Haas Brushes Update

I've definitely written about the Haas line of brushes a number of times, but really, I like them that much. Of course, take this all with a grain of salt as I am not a groomer extraordinaire. I tend to go with a "less is more strategy," but if you like a pretty simple routine, we're on the same page. I started with purchasing the Fellglanzburste, and went from there.

The Haas Fellglanzburste

Right now, the Fellglanzburste and the Diva, the one with the lambswool center, live in my trailer, reserved for showing. I keep a grooming bag in my trailer so that I don't have to load and unload one more thing. The Diva is just too soft for everyday use, especially on a dirty coat. I did get to use it at a show two weeks ago, but I have to admit, it wasn't as awesome as I thought it was going to be. 

The Haas Diva

The brush is amazing; don't get me wrong. And in the past, even just last year, it would have been as wonderful as I had hoped. With Speedy's PPID (AKA Cushing's Disease), his coat has become just  a little rougher than when he was younger. His summer coat used to be ultra fine and soft. He would be nearly naked with his black skin visible beneath those super short hairs. Now, he's not so sleek and smooth, but it was lovely to use on his face and neck. He seemed to enjoyed the feel, but for the rest of his body, a super fine brush worked just as well.

Besides those two brushes, the Fellglanzburste and the Diva, I now have four others that I use every day, one of which has become a surprising favorite. For Speedy, I start every grooming session with the Striegel Curry Comb. Since his coat is rougher than in year's past, this thing has proven to be a real time saver. Even in July, he's still shedding, so it makes quick work of the loosest hairs and ground in dirt. When Izzy's coat was a little longer, he enjoyed it as well, but now that he's fully shed out, I don't use it on him unless he's really crusty. I think his thin coat makes it a little uncomfortable.

The Haas Striegel

After the Striegel, I pull out the Schimmel. It's the Schimmel that I am most surprised about. This thing is stiff, stiff, stiff, but Speedy doesn't mind it at all. I can't touch Izzy with it right now, but it works wonders on Speedy's stains. It claims to work well on removing stains from white coats, and initially I was doubtful, but after using it for several months, I can say that it is absolutely the truth - that is if your horse can tolerate the stiff coconut fiber bristles. In the photo below, you can see how much dirt it lifted even after the Striegel.

The Haas Schimmel

Once I've scrubbed out the deep dirt, I switch to the Parcour. Both horses like this brush a lot. It's nearly identical to the Fellglanzeburste, but it scrubs just a tiny bit deeper. Often times, I start with this brush when I am grooming Izzy, especially now that he's shed out. But even in the wintertime, this is a great all around brush. It's soft, but it brushes through the hairs instead of just gliding over the top. Even after using the curry and the coconut fiber brushes, you can still see the fine dirt the Parcour has lifted.

The Parcour

I finish both horses with the Diamond Gloss. Speedy really enjoys this brush. He will often swing his head around to look at what I am doing. It must offer a different sensation than the others because he notices when I've switched to this brush. The Diamond Gloss isn't as soft as the Diva of course, but it is still pretty soft. It works great on the face and is perfect for lifting off those last specks of dust. I also like using it to smooth out their tails as well.

The Haas Diamond Gloss

If you're interested in the Haas line of brushes, it can be really hard to choose with which ones to start. Initially, I found the whole line quite confusing. Now that I've purchased a half dozen of them, I've come to realize that many of them are repeated; they just fit in a different "line." One way to identify which line you're looking at is by checking out the back handle of the brush. They can be ordered to sort of create a set. Some are colorful, some have the diamond back, some have the straps, some are longer, some have plain wooden backs, and so on. 

Myself, I prefer the oval brushes with a strap, and I like horsehair bristles. If you read the descriptions of two brushes, and they sound very similar, it's probably because they only differ stylistically. Of course the composition of the fibers might also be different. Some have horsehair bristles, others are from natural fibers like coconut, while still others might be synthetic.

My current collection - all oval with hand straps. Four have horsehair (one with lambswool), one is plastic, and the last one has coconut fibers.

I noticed that Haas now has hoof picks. I may have to toss one of those in my cart the next time I place an order. I haven't seen another brush that I need, but I am keeping the option to add to my collection. You just never know!