Horse bathing...?

Question

A few questions about horse bathing...

-- Best brand of shampoo? Preferably cheap, but it should clean well and if it helps repel ticks/flies a plus!!

--Should we do sheath cleaning before/during/after? Or is a job best done on a completely different day for time and stress's sake?

-- A list of supplies that I'll need... I know the basics but want to make sure I don't miss anything. I'll need water/buckets obviously... a sweat scraper, shampoo, sponges.... what else? Where would a I go about finding some large really good sponges to use for this? And is it OK to use people conditioner (a mild brand) for his mane/tail as needed, as long as we wash it out well?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I use VO5 shampoo but you could use one with lavender or tea tree. I also use a rubber curry comb to work up a lather - I only use a sponge on faces. Ordinary bath sponges are fine or the hour-glass shaped ones for car cleaning, don't buyy sponges from a tack shop they tend to get very inventive with the prices. A hose would be useful if you think he will let you spray him with it.

I don't use a conditioner as such on tails etc - one the soap has been washed out spray mane and tail spray while it is still wet - this detangles and makes it stay detangled.

Also I'm soppy with them so we get a towel for faces !

Cleaning the sheath on the same day - good idea, I'd do that if I was organized. I suppose that would depend on how well your horse takes the cleaning and bath - not worth getting him upset over.

Answer 2

ok you can use people shampoo and conditioner and you need a face brush

Answer 3

There are lots of Horse shampoos etc on the market However I use Baby shampoo and  human conditioner diluted with water for her maen and tail I use a spary bottle and spray it on and use a main and tail comb!

A couple large sponge that I got in the auto dept at Walmart! I use face cloths (Wall Mart) to wipe down my mare's face and around her ears and nose!  I use another for her butt and her utters. I also use a shedding blade to scrape the excess water off and then we walk around for awhile and I let her graze while she is drying off! Once dry,  I use a home made fly spray Skin so soft, vinegar and water!  I also put vinegar in her drinking water seems to keep the flies at bay!

Sheath cleaning can be done at the same time!

baby shampoo is VERY mild and I have seen others use it when they do sheath cleaning! I have a mare so I don't go there! but I do clean her utters at least once a week!

RINSE-RINSE- RINSE when all done!

good luck / HAVE FUN!

I love giving my mare a bath as much as she loves having one! We both get soaked in the process! (:-)

Answer 4

I like Quic Color shampoo, it helps your horse's coat stay shiny and dark and not sun faded.

http://www.saddlersrow.com/store/item.as...

They have a good conditioner, too. It is anti-static so the coat doesn't hold on to the dust quite as much (although nothing's perfect).

http://www.saddlersrow.com/store/item.as...

Answer 5

well first off you don't need to use special horsey shampoo just use a mild teatree shampoo and conditioner. you will need:

Bucket

Sponges(you can just use one of them giant car sponges, they are just the same as the one you get from horsey shops, just larger)

Mild teatree shampoo and condition( it works just as well with just shampoo)

You could have one of those bathing brushes with the sponge in the middle they are good for scrubbing in shampoo.

Sweat scrapper

Jug, cup or something ( for pouring water on heads, for those difficult ponies who don't like the hose pipe being used on their heads!)

And thats about it :)

Answer 6

Use Mane & Tail it is a people shampoo...but it was originallt meant for horses xD so you can buy it pretty much anywhere.

About ticks/fleas...HORSES DON'T GET FLEAS lol xD and I don't think they have a specialty shampoo for horses against ticks. Just pull them off when you see them.

