Getting grass stains out of knees and hocks

[Widgeon]

I've posted in here as I'm hoping some seasoned showing types will have lots of answers - but what's the easiest / quickest / most effective way you have found for removing grass and general muck stains from white legs? After much brushing yesterday morning I ended up with a quick scrub of knees and hocks with fairy liquid to (mostly) remove the ground-in overnight grass stains before we went out in public! Someone has suggested Cowboy Magic but a quick internet search suggests it's £20 a bottle so that's a non-starter. It doesn't need to be show standard, I just want a quick way to remove stains on a morning so we're fit to be seen for lessons, group rides etc. And if it's cheap....that would be nice.

 

[LEC]

I've posted in here as I'm hoping some seasoned showing types will have lots of answers - but what's the easiest / quickest / most effective way you have found for removing grass and general muck stains from white legs? After much brushing yesterday morning I ended up with a quick scrub of knees and hocks with fairy liquid to (mostly) remove the ground-in overnight grass stains before we went out in public! Someone has suggested Cowboy Magic but a quick internet search suggests it's £20 a bottle so that's a non-starter. It doesn't need to be show standard, I just want a quick way to remove stains on a morning so we're fit to be seen for lessons, group rides etc. And if it's cheap....that would be nice.

Blue fairy liquid and tomato ketchup. Personally, the cowboy magic is worth it as lasts a long time and it really works and a lot less hassle than tomato Ketchup which needs washing out. I use soda crystals from the supermarket for tails. Shampoo, soda crystals up to the dock, then wash out again with shampoo.

 

[windand rain]

50p bottle of baby bath from lidl if washing if no time to dry cheap baby powder. patch test but even using both can help wash with baby bath rinse add baby powder to wet legs then brush out when dry cheap and easy

 

[Coblover63]

I've had a bottle of Cowboy Magic's Greenspot remover for years. It still works so it's definitely worth the investment.

 

[Widgeon]

Thank you everyone! Maybe I should fork out and try the Cowboy Magic then. I will also try baby powder, that sounds quite quick and easy. Soda crystals for tails sounds useful too, mine is coloured and the top of his tail is white - but he rubs it on the trailer back bar so it's always a bit greasy with a brown tinge.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Someone recommended I use a bar of vanish soap, I was a bit wary but spot tested to make sure it didn’t irritate and it worked amazing. A handy bit of kit to have, obviously washed off well.

 

[Widgeon]

Someone recommended I use a bar of vanish soap, I was a bit wary but spot tested to make sure it didn’t irritate and it worked amazing. A handy bit of kit to have, obviously washed off well.

Ooh that's brave, yes I'd also be worried that it would be an irritant. I might test a bit! They are definitely cheap and effective....

 

[kathantoinette]

Fairy liquid, warm water and a scrubbing brush. But for a quick pre-show clean up Cowboy Magic green spot remover really is the thing you need as you just need a damp cloth with it. And as Coblover said, a bottle lasts for years.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Ooh that's brave, yes I'd also be worried that it would be an irritant. I might test a bit! They are definitely cheap and effective....

He was a sensitive sort too, so I was very wary but it worked a treat and he never had any reaction to it.

 

[brighteyes]

Get a dark bay?

Sorry not too helpful. I don't do greys or bathing.

 

[brighteyes]

I think diluted household bleach is a safe product - if Dr David Ramey is correct. I can't remember whether he said it's a stain-remover in the way you want, though...

https://www.doctorramey.com/one-thing-tackroom-shouldnt-without/

 

[AandK]

Cowboy magic green spot remover definitely a game changer for me, sadly I discovered it about a year before I had to retire my now 24yo grey boy 2yrs ago... So that was 17yrs of relentless scrubbing and not so great results!!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

50p bottle of baby bath from lidl if washing if no time to dry cheap baby powder. patch test but even using both can help wash with baby bath rinse add baby powder to wet legs then brush out when dry cheap and easy

We used to make a paste with baby powder and water and paint it on white legs then bandage overnight and brush off at the show brilliant stuff.

 

[Cowpony]

When the legs are clean spray mane and tail spray on the hocks. It won't solve all your problems, but it does help.

 

[abbijay]

If it is just grass stains I'm another who says the cowboy magic is worth the money (although my bottle was only £12 as I bought it 10 years ago and it's still going).
The ones that are trickier to remove are the yellow stable stains which have set in over winter. For general washing I use lots of cheap supermarket shampoo (I show heavy horses so there are very long white legs to deal with). Purple shampoo/touch of silver can help the stains but won't magic them away. Oh and don't try to use cold water to wash out yellow staining - it seems to set the stains whereas warm water breaks it down better.