How to get my cobs feathers sparkling white???

[bronchobarb2]

As title really, my new boy, I have had for nearly two months now is fabulous apart from yellow feathers, they seem to be stained yellow I have tried all the normal blue shampoos and stain removers but they just won't come white. Its not the ground he's on or the school as other cobs at my yard don't have this problem. Don't want to trim and start again as the aim is to do maxi traditional in summer. Any ideas anyone? Anyone heard of using lemon juice? we have our 1st walk and trot end of March and I am determined for him to look sparkling!

 

[walkandtrot]

We've got a chain of shops near us called WCF (West Cumberland Farmers), they sell a product called Soft Soap, its a bit like saddle soap, you wet the feathers and lather it in, leave for 10 mins rinse off, its fantastic stuff, I've used it for years..

 

[jewel]

wash with dirty beastie whilst still a little wet chalk them

 

[Jay89]

Clip Them Off!!

grin:

Try washing them with diamond white shampoo and I find that rubbing baby oil in to areas you want to keep clean helps mud and dirt to slide off. Then use chalk when u need them extra sparkly for shows etc.

 

[scrat]

Try Treseme Deep Cleansing shampoo and warm water to wash. Seems to work for manes and tails too. Avoid chalk as it will leave the feathers dull and dry.

 

[bronchobarb2]

Not thought of Treseme! might give that a whirl and will investigate the soap further many thanks all. Ant other ideas welcomed.

 

[lauraandharvey]

diamond white (the purple one)
BUT PLEASE wear gloves as it stains
and rinse thoroughly as i managed to dye my ponehs long mane purple night before a show

i washed each leg with shampoo - any shampoo
then with washing up liquid - gets rid of grease
then again with whitening shampoo

bandage all 4 legs when wet
take off bandages at the morning brush & apply chalk if necessary

i dont use chalk

heres is harvey

 

[hippomaniac]

We produced a Traditional stallion for someone, and found that washing in dove shampoo, and then smothered them in baby talc, made the feathers silky and white, people were always asking how we got them so clean.

 

[Shysmum]

pig oil and sulphur - fab stuff !

 

[bitlessbill]

Another vote for pig oil and sulphur!

 

[Simsar]

Another vote for Dove so so easy!

 

[depurple1]

I know someone who uses hibiscrub to get her dogs' white bits white for shows.

 

[JenHunt]

cowboy magic do a "shine in, yellow out" shampoo that looks like blue jelly when it comes out of the bottle. wet socks, add shampoo, lather till all the colour has gone out of the bubbles, leave for 5 mins and rinse. works brilliantly.

for extra whiteness we use either chalk paste under bandages over night, or IceTight for an hour.

 

[Tallante]

I recommend Daz, it gets rid of all the grease and adds a 'bluey whiteness' - but rinse really,really well.

A friend of mine has a hairy cob and she uses a shampoo designed for grey hair that she gets at the supermarket/Boots. Not sure which one it is though.

 

[bronchobarb2]

cool lots of ideas there - best I get shampooing! many thanks

 

[Kallibear]

If they are properly stained (i.e burnt in from acidic mud) there is nothing that will shift them.

My pony spent a very happy spring paddling in a marsh and literally stained his feathers Tango-orange, as well as burnt a large portion off. Absolutly nothing would shift the staining so I just had to let them grow out, which took about 6months. Any attempts at covering with chalk lead to peach coloured legs

After that a good scrub in a whitening shampoo (i've found they're all pretty much the same) and rubbing a bit of chalk in whilst damp is best. Once they dry they go whiter anyways, and a last little bit of chalk take any tint out.


This is him in the summer: Note the seriously orange legs - its NOT dirt!

And his in the late autumn, feathers grown out:

 

[brucea]

Wow - he's beautiful Kallibear.

I'm ashamed to say I just use green Fairy washing up liquid and mkae sure it is rinsed out well. Works a treat.

Kids call it "vile green hairy liquid" (if you're old enough you'll remembee the advert)