Sheath cleaning needs to be done once a year...if you don't know when it was done last go ahead and clean i. Stay out of kicking rang though...and get sheath cleaner for it (duh)

You need shampoo, conditioneer (FOR TAIL AND MANE ONLY it isn't good on there skin), and a sweat scrapper :)

Extras that you might want to use but are completely optional are...bathing mit/sponge (buy them in horse magazines or a local tack store), and whiteing shampoo if he has white markings :)

Have fun bathing ^^

Answer 7

wow you need to goto a tack shop

Answer 8

I use an iodine shampoo on my horses. A small amount with that stuff goes a long way. I bathe my horses in sections. Like frist the mane and tails. Then the neck and shoulders and then the rib cage area and then the hind quarters.

here is what i use:

Iodine shampoo- for body

mane and tail shampoo and condtiioner- for mane and tail

hose- buckets are to hard(horses sometimes know them over)

then I make a conditioner water mix. half Aussie: moist conditions for people.(purple bottle) then I mix it half and half with water and put it in a spray bottle. Then i spritz it on the main and tail and comb thouroughly.  Hope this helps any questions email me!

Answer 9

since horse shampoo is soooo expensive i use cheap human shampoo, (kid shampoo is less irrating and better) but be sure to wash realllllllllly well. And any time they get some flakies on their skin i use iodine shampoo.

Mane and tail shampoo & conditioner is still my favorite though.

(i use human shampoo all over too, except face)

and i just use a hose and buckets w/ spongesin the winder. A good hose nozzle w/ features like shower, jet, mist, and some other sprays is really helpful.

I found a cool horse brush at a tack shop and its a plastic bristle brush with holes in it and you s***w it onto your horse and water comes out the brush. It was only a couple dollars but it works deep to the skin.

Answer 10

We use Cowboy Magic Rosewater Tea Shampoo from Horse.com.

I don't normally clean sheaths myself, but if i had too, then yes I would do it on a different day for help with stress.

You will need:

Water Buckets

Large Sponges

Rubber Scrubber Brush

Squeegee Scraper

and the shampoo of your choice

Using mild "people" shampoo is fine, but be sure to rinse well.

If you have any other questions, check out this video:

http://www.horse.com/Horse-Grooming.html

Good Luck!

Answer 11

I use this shampoo concentrate mixed with water to protect against bugs. If you don't have a special shampoo for horses, baby shampoo will also do.

http://www.horse.com/Horse-Grooming/Sham...

I'll pour the soapy water all over their body and mane and take a curry comb and scrub, then rinse everything out. Take a bucket of soapy water and soak the horse's tail in it then rinse it out. For conditioner in their mane and tail, I use equal parts water, baby oil, vinegar and actual conditioner. It's easier to wash out and won't irritate their skin. It also reduces flies and keeps it shinier for longer. While it's soaking in their mane I brush it out really well before rinsing.

Cleaning the sheath during a bath is fine. Some horses really hate having it done, especially if you're using cold water. Usually warm water or a warm wash cloth will help him drop it for you. My old gelding had to be sedated or else he wouldn't let me clean it.

What you'll need:

Bucket

Shampoo

Conditioner mixture

Curry comb

Sweat scraper

Mane and tail comb

I've never used a sponge to bathe a horse but I know lots of people do. I've just never needed to.

Answer 12

There is a brand of horse shampoo made by a company called "Best".  It is very mild and some antifungal properties.  My TB is very reactive and I could use this on him everyday.  However, I do not use soap on my horses more than once monthly and that even depends on the situation.  They get hosed for sweat and dirt, etc. but not soaped often - not good for their skin.  As this is a mild shampoo - no conditioner.  As far as using baby shampoo, I would not.  Baby shampoo is actually a  very stringent shampoo.  Some have the idea that because it is for babies, it is mild and that is incorrect.  I would not use human products on my horse.  I use horse products on myself (ie mane and tail) but not vice versa.  Best is very affordable and it is concentrated.  You can buy it in quart or gallon size.  I prefer a soft bristled synthetic brush to bathe my horses as opposed to a sponge.  Sponges grow and harbor bacteria quickly while a synthetic material will not.  You would not want an insect repellant in a shampoo, and I have never seen one for horses.  Fleas and ticks are not problematic for horses.  Overall, the fewer chemicals you can put on your horses, the better.   You have a grasp of the materials you will need.  Happy bath time.