Please Help. Mud!!!

P

PStarfish

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 October 2009
Messages
215
Visit site
I have recently moved from yard with sandy soil to clay. I love everything about new yard except one thing. My pony has turned into a bog monster!! Seriously, I never knew mud could stick this way. My grooming box has expanded drastically but nothing I try seems to help. So far I have and have used - good old fashioned plastic and rubber curry combs, thick bristle mud brush, magic brush, coat shine in an attempt to stop it sticking in the first place. Nothing works! Is there some magic tool I'm missing or am I stuck with the mud? She manages to completely cement her face and her mane and forelock are a constant clump of stuck together mane. Any tips please before I invest in a head to toe onesie (insert tongue in cheek smiley here-don't know how!!)
 
I feel your pain! Im on clay soil too andhave a herd of hippo's - or so it seems, its my own yard so cant move and ive been here 10 years ! I invested in a fine pinned dog brush, its metal so i only use it lightly, especially round the face areas, but i works wonders, it breaks up the mud without pulling the hair so making it more comfy for the horse. I dont press into the coat more run it along the mud, not that theres's much hair visable on them, more a thick crust of mud! To be honest the 'mud' brushes just dont do anything, but my dog brush works wonders and means i can then flick the dust out the coat with a soft long bristled dandy - its took years to work out the best option, i also now invest in rugs with v long neck covers ;)
 
Thanks BF will give that a go. Main problem area is always right behind the ears where the bridle sits. And pony hates me brushing it off - no doubt pulls the hair like you say. And too right, my full neck t/o has proved invaluable!
 
I wish I had some good advice but I am in my 3rd winter on clay and HATE it after 20+ years on sand. My hairy comes in looking like he has been spray painted with mud and it sets so hard in his mane and tail I have to crush it between my fingers before I can brush through. I wondered why every one had these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Reversabl...StableAccessories_SM&var=&hash=item20d5f24053
and now I know! His feathers never dry out and I have had to start clipping the beauties off :(
I think like Bennions Field that metal is the way to go (magic brushes and dandy brushes are useless on clay mud)
My first question when looking for yards in the future will be "Are you on clay?"
 
Get a snuggy hood turnout hood with ears, and some seven day mud away but I find normal mane and tail works to and spray your horse where the mud sticks. I have always been on clay and this is the best I have found.
I have now found the ultimate solution, I have a horse that doesn't roll when it gets muddy............huge bonus.
 
For legs try 7 day mud away spray - brilliant stuff. Mane and tail spray on mane and tail then a magic brush to get out the rest of the mud
 
The best thing I have found for sensitive areas like the face is a plasic round pan scourer you use for washing up. You can get then in pound shops inbags of 3. The are pliable to go round the bones and most horses don't seem to mind them.
 
For manes and tails I use good old Brylcreem or Baby oil .

Wash the horses Mane and Tail , dry well and rub either some Brylcreem or Baby Oil. Each time you groom your horse just rub a bit more into the Mane and Tail. It keeps mud away and also helps both from not getting tangled.

The mane and tail also look nice and shine .
 
Yep I feel your pain! Best brush I've found is the round metal curry comb (the circular one). And pan scouters for the face and ears. Both look a bit harsh but actually the horses don't seem to mind them, as long as you don't use the curry comb too roughly or on tickly bits!

I've just got so,e mud away so will try that. With mane and tail spray. At the moment I put baby oil on her legs before turn out which makes it easier to get off. Spent ages grooming to get her finally clear of the mud and she went a did a big roll, thankfully in the stable so just got covered in straw. Will see what the mud monster looks like today!
 
no point in even trying to groom unless it is completely dry mud- even slightly damp you will not get it off! i ride mine muddy quite often for that very reason. i keep my horses mane and tail as short as possible without them looking stupid!
 
The best combination I have found is to use a circular reversible metal curry comb for legs and tummy (used gently!), then one of the grooming mits with one side cactus cloth for face and ears. Job done!
 
Let it dry and curry comb off. Unless you are doing competitions this winter, best just let them be muddy things. I don't do much in winter with a youngster but even with my old horse I just used to ride him mud and all. I rugged to keep the saddle area dry and clean but otherwise, I just left it. Life's too bloody short to be messing about getting mud off. If you are competing, then maybe don't turn out. When I had competitions I would keep in and exercise on the roads only. You have to be pragmatic in winter and not worry too much. It'll be spring in a few months... We might have to endure some snow yet between now and then.... That's when it does get really hard.
 
Cactus cloth are brilliant, I'm on clay too, I have sheets of the stuff that I cut into squares, roll up into a ball and use; it was the only thing I could ever use on a clipped out TB too, even a body brush was too much for her.
 
Please check out my recent blog post: http://geegeeandme.blogspot.co.uk/
I use pig oil on legs - not good for sensitive skinned horses though!
Stiff body brush on body, usually scratch it from ears and face, have considered purchasing a Snuggy Hood to help keep mud off but I like him to be a horse and enjoy the fresh air on his skin, don't like covering them up too much!
Our mud is clay like too though and it's a huge pain!! :(
 
Not sure if I would or not, but a friend swears by Mr Sheen furniture Polish sprayed all over horse apart from saddle area, and the mud normally slides off without a problem .................
 
I agree with Tallyho... life's too short! I keep mine rugged with a thin neck cover, that way only face and legs get muddy (maybe a bit of mane sometimes). A gentle go with a plastic curry comb then brush off. I tend to leave the legs completely - no point spending hours brushing them clean only to ride and get them filthy again!
It does mean the piebald spends the winter mostly brown in legs and tail but he doesn't mind so why should I?
 
The joys of clay mud. People on non-clay soils swear by this that and the other new miracle products to remove the mud, but nothing works on our mud! Some things like cactus cloths seem to work on relatively fine-coated horses but are less effective when the mud monster in question has a coat like a yak. Mine is out of work at the moment, but if he was being ridden I'd just chip the mud off from where the tack goes and leave the rest. I don't brush tails in winter - just cut them fairly short and embrace the mud. If he was in work I'd probably wash it before lessons but I'm not bothering now - the mud can stay until about May!
Every time I despair at the hippo-like state of my mud monster I just remind myself he is lucky to be turned out every day as most yards in this area restrict turnout so much in the winter and leave horses standing in for weeks on end due to the poorly drained clay soils. I'd rather have a muddy horse any day!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top