Feathers...

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joanne1920

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How do you get your horses/ponies feathers clean for a show?! My cobs are nearly always dirty and when i wash them they dont come up 'that' clean not clean enough for me to take him to a show anyway, he's also got a white tail... any tips...
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heres a pic of him ...
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My fell has a lot of feather but the're black so don't really take much cleaning. I just give them a good wash and a comb through with some mane and tail spray. Sorry, not much help, I know!
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Your horse is gorgeous though
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get some stuff called quick silver comes out purple but makes there tails and stuff so wight sun refects off them (offen have comments like she must have washed that pony at least four times) have always had grays and this is the best stuff i can find
 
First, keep them oiled up in winter and also use sulphur this stops the worst of the stains.

This is my routine after winter - rest of year I normally only do stage two and/or stage three depending on what he has been up to.

First wash - hot water and fairy liquid. Rinse well and repeat.

Second wash grannies soap flakes and hot water. Half packet in bucket. Rinse well.

Third wash Persil non bio washing liquid 50 - 50 mixed with tresume deep cleaning shampoo and equine blue. I may use more neat persil on the end of the hair at the hoof.

Optional - You can then add some leg whitener - I normally avoid it, but sometimes at the start of the show season use it on the very ends of the feather at the hoof level and only on the front legs as Chancer has a black tail and it can get end up grey. I mix it with water and gently paint/rub it onto the feather. Don't use too much on the rest of the leg as it can make the hair lifeless and course looking.

Final touch on the day is gently brush out and a small spray of supreme sparkle to have them glisten.

Result - first wash of the year, no whitener or finishing spray used.


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If you want a very long PM on looking after feather generally and tips on keep it white and full looking, let me know.
 
Horses have feather... birds have featherS!

As has been said... preventing them from being soiled in the first place is the way forward.

You might find your horse goes better if you use fulmer loops to stop the cheek pieces flapping about and doing nothing. No point in using fulmer cheeks if you don't use loops!
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Sorry to say this, but it comes down to regular washing.
Tresemme for 'Deep Cleansing' - brilliant at shifting muck. Work it right down into the feather and rinse. Repeat until they come really clean. Finish off with a purple shampoo which has optical brighteners.

I then put thermatex leg warmers on overnight to dry the feather and keep it clean. Fluff it up at the show by brushing backwards and apply Alva mane and Feather or showshine - somethinglike that to keep them fluffy and a final misting of Sparkle.
Give the white tail the same treatment, I put Star's tail into a plait when it's dry and then a bag from Tailgator. It doesn't come out of the bag until I get on at the show.

Personally, I don't put whitener on feathers, because it clogs them up and attracts dust. However, it might work for others.

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Forgot to mention tailbags - only way really to keep the tail white.

Even though my chap is blessed with a black tail, his tail is bagged all year. If I don't do this, he treads on it as it is so long. What I do in summer is leave the top third out which is carefully shortened to look natural and 2" off the ground, this way he has plenty to swish with. Bagging it really keeps the tail in nice condition.

I also bag the mane - this keeps it nice and in summer stops him sweating up. Mine chap has naturally wavy hair, so I have to unbag and carefully comb out a couple of days before to let it get as straight as it ever is.

It takes me at least an hour and often up to two hours to get Chancer ready to show - that hair takes a lot of cleaning and careful combing.

Life used to be far easier with a bay TB - 1 hour max to bath, plait and tack up.

Yorkshire Lass is correct about the term "feather" and not "feathers" unless you are gypsy, in which case it is hair.
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I don't wash out from end of September to March but I use a huge amount of oil for protection as we are on thick clay and they get filthy. If you have a lot of hair, washing can cause problems if you don't get the leg totally dry, hence I oil and forget.

Summer he is washed up every couple of weeks as I go to shows.
 
Napisan and hot water for tails, don't get it on the dock though. A few dunks, then a wash with QuikSilver and loads of conditioner. Keep it in a tail bag.
 
Not trying to sound too big headed - but he is hugely improved from that pic - lots of muscle coming along now he is being ridden. I have also really shortened his mind - took 18" off - bit to much but it has grown back well - nice and thick.

Will post an up to date pic of him soon.
 
I learnt a lot of tricks from my old YO who bred and showed his Welsh Cobs. He used to show at the Royal Welsh every year and never used anything fancy. On his white tails and feathers, he used fairy liquid.......it works a treat
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