How to Remove Burrs From Horses

When your horse comes to you with burrs stuck to different parts of its body, it can be quite disheartening. Not only are burrs often difficult to remove, but doing so can break the horse's mane and tail hairs. Burrs can also irritate a horse's eyes, ears, and nose. Although it might be tempting to cut out heavily matted burrs, with patience and proper grooming technique, this is usually unnecessary.

Detangling Burrs From Hair

If there are only a few burrs and they've been there briefly, you can probably pull them out with your fingers. However, thick mats of burrs might require a more aggressive approach.

The easiest way to break up a mat of burrs is to soak the area with a detangler or baby/mineral oil. This is a particularly useful grooming tip for the mane and tail areas. Allow the oil or detangler to sit for a moment to soften the burrs before you start removing them.

Start from the bottom of the mat and gradually pull apart the hairs while dislodging the burrs. Gently brush the hairs as you proceed, being careful not to break them. Avoid using a metal comb or rake, as these can break the hair. Grooming sprays can help, especially those containing ingredients that make the hair slippery.

The burrs and grooming products can irritate your hands, so keep a good pair of gloves for this task. A close-fitting pair of rubberized gardening gloves can offer enough dexterity while protecting your hands.

Getting Rid of Burr Plants

Once you've removed all the burrs from your horse, make sure you dispose of them in a place where they won't sprout. Dumping them in a manure pile or sweeping them out the barn door might result in a crop of burrs near your barn. Don't put them in a composter either. Instead, throw them in the garbage or burn them at your next bonfire.

To avoid encountering burrs again, you'll need to eradicate the weeds from your paddocks and pastures. The common burdock is a biennial plant. It grows leaves and roots in its first year, and it flowers and goes to seed in its second year before dying.

There are two times when you can cut down burdock to stop its growth. Early in the spring, use a sharp spade to chop the first leaves as they appear at soil level. This should kill the plant. However, if the plant already has leaves, cut it down just as it begins to flower. This way, the plant believes it has produced seeds and won't grow again. If you cut down the plant before it flowers, it will attempt to regrow and flower the following year.

You can try chemical herbicides, but they must be used cautiously in horse pastures. Horses typically need to be kept away from any sprayed areas until the herbicide is dry.