Bathing during Winter

[SharonP]

I've temporarily moved my horse to a barn with a heated wash stall. My horse is filthy, but I don't want to risk bathing her this time of year. This Friday (day after Thanksgiving) I'll be at the barn, and it should be in the low 40s.

However, would it be okay to wash her tail only? (Her formerly white tail is now brown.) I will towel dry it as thorougly as possible. When dry, I want to put it in a tail bag for the winter months.

Is this okay, or should I avoid washing all together and wait until spring?

Thanks!

[ErinC]

I bought this Kick A.... stuff at the Equine Affair,
spray it on, wrap it up for a few hours, and brush it out,
O MY GOD!
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!
it brakes up all the SMEG and GRIM and wala its white again! :v:

[pasorider]

Erin, what is the name of the stuff? Where can we get it?

[ErinC]

http://www.healing-tree.com/Wow.html

I got mine at the Equine Affair.
but I think jeffers sells it too.

[SharonP]

http://www.healing-tree.com/Wow.html

I got mine at the Equine Affair.
but I think jeffers sells it too.
I have this, but I'm not wrapping her up. What kind of blanket do you use for "wrapping?"

[Terry Wallace]

YES..it would be fine to wash her tail....don't worry so much about it!:biggrin:

Just keep her out of any wind....if her hind legs become soaked in the process.

[ErinC]

I just tie it up in a sox
then let it down ,and brush it out.
only for a short time, while I run around and do a few other things.

[SharonP]

I just tie it up in a sox
then let it down ,and brush it out.
only for a short time, while I run around and do a few other things.
Oh, I thought you meant you wrap the whole horse!! DUH! :o

[Finogirl]

I would not worry about just washing a tail in the low 40s or 30s as your horse could get a lot wetter standing out in a rain storm. We had a 'cracker' the other night, thunder and lightening, temps down in the 30s and hail and a couple of inches of rain, I was totally amazed that my 2 horses rugs kept them so dry !!

[Soltera]

I worked for a lady one time who would wash unclipped, furry horses in the winter. She had me put an Irish knit cooler on them then a wool cooler, then stuff clean straw between the blankets over the body of the horse (not neck or legs, obviously), and cross tie them out of the wind. Labor intensive, but it worked every time with nary a chill. Took them about 20-30 min to dry.

[Cindy]

I rinse my horses all winter unless it is in the 30s or lower 40s and getting dark. Never had a problem. If it is in the 30s I rinse the mud off their legs, bellies and tails but not their bodies. If it is lower than 30, I stay in the house. LOL

[CarolU]

f it is lower than 30, I stay in the house. LOL

LOL...wimp! ;)

I don't bathe in the winter. I even go out of my way to not work up a big sweat, because it is such a lengthy clean-up. I use hot water and towels and wash all the sweat off with wet towels, then towel dry and fluff the hair. It is a pain!

Ground work, lots of circles, walking trail rides, desensitizing, trail obstacles, etc. are my 'winter work'.

[Soltera]

I like the vaccum cleaner method, but mine broke and I haven't replaced it yet. :frown:

[motorgypsy]

Brush really well. Use damp towel and rub the really grimy areas. With the low humidity they'll dry immediately. Miracle groom works very well.

Unless you are going to a show or parade don't worry about normal dirt. If they get wet and grubby to the point that their hair loses its loft let them dry then brush well. You don't really want to let the fetlock area and below stay crusted though so keep them brushed out. A healthy well fed horse sheds dirt once it's dry. Bathing removes the natural oils and protective coating on the hair and skin so you don't really want to bathe a lot. In the summer we just hose down to remove sweat and cool the horse after a hard ride. We only use soap and baby oil for shows.

Even when it's cold you should be able to do the tail without a problem unless it's below freezing. Then I'd just brush and forget it.

[My Pasos]

I think she can use that green stuff you spray on.

I thought I saw somewhere that they have waterless shampoo? Has anyone seen this?

[Soltera]

Waterless shampoo is terrific for dogs....bet it'll be too $$ for horses.

Here's a url to a bunch of them, though:

[url]http://www.cheappetstore.com/Horses/Horse-Grooming/Foam-Dry-Shampoos/[/url