Caring for feathers on my new traditional

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vixie

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Hellooooo I'm looking for some help and advice please
My baby cob is coming on Sunday he's a rising 2 traditional he's got a fair amount of feather and mane but he has been wintering out so is just a mud monster at the minute. I'm hoping to show him next season so want to get looking after his hair, he will be going out during the day for a few hours when I get him and stabled at night.
Best way/things for cleaning him up initially and then maintaining it while he's out etc. Been reading quite a bit on pig oil and sulphur?? Thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance!!
 
Thanks :) would you give them a good wash when I get him ? Then start applying weekly? Do you just leave them muddy after that a brush off when dry?
 
If you have the facilities for a good warm wash of his feathers then yep go for it. Lots of hot kettles lol. Let them dry then put the pig oil on. I know everyone has their way of doing it but I pour some in a bucket and dip a sponge in. Some people use paint brushes or spray bottles.
A lot less mud sticks and just falls off when they dry. No snagging or pulling lumps of mud out. Just make sure the legs are well covered with the oil.
Some people still rinse but that doesn't work for me. It's a bit trial and error to start with. I know people who only put it on fortnightly. I use it in tails to stops them getting muddied up.
 
twobearsarthur said:
Pig oil and sulphar is your friend. Cheaper to buy from heavy horse suppliers in bulk 5ltrs+
I only put it on once a week. Any more and it damages my horses feathers.
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Will second this - thankfully I don't have the hairy cob issue but would still swear by it for anything and everything hairywise. ;)
 
Get feathers sparkling and dry, then oil weekly, pig oil, baby oil, whatever, make sure it goes down to the skin and is thoroughly brushed through.
 
I would just use plain pig oil if you just want to keep him clean and keep mud fever at bay, the sulphur is to kill off mites and other nasties. If he is itching, put some flowers of sulphur in, if not just use it plain.
 
twobearsarthur said:
Pig oil and sulphar is your friend. .
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Ummm, noooh! not necessarily! Not for all horses! And certainly not for my boy :(

Sorry, not criticising anyone's management, but please if you are using this for the first time then PATCH TEST FIRST.

I followed this advice on here a few years ago and used it on my boy; he came up in a very nasty red rash - he's got pink skin with white feathers. Apparently this isn't unusual. I didn't know that and blindly followed "good advice" on here and caused my poor horse a lot of discomfort/pain.

Pig oil on its own or with a few drops of either Tea Tree oil or Neem is fine, its obviously the sulphur which was the irritant.

Please be very very careful!

Like I say, not being critical, if it works for yours then fine, but just flagging up what my experience of using it on mine was :(
 
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Thanks for all the advice guys!! I'll give them a good clean and get some plain pig oil I think!! Any suggestions on rugs that won't rub his mane away? Thanks x
 
I use pig oil on legs and a NAF silky on tail and mane - as others say do a patch test first.

Rugs wise - I would bother at the moment - at his age and with a thick coat you would hinder him.

Mine is 5, and now fully clipped and I have found still doesn't need a medium weight rug (ie 200g) he has the rhino lightweight with a 100g liner and still warm enough (also have a premier equine that can have a liner in - but the most he has worn is a 140g) - as with all horses be careful not to over rug and get him too warm :)
 
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