to use and rub it on their nose. Then put pressure where you want to groom or tack up and then slowly put the brush or tack on the area slowly continue.
