5 days to get Murphy clean! Plan of action?

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bex1984

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Weather permitting, Murphy and I are off to an in hand show on Saturday morning. He hasn't had a bath since September, so on Friday night I'm planning to wash his legs thoroughly.

I did want to wash his mane but I think it's just too cold? I can see it taking two days to dry...but not sure how else to get the dirt out of it?

If I wash his tail on Friday night will it be dry for Saturday early morning?

Was thinking about washing his body with warm water in the next day or two and he'll then be rugged up so he shouldn't get dirty again, mainly so I don't have as much to do on Friday night, but is he likely to pick up dirt again if I do it a few days early?

What should my plan on action be for cleaning the little monster between now and Saturday morning?

Bear in mind I'm going to be riding Tues, Weds and Thurs and he'll get filthy in the school..
 
I wouldn't bother washing his body - just hot cloth him before you go to the show
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Manes and tails don't generally take long to dry as they don't really hold water. I'd wash Friday night and maybe put a thinker rug on him to make sure he's warm enough. Give his mane a thorough towel dry - that should help
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I would bath his mane and tail on thursday night, and stick show sheen on it friday morning before turnout (and plait his tail. Hot cloth him throughout the week too. give him a damn good hot cloth of friday evening then stick a clean rug on him to keep him clean.

Though TBH YO bathed her ponies the other day with warm water and they were fine (but well rugged with a fleece or two each plus a stable rug).
 
You could always plait his mane after you've washed it - it won't make it dry quicker, but will keep it clean and keep it off his neck a bit to stop him getting cold
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...or you could take your hairdryer to the yard....
 
I know what you mean on HUGE manes/tails. Would say wash on thursday, then towel dry as much as you possibly can. Then plait it to stop it getting too messy it doesn't matter how it is plaited. Then either use a full neck rug of come kind if you have one. Then hope it is dry! if it isn't try a hair dryer and towel it as much as possible.

Just ensure you get as much moisture out with a towel the night before works a treat with pickle
 
was wondering about a hair dryer but thought no one ever used hairdryers on horses...hmmm might try that.

Will try to resist using my GHDs on him though
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[ QUOTE ]
was wondering about a hair dryer but thought no one ever used hairdryers on horses...hmmm might try that.

Will try to resist using my GHDs on him though
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[/ QUOTE ]

So long as you're careful and introduce it slowly so you don't scare him you should be ok. I thought about the GHD's for Murphy as well! I can imagine it's tempting! Lol!
 
To be honest if you happen to get a bit of sun then I'd give him a proper wash - use hot water and rug well until he's dry and I'm sure he'll be ok. I have to get a white Dales pony clean so I utterly sympathise with you over the mane and tail issue!

You probably won't be able to get hold of it before Saturday, but for future shows you could try and get hold of some Cowboy Magic - it's wonderful stuff!! You put it through the manes and tails and it detangles them and adds shine.

With the Dales we tend to just ignore the state they get in until the day before the show, then blitz them with a full bath, shampoo on mane and tail, LOADS of conditioner on mane and tail, then Cowboy Magic, then detangle by hand (this will help it dry quicker as well), then put baby oil on (sparingly!) the night before the show. You can also put baby oil through the feathers.

I have been struggling to get the white one clean recently as it's been so cold - I have had to resort to washing the body, chucking rugs (wicking rug then a stable rug on top) on him to keep him warm, and then wash mane/tail/legs/feathers, then changing him into a dry rug to maintain the warmth. It has worked really well and he didn't get cold at all.

Hope that helps!!
 
Firstly good luck with the show! I've no experience of dealing with thick manes and tails, but I washed George's legs and tail on Sun for the show and then toweled him dry, I just spot cleaned his coat with warm water.
 
thanks for the tips everyone. I can get some buckets of warm water to do his body, and he should be OK with cold water for his legs and tail I think? It's the mane that's the issue becuase it's so thick it takes ages to actually get it wet through so needs a hose on it really.

Might have a look round the yard for somewhere to plug a hairdryer in..
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