How to remove wax arena surface from Horses feathers?

[Spottyappy]

A problem we didn’t expect to encounter, but daughter has been away competing over Easter, and the arena surfaces were wax coated of some kind.
It has stuck to everything( Possibly not helped by the copious amount of rain that’s been offloaded onto the venue), Including her mares feathers.
We have tried:
Hot water and soap.
Cold water and soap.
Washing up liquid wrapped with cling film after legs been wetted.
Any other suggestions please?
Wish to avoid cutting the feathers off if possible, as we have a lot of mud at home.
TIA

 

[Shay]

What happens if you comb oil through? That might lift the wax off.

 

[Spottyappy]

The wax is so thick we couldn’t comb it, but thanks we could try and sit the oil on top and see if that shifts the wax, maybe by us rubbing it in?

 

[Hack4fun]

I have no experience of this, but wonder about pig oil and sulphur.

 

[mga4ever]

I used to experience this with the old surface at Stoneleigh many years ago. I found the best was washing up liquid rubbed in by hand and then rinsed very thoroughly.

 

[poiuytrewq]

No help now but for future reference, all weather race tracks can cause similar problems! I find that a good spray of canter mane and tail round the fetlocks helps prevent it sticking in the first place.

 

[hollyandivy123]

http://www.swarfega.com/home/products/hand-cleaners

these are hand washes so should be ok for feathers, but read the labels, i us to use them for engine oiled hands

 

[Spottyappy]

Thanks for the suggestions, had canter in the lorry, polly too! Hindsight and all that!
Will look to see if can get the hand wash locally, as will be a few days by snail mail otherwise.

 

[Nudibranch]

Something oil based rather than water based? Baby oil or olive oil?

 

[DirectorFury]

Would acetone or rubbing alcohol work? Obviously you wouldn't want to get it on skin but if it's just on the ends of the feathers and you rinse well it should be OK.