How to get horse clean before clipping?

[kit279]

I'm going to clip my two out this weekend in preparation for hunting and hard work... They are notorious dirtbags though and the weather is freezing and unfortunately I don't have running hot water or a nice solarium to dry them off so giving them a bath seems a bit mean.

Is there any way of getting dried on mud off their coats without a full wash? I brush them down very vigorously but there always seems to be a few bits of mud hanging about no matter what I do. What does everyone else do? I do have Thermatex and stables for them in case a bath is absolutely necessary.

Any advice?

 

[hellybelly6]

I used a metal curry to get the crusty mud off, horse really enjoys it (the freak!), then used a dandy, then a soft body. I would use a coat condition spray, then wipe down with a soft cloth. The ready for clipping.

I know its not what is in the horse books, but it works for my horse who is a mud lark.

 

[Ranyhyn]

If the mud is where they are to be clipped...just cut it off lol

 

[CrazyMare]

Can you get enough hot water there to hot cloth them? Thats what I do before clipping

 

[wishfulthinking]

I wash them. It is a bit mean as still haven't got the hot water sorted but I do it indoors as quickly as possible and then rince with hot water and towel dry and rug well. They always seem to cope fine and I know that it really makes a huge difference to their comfort when clipping.

 

[Ani]

i use a pan scrubber. The rectangular flat ones, either plastic or wirey ones work fine, they are also fab for getting mud off sensitive clipped horses, you can scrub them with it and it doesn't hurt them.