Which brush is used mainly for dislodging dirt before using a body brush?

The dandy brush is specifically designed for dislodging dirt, mud, and loose hair from a horse's coat before finer grooming steps are undertaken. Its stiff bristles efficiently remove debris from the coat, particularly in areas where dirt tends to accumulate. This brush is effective for getting down into the coat and lifting out larger particles before a softer body brush is used to smooth the coat and remove the finer dust and dirt particles.

In contrast, other tools serve different purposes: a sponge is better suited for cleaning sensitive areas such as the horse's face or to apply water or cleaning solutions; a body brush, made with softer bristles, is intended for the final grooming after the dandy brush has completed its job; and a mane brush is specialized for detangling and smoothing the mane and tail, not for the coat. Thus, the dandy brush is the appropriate choice for the initial phase of grooming.