Using a hairdryer on a horse?!

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bex1984

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Following my post yesterday about my itchy pony (thanks for all the replies
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) I think he really does need to have his mane washed
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So I'm contemplating whether I could use a hairdryer on him?
Has anyone ever tried this? has your horse/pony tolerated it?
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Am I completely bonkers?!
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Never used it on a horse, but when I use to work at the vets we had special low-heat hairdryers for drying dogs, as it's so very easy to burn their skin without realising. If you do decide to use a hairdryer, make sure it's on a very low heat and keep it moving lots with your hand preferably on the skin with the hair between your fingers so you don't burn the skin.

To be honest though, considering how many dogs can be a wuss with the hairdryer (my 3yr old choc lab is terrified of it, although my 14yr old yellow lab loves it!) I'd be suprised if you can get near the horse with a hairdryer.
 
Monty Roberts uses a hairdryer to condition horses that are afraid of clippers to the idea of white noise. They are quicker to trust a hairdryer which just gives out warmth, and then he introduces the clippers while the hairdryer is still on. The hairdryer then gets switched off, and presto, the clipper phobic horse is being clipped!
 
Ok - but bear in mind that said horse is fairly "bombproof" (hate that word...but you know what i mean...).

If the hairdryer is a no-no, any other suggestions/ideas for drying his mane if I wash it??
 
Yes, my friend in Canada used them all the time to get the horses dry before they were turned out. Otherwise the damp in their coats would snap freeze and break the hairs leaving them with big bald patches. She said you had to get them used to it and always use a diffuser (attachment thing) so there isn't such a stream of hot air and keeo your hand under the stream so you don't accidentally make it too hot.
 
lmao, there was someone at the yard with a wimpy horse who really doesn't like getting wet and we were joking about using a hairdryer on him!!!

i personally wouldn't but i have very sensitive horses
 
No way would never use a hair dryer on my horse I have heard to many stories about people/horses getting electrocuted as done this near water. Can you not just use a towel i find it drys my horse really quickly.
 
I do!!
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Have a hairy coloured horse who takes hours to dry so have often been known to take my hairdryer out and blast his mane & feathers!!
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Daft question but what is wrong with just using a few towels to dry it off?

sorry had to ask
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Because it's 3ft long and about 5 inches thick!!!!
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It takes soooooo long to dry and I think I'd need about 20 towels!!
 
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I do!!
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Have a hairy coloured horse who takes hours to dry so have often been known to take my hairdryer out and blast his mane & feathers!!
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and does he mind?!
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I couldn't, my mare can't stand clippers (the joy of sedolin allows the clipper lady to do it).. I do however use a thermalux head & neck cover, I also use this if she gets wet in the field/out riding, I leave it on for an hour or so whilst pottering around the yard doing other jobs and she's generally pretty much dry by that time....
 
Friend of mine has a shire x tb, he gets mud fever and she used to keep his legs clipped very short. Every night she would wash off his legs, then hairdryer them dry. They had a great bond, and he was happy to have it done (no idea if it worked for the mud fever though!)
 
I have four horses and have used my hairdrier on all of them, they are loose in their stables and just stand there, mind you I also use the a cyclinder house vacuum and hoover them....especially before clipping
does that make me a bit crazy
 
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I have four horses and have used my hairdrier on all of them, they are loose in their stables and just stand there, mind you I also use the a cyclinder house vacuum and hoover them....especially before clipping
does that make me a bit crazy

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lmao!! sorry that was so funny!
I reckon mine would be ok with a hairdryer....and maybe even a hoover at a push!!
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although we have a dyson so might be a bit heavy to stick on top of the horse....
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I used to use a hairdryer on my friends Highland pony to dry mane, tail and feathers, he never used to bat an eyelid. Wouldn't use them on my TB now though, she's far too much of a wuss
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If he doesnt mind big noisy clippers & you introduce it slowly you should be fine. Can but try. lol
 
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No way would never use a hair dryer on my horse I have heard to many stories about people/horses getting electrocuted as done this near water.

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Really? Have to say I have not heard of one incident of this in all the years I have been around horses...
 
Why would a hair dryer be any more dangerous than clippers around horses? (as long as you are using a circuit breaker which I always do when I use electrics around horses)
Clippers have sharp edges and make a whirring noise... hairdryers blow air and make a whirring noise...
I used to spot clean my grey pony and use the hairdryer to dry her on wintery mornings before hunting. Can't say she was bothered.
If your horse is gently introduced to the noise and effect of a hair dryer and the air isn't too hot, it's an excellent way of drying any part of a horse, it's better than him freezing.
 
When me and JoBo sold our traditional cob we blowed dried his feathers to get them dry before potential buyers came - they'd take hours to dry otherwise!!! He didn't care in the slightest.
 
I used to work with a 4* event rider who has us blow dry horses heels after they had been washed in winter. Gets them so much dryer than towels and it worked because there was never any case of mud fever whilst i was there. none of the horses seemed to mind.....like anything, just get him used to it slowly
 
I have used one on Chancer's hair when I needed him dry quickly and had run out of wood flour - he is a laid back gypsy cob so it was not a problem - no louder than clippers.

He seemed to enjoy it, but then he adored having hot showers when he was away last year for some schooling - he is a big wuss.
 
I used a hair dryer on a couple of yearlings last year who went down with rain scald. Everyday I would wash them with anti-bacterial wash from the vet, then blow dry them! Thet got used to the noise quickly and ended up loving coming in for their 'set and blow dry'!
 
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