Keeping horses clean!

[I'm Dun]

My TB lives out. His choice and not something I want to change. But hes permanently filthy! Hes rugged with a wug type rug, but loves to grind his face into wet mud which is then difficult to get off without a full face wash, same with his girth area. I am lucky that I dont have loads of mud, but if there any he finds it. He doesnt have to be spotless, but I cant tack up on top of thick wet mud. Washing him daily isnt practical.

I've washed his mane and face, and legs up to his knees today and covered him in pig oil spray, then put a snuggy hood on with the eye holes made much bigger as I'm wary of them slipping and causing issues. Is there any magic solution that I'm missing?

 

[Antw23uk]

Is he clipped? Give him a trace with half face which should make cleaning those two areas easier, which combined with a rug should keep him pretty presentable to tack up. I feel your pain, i have a grey living out 2/4 and he adores the mud!

 

[MereChristmas]

Try putting a sheet with a belly wrap under the turnout rug. It helps keep the belly cleaner. Any mud on the coat after rolling goes on the sheet not the inside of the turnout. This means ‘old’ mud isn’t transferred from the turnout as the sheet can be washed easily.

 

[chaps89]

Not a solution as such but synthetic tack at this time of year is a huge help, just bung bridle/girth in the washing machine and off you go.
I’d maybe just have a designated flannel for wiping the worst off before riding, and as said above, a little bib/half face clip will help stop any mud sticking/any mud dry out quicker so easier to brush off

 

[flying_high]

Lightly oiling / spraying with mud away / show sheen all the areas that get muddy for tack helps.

I also find having some old towels to pat and rub dry and knock the mud off. Given you cant really brush wet mud.

I was once on deep clay! (no longer!) and I found snuggy hoods, tail wraps, pig oil, and full neck deep cut rugs helped a lot.

 

[Equi]

Whack his face hair off, so much easier on you. I personally wouldn't have a snuggy hood on overnight with no one able to watch...ive had a few disaster with them but thankfully i had cctv and caught it fairly soon but horses are disasters.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Welcome to my world lol...there is no place that wet mud won't go if the horse is determined enough ????

 

[SEL]

You can buy rugs with a belly cover.

I have VERY low standards in mud season!

 

[milliepops]

I'm in the "clip off anything that collects mud" camp too. My ex racer doesn't enjoy grooming much so as soon as there is any mud around he also has his mane cut pretty short to avoid collecting mud dreadlocks as he objects to them being brushed out.

Short clipped hair doesn't catch as much mud and then a super groomer scrubby pad quickly and *comfortably* takes any that is clinging off quickly. one of those ones that looks like a washing up pad. 2 second job

 

[ycbm]

I live by the rule that no horse was ever born wanting to be clean ?
.

 

[I'm Dun]

I live by the rule that no horse was ever born wanting to be clean ?
.

I know, but hes a typical ginger with delicate skin and if I leave the mud hes going to get rubs and sores. The cob and native are left filthy because they have hides like rhinos!

Half his face and neck are already off. I was hoping for some miracle cure I didnt know about but it looks like its wipe and scrape till spring

 

[SpeedyPony]

Those rubber/plastic grooming mitts with the scrubby, fine bristles on one side (like this- https://www.rideawaystore.com/Roma-Glitter-Massage-Scrubbing-Grooming-Mitt/r5047035.htm) are great for getting dry mud off.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would clip some off or you could use a headless snuggy that would cover his whole neck, I find coat spray applied every day help the mud come off easier.

I find the large metal scourers are great for getting mud off so cheap as well.

 

[Nicnac]

super groomer scrubby pad quickly and *comfortably* takes any that is clinging off quickly. one of those ones that looks like a washing up pad. 2 second job

Like this one Milliepops? I have the Roma ones but this looks good if it's what you mean?
https://totally-tack.com/smart-groo...MIpoyk0u7P9AIV_4FQBh2GxQzAEAQYAyABEgITPfD_BwE

 

[bouncing_ball]

Like this one Milliepops? I have the Roma ones but this looks good if it's what you mean?
https://totally-tack.com/smart-groo...MIpoyk0u7P9AIV_4FQBh2GxQzAEAQYAyABEgITPfD_BwE

Tigers tongue is better

 

[jnb]

Try a MudRug?
I never keep mine clean, just get him clean if I have to go anywhere. Because he's out 24/7 rolling doesn't seem to be that attractive to him, he'd rather sleep in his shelter in his shavings bed! He's got white legs from knee/hock down and tbh they're usually pretty clean.

