Tips and tricks for horse bathing!

 

Grab your rubber ducky and your shampoo, and get ready to get wet. Here are the usual tools that I get ready to use for bathing my horses:

 

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  • Small bucket, with a smidge of shampoo (about twice what you would use for yourself is a good place to start.) Add warm or hot water to the bucket with shampoo, so that it’s not ice cold as you are sudsing up.

 

  • If you want to skip the bucket mess, use a pair of grooming gloves and just put your shampoo directly on the glove. This will let you skip the sponges, too.

 

horse-grooming-glove-shampoo
These grooming gloves are great for the nitty-gritty areas of your horse. Which is basically his entire body.
 

 

  • Your fave shampoo

 

  • Big sea sponges

 

  • Soft washcloth(s) or tiny sponges for noses, faces, etc.

 

  • Towels. I like to use half of a bath towel, any bigger and your horse can step on them as you dry legs, or they drag on the ground as you dry your horse off.

 

  • Sweat scraper

 

  • Hoof dressing

 

 

washing-horse-face-towel
Towels are handy for washing faces, it’s not always safe to squirt a horse in the face with the hose.
 
 
 

 

My horse bathing steps:

 

**Please pay attention to the weather. Sunny and 60 is not the same as overcast and 60 with a cold breeze. If you have an indoor, heated, covered, hot water wash rack with a solarium to dry, I’ll be right over, the weather doesn’t matter.

 

  • Before I start, I apply some hoof dressing to keep the water out of my horse’s nail holes. This also seems to help the coronary band from getting flakey if it’s going to be wet for a long time. Can’t prove if this does anything or not, but it makes me feel better.

 

  • I start by wetting my horse from hooves up. Notice if your horse is flinching as you get his belly wet, you may need to adjust the temp if need be. Keep one finger in the stream to monitor the temp of the water.

 

  • If I’m using my grooming gloves, I dollop some shampoo on the palm of my hand and pat my horse here and there, then I go to town and swirl it all in.

 

  • If I’m using a sponge and bucket, I add warm water to the sponge bucket, and using the sea sponge, I apply a layer of suds one side at a time. I’ll work from the top down and let gravity help distribute the suds.

 

  • Then the remaining suds in the bucket are used to dunk the tail into. You will need a smidge more shampoo for the mane and tailbone.

 

horse-bathing-tools

 

  • Use your rubber curry, mitt, cactus cloth, or grooming glove to massage and curry the shampoo in.

 

  • Before you begin the crazy rinsing marathon, grab your sweat scraper and use it as a shampoo scraper. This removes a lot of the suds, and will save you time and water when rinsing.

 

 

sweat-scraper-for-horses

 

Rinse the mane first, and then from top down, gravity is your friend.

 

  • I really like a nozzle with multiple settings, the “fan” or “flat” setting is my favorite, it acts like a squeegee and pushes the dirt and suds out.

 

  • Rinse the tail before you do the back legs. Inevitably, some of the shampoo will jump ship from the tail to the legs as you rinse.

 

  • I don’t suggest using a power setting on the nozzle for the mane and tail or anywhere near the head, “shower” setting works well there.

 

 

 

Sweat scrape. If you see bubbles, rinse again.

 

  • I can’t stress the importance of the rinse. Some residue on your horse can be itchy, and that can lead to rubbing, allergic reactions, dandruff, and sticky hairs.

 

  • The most critical NEXT part of a shampoo bath is the sweat scraping. This facilitates the drying process, and in the summer can prevent your horse from overheating. Water left on your horse becomes trapped in their coats and heats up quickly. OK – UPDATE ON THIS. Turns out, most of us learned this. New research is telling us that it’s probably just fine to skip sweat scraping, your horse won’t overheat.

 

  • BUT – he will drip, he will probably be itchier, he will also get MORE dust and dirt glued to him when he rolls if you skip the sweat scraping.

 

  • AND ONE MORE BUT – If you are rinsing your horse because he is overheated, please call your Vet for specific instructions on how to help him.

 

As far as tips to keep yourself dry, I got nada. I always get wet. However, depending on weather, I may use a waterproof light jacket, or I may just dry in a millisecond because it’s so hot. I also suggest waterproof shoes, I hate soggy socks.

 

Your turn!

 

 

go-shopping

 

Stock up here for your horse supplies! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, but it’s ZERO extra cents to you.  You can also visit my Amazon storefront here:  PEG storefront.

 

Shapley's Easy-Out No Rinse Shampoo 32 fl.oz
$19.85

Spot removing, deodorizing, dust busting, shine adding spray.

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Shapley's Hi Shine Shampoo, 1-Gallon
$34.99

Other sizes, too! Adds shine with the most gentle formula.

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SHAPLEY'S Medi-Care Med Shampoo W/Tea Tree & Lemon Grass, 32 oz
$22.99

The best shampoo for shine and soothing.

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Shapley's No.1 Light Oil
$19.81 $17.35

This is my favorite horse care product for shine, conditioning, detangling, and stain protection.

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Shapley s 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo - Whitening Formula
$23.49 $19.99

For all colors - to add shine and help lift stains.

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Shapley's Equitone 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, GOLD
$21.85

Brighten duns, palominos, and golden colors.

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SHAPLEY'S 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, RED
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For chestnuts and some bays

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Shapley's 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, BLACK
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For dark bays, black points, and black horses

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Weaver Leather Deluxe Sweat Scraper

This style of sweat scraper is gentle over your horse's bony and lumpy places.

HANDSON Pet Grooming Gloves - Grooming, Bathing, Shedding
$24.99 $16.99

These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.

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HandsOn Finishing Gloves - Double Sided
$19.99

The jute side buffs to add shine, the other side is fuzzy for lifting dust and applying fly sprays and grooming products.

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Handson Ergonomic Hoof Pick
$19.99

This is the strongest hoof pick available!

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Farnam Slick 'N Easy Horse Grooming Block
$8.28

Good for grooming, shedding, and bot egg removal

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BRUSH FACE WHITE GOAT HAIR
$10.39

For faces, ears, and any place your horse needs a softer brush.

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USG H.A.A.S Haas Diamond Gloss
$25.90

Sort of a mix between a finishing brush and a body brush. Soft for sensitive horses.

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Jeffers Horse Face Brush
$16.79

This brush is luxury and will help your horse shine!

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Huntley Equestrian Deluxe Grooming Bag
$59.99

Keep all of your poops in a group with this handy tote.

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H.A.S HAAS Mould Horse Brush Large Silver, Medium
$23.00

Boost shine and create a smooth coat with this medium brush from the best of the best - HAAS. Go forth and shine!

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Wet Brush Shower Hair Brush Detangler
$6.62

Gentle and effective detangling for your horse's mane and tail.

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Electric Cleaner Co Rapid Groom Horse Vacuum
$605.00

It's always satisfying to vacuum your horse!

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HANDSON Pet Grooming Gloves - Grooming, Bathing, Shedding
$24.99 $16.99

These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.

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Big Hoss - Outlaw Nutrition

Omega 3's plus gut health support in a delicious cold milled flax formula. It's delicious and it will turn your horse's coat into a mirror.

 

 

Thank you!

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