Help keeping a small grey mud monster clean?

[maya2008]

He’s a 12hh Welsh A in a full neck rug and still determined to turn himself brown. Mud well rubbed in: face, neck, all four legs, as much of his undercarriage as he could get dirty. He lives out, no mains water so no hose. Honestly, I despair… any fancy rugs that would cover more of pony??? Any tips for things I could spray on so it came off easier? My New Forest is like Teflon - nothing sticks. Welshy…not so much.

 

[Dave's Mam]

Haas Mustang brush is ace for getting mud off. It has brass bristles through the normal bristles & makes short work of dried mud.

ETA not for delicate areas, but great for general coat cleaning.

 

[ihatework]

Silicon based sprays like mane and tail all over help.

I have noticed that some who get hot try and wallow more to cool down. Welsh pony in a full neck, worth clipping?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Snuggy turnout hoods, tail bag coat shine spray applied everyday helps alot as the mud slides off.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Just accept it. He's a grey and loves mud! Is he in work? How old is he? Does he need a rug?

I make my own detangling spray up which I also use on coats if needs be. Cheap hair conditioner (Lidl), baby oil and water give a good shake et voila.

 

[Denali]

I second @Snow Falcon Are you trying to show right now? I don’t know if y’all have a winter circuit.

Regardless, Haas brushes and elbow grease make for a shiny happy pony. And he’s grey? Yeah he will be a nice mid grey. Sorry OP, it’s a struggle to keep any horse clean now never mind a grey.

 

[marmalade76]

Does he really need to be clean? Is he showing/hunting/competing? If not, chill.

 

[GypsGal1718]

there is a type of rugs called mudrugs, they are turnouts with a waterproof belly flap

 

[Widgeon]

Snuggy hoods under rugs are useful, although if you put one on him you'd probably went to go down a weight on his regular waterproof rug. And they don't fit all horses - the body rug fits my cob very nicely but the neck part looks like it was made for a giraffe. So I would buy second hand if you're planning to try those!

 

[maya2008]

Thanks all, the sole purpose of his LW rug is to avoid the endlessly soggy, filthy pony (who would need a stint in a stable and a few hours of cleaning to be rideable), that he otherwise becomes. I need him clean enough to ride daily (so where the tack goes) and to be able to clean him enough to go SJ or to a gymkhana or similar.

When it’s cold and the mud is dry, we’re fine. What I have now is clumps of soggy mud stuck to him like glue. Me, my brushes, and my bucket of water from the trough were making very little headway yesterday!

Conditioner on his legs is a fab idea - and the mane…his beautiful thick long mane that is currently hanging in mud dreadlocks!!

 

[poiuytrewq]

My little grey is admittedly not ridden but from about October to Spring he barely see's a brush and is just plastered in mud from head to foot. I really look forward to his first spring bath and he looks beautiful all summer again.
I now just accept it!

 

[maya2008]

Snuggy turnout hoods, tail bag coat shine spray applied everyday helps alot as the mud slides off.

Could I use the type that don’t go over the face 24/7 do you think? Keeping his neck and mane clean would definitely help!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Could I use the type that don’t go over the face 24/7 do you think? Keeping his neck and mane clean would definitely help!

I have one on my ridden horse, Its ok but i find it slides down his neck so he still gets a good chunk of muddiness at the top of his neck and mane.

 

[tda]

I feel your pain, having had a grey ridden pony for the last 20 years, everything that people have advised all together.

 

[Widgeon]

I have noticed that some who get hot try and wallow more to cool down. Welsh pony in a full neck, worth clipping?

I was also going to suggest clipping. My cob is clipped out except legs and a half head, and to be honest it's partly to help me keep him clean. Without clipping there's no way I could put a full neck on him.

 

[dorsetladette]

Turnout Rugs with Belly Covers - MudRugs

Our turnout rugs are packed full of mud busting features; full belly covers, reflective darts, elasticated poll, extended tail flap and 1200 denier PU waterproofing and breathable throughout. 50g, 100g, 200g, 300g and 400g rugs available, keeping more of your horse clean, dry and comfortable.

www.mudrugs.com

These have belly covers that might help.

 

[whirlwind]

If you have water but just no pressure get one of these! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cordless-P...00832204&sprefix=battery+press,aps,105&sr=8-5

We have ibcs plus a stream for drinking for water but no pressure through a hose and this has been a game changer!

 

[maya2008]

Turnout Rugs with Belly Covers - MudRugs

Our turnout rugs are packed full of mud busting features; full belly covers, reflective darts, elasticated poll, extended tail flap and 1200 denier PU waterproofing and breathable throughout. 50g, 100g, 200g, 300g and 400g rugs available, keeping more of your horse clean, dry and comfortable.

www.mudrugs.com

These have belly covers that might help.

