Baths in bad weather??

daveismycat

daveismycat

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 April 2009
Messages
915
Visit site
I'm competing on Sunday and need to get my mare looking skewbald again instead of varying shades of brown. She wasn't clipped out this year so she's still pretty fluffy with mud & dust ingrained deep down. Her tail is also revolting and sticky from her being in season last week. She's currently out 24-7, albiet in a lightweight turnout these past couple of days because of the dreadful weather.
mad.gif


So normally I wouldn't be too worried about bathing her using the hosepipe the night before, rugging her up and leaving her in overnight.

But with this dreadful weather???
confused.gif


What do you all do when the weather is grotty and you need a clean horse? The forecast here is for heavy rain tomorrow afternoon with it being quite chilly overnight. I don't think it is looking like being any better for Sunday morning either. Help!
 
Warm water!!
Mine get bathed all year round with warm water, i then leave them with a thermatex or other cooler and if cold then put a top rug on for abit!
 
If you don't want to do a full bath, you can take a bucket of water as hot as you can stand it. Add whatever shampoo you normally like. Then squeeze out an old handtowel in the soapy water and rub the horse vigorously all over with it, squeezing it in the bucket at regular intervals. You'd be amazed at how well my coloured mare came up like this and she LOVED the sensation of warmth on her body.
 
Lunge her to warm her up, then bath her - preferably with warm water as it activates the shampoo better, rinse. Scrape off excess then lunge again to re warm her. Cover well for final dry.

In bad weather - I usually start by washing legs - I have a Clydesdale so leg washing takes time, then I do head and tail followed by the body, that way the horse stays as warm as possible.
 
I bath the neck and body first, then get their rugs back on - have plenty of fleeces/coolers/a thermatex to hand.

Then do legs, tail and head if needed.
 
I have bathed in cooler weather.

I did as quickly as I could then put 4 layers of blankets on top of my horse. I removed a bottom layer every 20 minutes. he was as warm as toast and dried quite quickly!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top