Pig oil for showing

[Deborahm]

I've just started experimenting with pig oil on my dark bay show horse, as although he has good conformation he is a very flat colour and I thought that a shine would help add to his presence.

How often should I be applying it and how do you stop the dust from settling on the surface of the coat once you've applied the oil?

My horse gets turned out for a portion of every day, but even when he's in he seems to be a magnet for the dust now that I've started using pig oil. Any advice from showing supremos would be welcomed!

 

[Theresa_F]

I only use pig oil on the morning of showing days - the merest dash in some hot water and the apply via a sponge so the coat is slightly damp - too much and it will make the coat flat and greasy.

The coat must be clean to start with or the oil brings the dust to the surface - hence last weekend, Chancer who has had lots of baths over the summer looked very good with it and Jet who is not as clean and I only hot towelled on Sunday, kept bringing grease to the surface and having to be brushed.

I find I get as good result with alva products though they are far more expensive, but pig oil is especially good for evening performance when you want a really big shine for a short period. The alva products also don't bring dirt to the surface as the oil can do.

I also use it all winter on my hairy beasts but that is a different scenario.

 

[rockysmum]

The only time I have heard of people using pig oil all the time is the M&M people on manes and feathers.

I dont think there is any way of stopping dust sticking to oil, a good shine everyday normally comes from the diet and grooming with a little help on show days. I use Supreme shine on ours.

By the way be careful putting pig oil on when turning out, I have heard of it causing sunburn on nice days. A bit like tanning oils with no UV protection factor.

 

[winchester]

I also heard its good for mud fever?

 

[Lucyad]

I use it for keeping feathers clean, and preventing mud rash and bog burn, however would wash it off for showing (or make sure that it was applied far enough in advance to wear off), because it makes them horrible and gloopy!