Maintain Your Horse’s Chrome Legs
Chrome on legs is so flashy! And also so time-consuming to maintain. Unless you know some inside tricks.The best way to maintain great chrome legs on your horse is to have a healthy horse with a super shiny, and naturally oily, coat.
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Keep that chrome bright with these steps:
- This starts with a healthy diet and elbow grease. LOTS of elbow grease. Then, we can do some things that really make that chrome stand out.
- Let your horse be as naturally oily as possible. Sebum on your horse’s skin creates shine, is part of his immune system, and protects his skin and hair. Sebum is also a natural stain repellant!
- Skip detergents, harsh shampoos, and household products to keep your horse’s chrome clean. If you are considering any of these things, you probably have holes in your horse’s management and need to go back to grooming and health care and nutrition.
That’s a lot of chrome!
The first thing you can do to make chrome easy to maintain is clipping your horse’s legs. IF YOU WANT TO.
- This creates a super easy leg to clean and will remove any stains on the hairs. Most show horses are clipped from the knees and hocks down, using a clipper blade that doesn’t clip too close to the delicate pink skin.
- My advice is to use a clipper blade that leaves more hair than you think you want, you can always go shorter. Click here for more tips on clipper blades. Use major caution in the summer if you do this, leaving a bit of hair will cover the pink skin and help with sunburn protection and fly protection.
Look at the number of the blade you are using – and just below it, you will find how many mm of hair the blade leaves. Anything less than 1.5 mm is probably too short for pink skin. You could use a blade that leaves 2.8 mm.
Now that you have clipped legs (or even if you skip this step), here are more tips on getting and keeping that chrome white.
- Use the fan setting on a spray nozzle to squeegee the dirt from your horse’s legs in the wash rack. Use shampoo sparingly so that the natural stain repelling oils build up. You can use a brightening shampoo if you like. Use sparingly and don’t let it sit too long and turn your horse’s chrome into a lavender shade.
- Towel dry the legs and even consider using a fan to speed up drying in the summer.
- Use a shine product or detangler to coat the leg hairs and help prevent stains. If you do get a stain, try using warm water and a washcloth to remove it before you add in more products. If you have sufficient natural oils, this will do the trick.
- You can also use a dry shampoo or spot cleaner for chrome touch-ups. These are mild and safe and Easy Out will remove odors, also.
- You may consider using fly boots to help repel dirt. I would not suggest wrapping legs with polos or standing wraps for the purpose of dirt repelling, these will heat up your horse’s legs. Fly boots also have the added bonus of keeping flies away. BAM.
- Keep your horse’s living quarters super clean. Scoop manure and urine spots from his bedding more often than you think is possible.
- Sprinkle your horse’s chrome legs with cornstarch or baby powder before you enter the show ring. You can also use “pigment in a can”, some Show Touch Up to brilliantly let your horse shine and glow.
Use spot cleaners to touch up any chrome on your horse. Look for no-rinse shampoo.
- Only use super clean boots and wraps while you exercise your horse. If you are cycling through several sets a week, so be it. Your horse will be more comfortable, too.
- Think marathon, not sprint. A healthy horse with a natural bloom doesn’t happen overnight!
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The jute side buffs to add shine, the other side is fuzzy for lifting dust and applying fly sprays and grooming products.
For all colors - to add shine and help lift stains.
Spot removing, deodorizing, dust busting, shine adding spray.
For a sleek and protective finish on your horse's coat, and Magic Sheen is also great for detangling manes and tails.
If hooves are your jam, this book is for you.
and adds a nice sheen!
A simple and trusted hoof supplement.
For added squish during laminitis or other painful hoof trauma.
The gold standard for stinging hooves and anytime you need to pack the hooves.
Hi-quality no-bows with Back On Track reputation (that's good!)
These boots are the gold standard for jumpers and horses that like to interfere.
Support and softness for laminitis and other painful hoof conditions.
Buy bulk and save! This is great for stubborn hoof infections like seedy toe and thrush.
These squishy quilts are the perfect mix of no-bows and thicker quilts.
Feed your horse's hoof health from the inside out.
This supplement helps high-laminitis risk horses and has calming ingredients like magnesium.