 

[milliepops]

Like this one Milliepops? I have the Roma ones but this looks good if it's what you mean?
https://totally-tack.com/smart-groo...MIpoyk0u7P9AIV_4FQBh2GxQzAEAQYAyABEgITPfD_BwE

Yep
Because they are so flexible I find they are readily accepted on sensitive bits like eye sockets and knobbly knees ?

 

[I'm Dun]

Yep
Because they are so flexible I find they are readily accepted on sensitive bits like eye sockets and knobbly knees ?

I use a pan scrubber which works the same I think

 

[NinjaPony]

For my grey, I used a full neck rug, snuggy hood head with ears, tail bag and sprayed everything visible with pig oil. He was also fully clipped which massively helps as you can get the worst off with a damp flannel and some warm water if it won’t budge with a brush, and they dry much quicker.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Like this one Milliepops? I have the Roma ones but this looks good if it's what you mean?
https://totally-tack.com/smart-groo...MIpoyk0u7P9AIV_4FQBh2GxQzAEAQYAyABEgITPfD_BwE

Thank you for the link - I've just bought one for my mud monster of a native that's rugless for weightloss but also in regular work. Hoping that helps getting him clean enough to ride a bit less painful. May have bought some unicorn treats too

 

[I'm Dun]

For my grey, I used a full neck rug, snuggy hood head with ears, tail bag and sprayed everything visible with pig oil. He was also fully clipped which massively helps as you can get the worst off with a damp flannel and some warm water if it won’t budge with a brush, and they dry much quicker.

Hes only doing slow walk and trot work while I get him fit after a lay off, but I think more of a clip is on the cards shortly. He has the most amazng soft and fine coat but its definitely long enough to get mud stuck to it.

 

[pistolpete]

Another vote for the super groomer once mud is dry or miracle bath spray is quite good too I have used a green pan scouter on occasion! Also not being proud helps!

 

[MuddyMonster]

Another vote for the super groomer once mud is dry or miracle bath spray is quite good too I have used a green pan scouter on occasion! Also not being proud helps!

Not being proud is the only way to survive winter

 

[HobleytheTB]

Is there any possibility he's slightly too hot? I've known a few who go over the top rolling in wet stuff if they've got a bit warm when the temperature comes up during the day etc.

 

[SEL]

Next Autumn when I'm dithering over whether to clip the feathers off the micro cob, please someone remind me that they get coated in wet mud and are absolutely grim. Too late to clip now but please smack me around the head hard next year.

 

[I'm Dun]

Is there any possibility he's slightly too hot? I've known a few who go over the top rolling in wet stuff if they've got a bit warm when the temperature comes up during the day etc.

No hes just a hippo! He does it all year round. Its just this time of year it never dries so its a huge pain to get it off and stop his sensitive ginger skin getting rubs. I washed his face, mane and legs and coated him in pig oil yesterday and it has helped. Hes got a hood on but its got huge cut outs round the eyes, and hes still managed to get his face covered. It did come off fairly easily though. So I'll have to keep him oiled all winter and keep a supply of towels to scrub the wet bits off!

 

[Cob Life]

I ride a mud monster, he:
- is clipped (blanket for work but i always do at least a chaser even if he’s in very light work)
- no rinse shampoo is amazing (we like the netex peppermint one and naf warming one) I also use it after clipping and if he’s sweaty as i find the sweat can irrits his skin
- has any areas likely to get muddy sprayed with mane and tail every few days, apparently show sheen is good too but I haven’t tried it.

 

[Puglover9521]

Trace clip and invest in a Haas mustang brush - takes seconds to remove even the thickest dried mud even from a really hairy native!

 

[Annagain]

My old boy hated being brushed. I tried everything and it never changed until I found these : Buy the Hands On Grooming Mitt | Online for Equine .
He now backs up to me and sticks the body part he'd like dealt with in my face, they're really effective too. He went from almost dangerous (I always had to have my wits about me when brushing anywhere near his back end) to this:

 

[I'm Dun]

My old boy hated being brushed. I tried everything and it never changed until I found these : Buy the Hands On Grooming Mitt | Online for Equine .
He now backs up to me and sticks the body part he'd like dealt with in my face, they're really effective too. He went from almost dangerous (I always had to have my wits about me when brushing anywhere near his back end) to this:

I've got those. Mines not as fussed on them, but loves the curry comb with the rolling ball things!