keeping a grey horse grey

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wilsha

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has ayone got any ideas how to keep a grey horse gery and not brown, green and yellow.
my ponys tail is constantly yellow has anyone got any good ideas i have tried NAF wash n showfor greys it works a bit but his tail is stil yellow after washing
 
I have spent years and years spending a fortune on whitening this and lightening that, I have now discovered tresseme(the people shampoo). I use shampoo and conditioner on main, tail and feathers and just the shampoo on bodies, got the idea from this forum after posting about problem feathers. If a white tail is being very stubborn I use vanish soap, after shampoo and before conditioner, I would do a patch test first incase you have a sensitive neddy. Cold water is no good, I take 2 x 20L containers of hot water from home when bathing as we don't have any running hot water at yard. Finally I use tailgators(tail bag) in the winter or the night before a show, they are an absolute godsend I can't recommend them enough although don't use them during turnout in summer due to flies. Good luck getting your neddy sparkling.
 
ive also used curtain whitener and it didnt really do much, but i didnt try the reckitts blue.

last weekend i tried silver shampoo left in overnight and rinsed the next morning, which seemed to work well. just dont forget to wash it out hee hee :)

i use a rambo dustbuster in the stable, and a lightweight turnout the night before a show as he has a awful habit of sleeping in his own poo, and is covered in poo stains by the morning.

hope this helps!
 
Ok - tell me this: how do you keep a grey horse grey when you can't bathe him, because he buckles his legs and rolls as soon as water runs down his sides....

(When I sponge him down after a ride, I have to do it with a damp cloth - or else!)

I know the answer really!:D You can't....:(
 
Weezy- I know this sounds strange but they have these everywhere in South Africa lol. When I last went out there I bought a load back and they really are fab. Don't suppose you know of anyone out there for the football? If not you will have to wait until christmas and I'll bring you some back :)
The Carr Day Martin Stain Master is really good as well, gets stains off and brightens white bits. I think they have a money back guarentee on this but don't quote me on that.
 
Cowboy Magic Greenspot Stain Remover works wonder for my grey mare. I also use NAF Tea tree shampoo which does a good job and I recently used the Canter Coat Conditioner, thinks its called that (has a green label) and it makes her coat soft and the dust seems to slide off. Shes stayed quite clean after her bath last week.
 
to be honest, you have more chance of getting your horse to grow wings than you have of keeping him/her grey! ;-) The only thing I havnt tried is wrapping my mare in cotton wool, and keeping her in my lounge where there is no mud or grass (well not much anyway)!!

xx
 
ok i've recently picked up a really good tip. After shampooing (tend to use anything really),pop a couple of drops of purple spray into the warm rinse water. Basically sponge right over....

I was really concerned last week when I tried it,as pony literally looked purple!! BUT.....as she dried she went whiter than white.....honest.

Also helps with any skin ailments obviously.....it really does work.

And very very cheap!!

This tip was given to me by a show producer.
 
Cyberchick, not odd at all, they still sell them in Spain too! Am hoping to pick some up in July from Mallorca, but not so sure I will be going to the right type of shop, so if I fail I will take you up on your offer :D
 
In winter, it's easy...snuggy's hood + rug/s with neck cover + tail bag.

In summer, I wash the tail to get the worst out, then soak it for 10 mins in half a bucket of water with 8 denture tablets dissolved in it. I find that if I condition it (supermarket conditioner for people) it seems to stop the dirt sticking.

I have bought a bay now & I can't wait to start competing him. I will be able to crawl out of bed, run a brush over him if need be & chuck him in the lorry. None of this bathing nonsense...
 
Add Purple Spray to any old supermarket shampoo - REALLY works!! Yes - REALLY works!! Much chepaer than all of these blue shampoos too. If you et up on the morning of a show to find stale stains, baby wipes are great or even 'VANISH' as in what you put on clothes before you wash them..................
 
I hose off any mucky bits each day with plain water. Luckily she doesn't mind!

I use coat shine on her as it seems to stop any mucky bits turning into stains and its easier to rinse them off.

Shine in yellow out has improved her tail no end. I have to leave it on longer than recommended but it has done no harm so far.

I get a lot of compliments on her cleanliness and tbh it's not that hard work although she is dappled so that does help!

Loving the idea of purple spray added to shampoo, going to try that one :p
 
I've had five years of showing a mare that has gone progressively whiter, and reckon I've got it down to a fine art :)
Designer browbands and supreme products do a little pot of blue crystals that you dissolve in a jug of water for a final rinse, and that combined with blue shampoo (they're all much of a muchness), put onto stains neat, left a few minutes and then rinsed off is pretty good.
To keep a tail white, you reall need to use a tail bag - www.tailgator.co.uk for a deluxe one or search on ebay for cheaper ones.
The lightweight turnout idea for the night before a show is a good one, and I also use lycra hoods, but get these from the USA as they seem to fit better.
It is a pain and my next horse will definitely NOT be a grey, but worth it when they look good - this is her winning western pleasure with my OH.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=360488&id=100000078295506
The tail is not perfect on this one - the venue although fab has a very dusty collecting ring!
 
kayleighn said:
I'm Reading this post thinking "what have I got myself into!!" just bought a grey pony!! Oh dear!!
Click to expand...

Only one thing to do - L'Oreal Excell 10 in Rich Chestnut and lots of it....

PS When tail washing, beware of using a teatree and mint conditioner if you share your field with sheep. They think it tastes scrummy :mad:
 
I use a variety of some of the tips above but I find that doing these things often helps.

If you let the stains get too bad it is a mamoth task as you are basically starting from scratch.

I have a piebald (mostly black) with a white tail and he loves pooing in it.
 
I've never found keeping my grey clean and presentable a bit deal; my bay girl is far worse as she's a ticklish grump pot about having the mud brushed off her :p whereas Be doesn't mind you scrubbing away at her as hard as you can. :D

I also tend to just use water a lot of the time, with a plastic curry comb you can scrub more stuff out. Blue washing up liquid on the tail does a good job too :) :)
 
Tbh,I've only ever had greys. Its never been a problem for me,they kind of stand out in the line up.

In my experience,the new products on the market are very good,but are definitely a licence to print money.

Cheapy shampoo works fine,supermarket rubbish is perfect tbh. Lather up well with body brush and scrub......they love it.

Couple of drops of purple spray in big bucket of water (warm is better than the shock of cold) and throw over.....remember to dip tail in too and sponge over top of dock.

ooh and i forgot.....i add a couple of drops of citronella oil in rinse too....saves laborious fly spraying daily. I bath them probably between one and 2 weeks.......but not religiously if you get my meaning.

I can honestly say its as simple as that.

Can I just add one of mine has a tendency to rub a little in summer....just her tail. Since doing the purple spray rinse she hasn't rubbed.....hmmmm.
 
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Just to add, I think the reason I have no problem with getting my grey clean is because she lives out and hence it's mud that I clean off her. Stable stains are something else, and I'm glad I don't have to deal with them! :D
 
thanks for all the tips everyone im deffo gonna try the purple spray as i prefer to only use products made for horses
i find grey horses love to get dirty! apart from one horse i know he is completley white and everytime i see him he is a clean as a whistle, i wish my pony was like that lol !!
 
My lovely supposedly grey horsey is a lovely black colour now :D She decided that after having some fun doing some jumping she was going to roll in the muddiest patch she could find, as soon as i went out the gate! She loves me so much ahaha :D

Usually a grooming block then a sponge if still needed works quite well. And Gallop grey shampoo :)
 
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