The gold standard for bell boots in a rainbow of colors.
Classic, clean, stylish boots for your horse. Great for jumping.
Be practical when wrapping your horse's legs with a traditional color, but toss in some spice with the understated pattern!
Protect your horse's legs and let them shine bright.
These boots are my favorite for wrapping hooves with poultice or clay and a diaper. No more duct tape boots! You can also use inserts with these for more squish.
This style is great to protect the hoof, but is not soft and squishy for laminitis cases.
Show off your horse's legs with these safe, reflective, and fashionable boots.
These boots are great for protecting barefoot horses.
These SilverSox are great for protecting the legs from rubs, help with scratches and mud fever, and provide some compression, too.
Simple! Easy!
Take the heat out, reduce inflammation, help prevent long-term damage, and dress your horse in cute colors after a ride.
These are amazing for riding. They take some wrestling to get on, but they will stay on.
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- Cordless 5-in-1 clipper for precise finishing work on horses
- Adjustable blade (#9, #10, #15, #30, #40) for flexible trimming
- Lightweight design for easy control and less hand fatigue
- Dual batteries with quick swap for extended grooming time
- Quiet, low-vibration motor for sensitive horses
- Ideal for bridle path, face, ears, muzzle, and fetlocks
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- 2-speed motor (6000 & 8000 RPMs)
- 4-hour cordless runtime + corded option
- 5-in-1 Diamond Pro blade stays cool and sharp
- Textured housing for comfortable control
- Travel lock for safe transport
- LED screen with speed, battery, and maintenance info
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- Powerful motor glides through coats
- Textured grip for better control
- Up to 3 hours cordless + corded option
- Digital display with battery + maintenance alerts
- Travel lock for safe transport
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- Upgraded brushless motor (3,700 & 4,500 RPMs)
- Textured housing for secure, comfortable grip
- Constant Speed Control powers through thick or matted coats
- Corded + cordless use with quick-charge battery
- Up to 2 hours cordless runtime
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- #10 Prime Series German high-carbon steel blade for durability
- LOCKGUARD tech prevents hinge closure for easy blade changes
- Lightweight, slip-resistant design for better control
- Constant Speed Control powers through all coat types
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- Powerful, quiet motor with 7,200 SPM and reduced heat
- Adjustable cutting lengths (#30, #15, #10) for versatile clipping
- Lightweight design for controlled grooming and finish work
- Ideal for fetlocks, bridle path, face, ears, and detailing
- Includes adjustable blade, blade oil, and cleaning brush
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- Includes #10 wide Prime blade
- LOCKGUARD technology for secure blade hold
- Two speeds (3,000 & 3,700 RPMs)
- Two lithium-ion batteries, up to 3 hours each
- Wide blade version of the KM Supera
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- Powers through all coat types with 3 high-speed settings
- #10 Prime Series German high-carbon steel blade for durability
- LOCKGUARD technology prevents hinge closure for easy blade changes
- Replaceable drive tip system for quick, simple maintenance
- Rubberized no-slip grip for comfort and full control
- Lightweight design built for all-day grooming use
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- Powerful motor up to 6,000 SPM with cool, quiet performance
- Up to 2 hours cordless runtime with Lithium Ion battery
- Quick-adjust blade (#10, #15, #30) for flexible cutting lengths
- 15-minute quick charge gives ~10 minutes of extra use
- Ergonomic design for comfort and control during grooming
These wildly powerful shears are great for thick coats, and when I say thick, I mean it.
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- Keeps blades lubricated for cooler, smoother cutting
- Helps blades stay sharper for longer use
- Recommended after each use for best performance and longevity
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- 2-minute hospital-grade disinfectant for fast, effective cleaning
- Kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi on contact
- EPA-certified formula for trusted disinfection
- Safe for grooming tools and workstation surfaces
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Choose your favorite blade from a #7 to a #40 for body clippers like the Velocity, Supera, or KM Series.
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- Glide-through cutting for smooth, efficient clipping on all coat types
- Easy detachment and adjustment (#9, #10, #15, #30 & #43)
- Always cool-running blade set for consistent performance
- Ideal for bridle path, ears, muzzle, fetlocks, and finish work on horses
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Thanks, everyone!