How would you get this off?

Cerries

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Hi everyone!

I've had my Cob X for nearly a week now, and I'm really struggling to get the caked-on mud off of his legs and belly. This mud has obviously built up over a long time, as it's rock solid.

I've tried brushing it off (doesn't budge), washing it off (doesn't budge), and have just started trying to oil it off. Some of the larger clumps under his girth area had to be cut off, but these bits are smaller and closer to the skin.

It seems to be very sore for him, as when I try to brush it off he flinches a lot.

I'm not wanting to clip him, so that would be a very very very last resort.

Does anyone have any suggestions/ideas?

Thanks so much in advance!

Here's what I'm dealing with:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lev2uv2p1bof8sm/mud.jpg?dl=0

C xo
 
Can you break them up with a finger nail?

I'd be looking to soak him in hot water to try and dissolve them, but it's easier said than done at this time of year. Honestly if his skin looks OK underneath you could probably just leave it.
 
Can you break them up with a finger nail?

I'd be looking to soak him in hot water to try and dissolve them, but it's easier said than done at this time of year. Honestly if his skin looks OK underneath you could probably just leave it.

Thank you so much!

I've tried to break them up, but they're just so hard - they won't disintegrate with my fingers :(

His skin looks ok, but I think it is bothering him. I've seen him a few times try to reach that area with his nose, as if it's itching him.
 
Is it definitely mud? It looks quite grey and putty-like (before it turned solid!). I suppose it could be a clay soil type of mud but then I'd expect that to crumble with a bit of persuasion.
Some warm water and a bit of oil should help, or just cut it out if you can. If he's anything like mine the shedding will be starting soon and that might help.
 
I'd just nip it off with scissors if you're sure it won't wash out, hair in knots/mud balls can cause soreness after time do I wouldn't want to leave it.
 
Are you sure it's mud and not caked on s***e? Mud will always come off with water, even if it takes a while. If you have "plates" of hard stuff caked onto the hair, it will probably need to be snipped off with small pair of scissors, and he will be sore with it.
 
Patch test first to make sure he's not sensitive to it then spray liberally with pig oil and leave for a couple of days. Then have a try with a rubber curry comb and it should break up.

Pig oil used to be used exclusively by the heavy horse men as it was the only way to stop feathers clumping and balling with mud but it is very useful for hairy cobs and I get through a lot in the winter. Even my friend's Irish Draught is given a coating now.
 
Looks to me like the mud is only on the ends of the hairs so I would personally just leave it but a good soaking with hot as you can stand it water, olive oil and a sponge should shift it if desperate.
 
another here that thinks it looks more ike caked on poo which would probably be why its not come off with washing. when I had one come that had it I used scissors to get the worst of the big lumps off and then smothered the rest with baby oil for a few days and it gradually got rid of it. at least its coming up to moulting time so the hair falling out will help a lot within a few weeks
 
Warm water, soaking wet sponge and hold it against the mud/crap for it to soak in and it should help lift it.

Worked with one of mine that kept getting muddy under carriage from soaked feild.
 
if you have access to a stable then spray it with warm (not hot!) oil at night and rug him then wash him the next morning and stable him until dry so he doesnt chill.

but if you cant or dont wish to stable i would be carefully cutting it off.
 
Looks like poop to me too.
I'd slather it in showsheen and let it soak, followed by a vigorous brush. Failing that ...scissors.
 
Given the Op has only had the horse a week it looks like he has come from a less than ideal environment. He must have been lay in muck for a good while. If he was mine and I had the right facilities I would clip him out and have a good look at his skin. Give him a warm bath, a clean rug and a cup of linseed a day and then watch him bloom into his summer coat.
 
Scissors as much as you can then apply loads of conditioner using hot water to help soften it. Leave the conditioner on for a couple of hours and then wash over using warm water and a brush to 'scrub' it as much as he will let you....if it's too sore then just stick to a sponge and your fingers to rub at it.
 
Given the Op has only had the horse a week it looks like he has come from a less than ideal environment. He must have been lay in muck for a good while. If he was mine and I had the right facilities I would clip him out and have a good look at his skin. Give him a warm bath, a clean rug and a cup of linseed a day and then watch him bloom into his summer coat.

I agree with this. Hard to tell but that picture almost looks like skin flakes sticking to the hairs I'd be checking he hasn't got a bit of a bacterial infection going on under that coat.
 
I had the same problem three years ago, I bought a cob who was covered in dried on poop but it had set like concrete. We tried everything we could think of but had to wait until it moulted off. We couldn't clip because it was too near the skin and washing didn't touch it, we couldn't even break the lumps with pliers. Look for my thread titled Filthy.
 
Try a really good conditioner? Maybe like a treatment that you'd normally leave in for 10 mins. Or some hot oils. And some towels soaked in hot water, held over it for 10 mins to warm it up and loosen it off
 
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