They don’t go small enough ! I need 4ft6!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

He’s a 12hh Welsh A in a full neck rug and still determined to turn himself brown. Mud well rubbed in: face, neck, all four legs, as much of his undercarriage as he could get dirty. He lives out, no mains water so no hose. Honestly, I despair… any fancy rugs that would cover more of pony??? Any tips for things I could spray on so it came off easier? My New Forest is like Teflon - nothing sticks. Welshy…not so much.

Have you tried a classic neck with a hood full hood or a lycra hood under the turnout

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Could I use the type that don’t go over the face 24/7 do you think? Keeping his neck and mane clean would definitely help!

I use the faceless hoods on one of mine that is out overnight most of the winter once he is clipped.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

The plastic magic brushes are good or I use the metal scrapers and metal pan scourers they are great for getting mud off especially with horses that don't like harsh brushes.

 

[Cloball]

I've been using shapely no rinse shampoo and baby oil for glued on muck and poo.

 

[Snow Falcon]

I do feel your pain as my old boy was grey, he used to see me coming and sprint to the nearest mud patch for a good scrub and grind his face into it.

 

[maya2008]

I do feel your pain as my old boy was grey, he used to see me coming and sprint to the nearest mud patch for a good scrub and grind his face into it.

I just want to know why the mud sticks so badly to the greys and yet not to ponies with different coloured fur. Less oil in the coat? More desperation to be less visible in the dark??? Quick brush for everyone else more than does it!

 

[Julia0803]

I use the gold label leg guard on my mainly white cob. It’s cheap, around a fiver a bottle. It smells quite nice too!

I liberally spray his legs, tail, top of his neck/behind his ears where the mud goes down. Is it perfect… sadly no… but I do think it helps!

 

[Julia0803]

Oh and clipping helps too.

My boy is good as gold to clip, apart from his left ear (fine with it being touched/fiddled with until you have a pair of clippers in your hands). As I was in a hurry when I clipped last I just left 1/2 a face on. The hair around his ears is now super long and floofy! He grinds his face in the mud and it’s noticeably more difficult tho try and clean around ears/eyes/top of his face where he floof is. The mud just falls off the short stuff.

 

[lauragreen85]

He’s a 12hh Welsh A in a full neck rug and still determined to turn himself brown. Mud well rubbed in: face, neck, all four legs, as much of his undercarriage as he could get dirty. He lives out, no mains water so no hose. Honestly, I despair… any fancy rugs that would cover more of pony??? Any tips for things I could spray on so it came off easier? My New Forest is like Teflon - nothing sticks. Welshy…not so much.

I wouldnt worry as long as hes happy! unless you have a show coming up

 

[Squeak]

I find this stuff really helps with making the mud not stick as much:

NETTEX Seven Day Mud Away for Horses

NETTEX Seven Day Mud Away for Horses is available online with fast delivery from VioVet, the trusted supplier of veterinary medication, foods and animal care products.

www.viovet.co.uk

I put it on the exposed head and legs every 3 or 4 days and the small bottle lasted me more than one winter.

For a cheaper option I use baby oil, it does work but not quite as well so if you're wanting extra help the mud away is worth the price.

I also find these amazing for getting dried on mud off:

Massage Scrub Glitter Mitt

Roma Massage Scrub Glitter Mitt. This scrubbing mitt brush is a great grooming brush with a massaging effect. Made from soft rubber with rounded teeth on one side and bristles on the other. Also great for removing dried on mud from the coat. The brush is available in a range for sparkling...

www.oakfield-direct.co.uk

 

[SilverLinings]

I have grey Connemaras so feel your pain! I clip in the winter (would anyway as they're in a reasonable level of work) which makes grooming much easier, I made tail bags that I wouldn't be without and mean I don't need to wash tails more than once every 6-8 weeks in winter, and I put conditioner on the manes to help get the mud out. After brushing the coat I use a damp chamois with no-rinse shampoo to reduce any particularly annoying stains. If I am riding and there are wet muddy bits then if it's warm weather I get them off with a bucket and sponge, but if it's cold (like now) then those bits are left. I have to accept that short of giving them a full bath every time I want to ride they will not be spotless in the winter. The soil here is clay and stains, so full baths mean several repeated shampooings and rinsings.

As mine live out I don't clip the front of their faces (they have a half-head left on) and one of them loves rubbing his face on the old lichen-covered fence posts so currently has a green-stained forehead that I am finding particularly annoying. He has very thick hair on his face though so I washing it would be a big job as I suspect as soon as I got it wet more dirt would rise to the surface!

When competing in the winter (dressage) I used to use warm water and shampoo to spot-wash stains and the mane, followed by drying with a hairdryer, then they would be kept stabled over-night. I haven't competed for about 2yrs now and don't have the time for that level of work several times a week just to hack or drive out.

The best solution is to buy a brown pony next time

 

[Fjord]

I've given up. My grey is currently bay.