Washing horse down after every ride - thoughts please?

[CBFan]

Nobody washes horses down in the wild!

No but horses aren't worked to the extent that their domesticated cousins are and with tack on in the wild either....

And they are allowed to get rained on!! :O which washes nasties out of their coats...

 

[Kat]

Mine is never left sweaty, hate to see sweat marks! If it is hot she'll get hosed off, if it is less warm then sponged or brushed with a damp water brush. In cold weather she is probably not mega sweaty so I'd brush the sweat off, or if necessary get some warm water from the office.

 

[jaspejoo]

I sponge down sweaty bits on my ISH with a lavender wash and it also doubles up as a good fly repellent

 

[tallyho!]

Ooooo you posh banana Jasjepoo!!! Lavender no less!!!

Well, I wash mine down with Armani Code! The girls in opposite field go crazy for him!

 

[AFlapjack]

Jack's sweaty patches are always sponged down but it's not necessarily after every ride.

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

I can't bear it when I see horses left with crusty saddle shaped sweat patches , and sticky sweat under their legs and around the stifles which attracts the flies. I think leaving sweaty horses dirty is very bad practice.

I always sponge the sweaty bits off with water, but if they're not sweaty they just get a brush off.

 

[Merrymoles]

We wash off when very sweaty, sponge off if not, with a drop of Dettol or similar in the water which seems to help keep the flies off. In winter they are clipped but very sweaty areas are wiped with a barely damp sponge to take the sweat off

 

[ISHmad]

We sponge off sweaty areas with Cool Sloshwash or Lavender Wash in summer and if sweaty in winter use Warming Sloshwash with warm water. Doesn't happen very often though.

 

[Miss L Toe]

My boy is itchy type so he always gets a damp sponge over his head [usually clipped] and between legs back and front, anywhere he is clipped, if it is reasonable weather he will get a full bucket of water with lavender or itchy wash.
I just run a wet sponge down lower legs down to fetlocks, unless concerned about cuts or anything.
Any sweaty bits are always sponged off.
I hate seeing horses with dried sweat where bridle was removed, that is crass.

 

[Luci07]

Sweat marks are always washed off whatever the season. I don't want my horses to get rubs/attract flies or sores!. In the winter they get rugged up with a thermatex or fleece to dry off. If they have really worked hard and are truly gross then its either the lavendar or ginger wash and yes, in the winter I am kind enough to get a bucket of warm water!

 

[Cuppatea]

washed all over every day after work. Sweat patches = sore patches andthat cant be allowed to happen! They have a full hose down and go on the walker (with a fleece on in the winter)to dry off (and cool down).

 

[Orangehorse]

I was put off washing down saddle areas, as my old Pony Club, ex army wife always said that too much washing weakened the skin, and every time I apply water to my horse I remember what she said! About 40 years ago.
Mine isn't particularly sweaty, so will only get a wash down if it is particularly hot or he has done a lot of hard work (with those words still ringing in my ears!) My horse doesn't like being washed in cold water and makes his feelings on the matter very plain. Must have been spoiled as a child.

Apparently in Germany it is a sackable offence for a groom to use cold water to wash off a horse, although I don't know if that is just in the winter, and presumably their well appointed yardshave hot water on tap, unlike lots of British yards.

 

[abina]

I always wash down after every ride - we are lucky though to have a hot water wash, solarium, and horsewalker so that cooling down, drying off etc is easier than maybe for some.

I have one mare that if I don't wash off even the smallest whiff of sweat she will break out in a sore ! I normally use baby bath for washing down, mild and cheap !!

 

[spotty_pony]

I only sponge mine off if they are really sweaty and I only do the sweaty areas. In the Winter, my boy is fully clipped out for hunting so he doesn't get sweaty. After hunting, I do wash him down properly but we have a wash box with warm water at the yard so I never use cold water to wash him down. He dries really quickly as he is fully clipped out.

 

[Marydoll]

I always wash down after every ride - we are lucky though to have a hot water wash, solarium, and horsewalker so that cooling down, drying off etc is easier than maybe for some.

I have one mare that if I don't wash off even the smallest whiff of sweat she will break out in a sore ! I normally use baby bath for washing down, mild and cheap !!

Ooh i'd love your facilities, lucky horses, and you

 

[soulfull]

I too hate to see horses with sweat patches, it causes skin conditions, flies, sores etc

I always wash/sponge off sweaty saddle/girth under armpits and head. even when clipped my lad gets at least a damp wash

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Mine's a sweet itch, so always an itchy man. In the summer if he gets hot out riding, when I come home I'll just tip water over him and he LOVES it - I also add some "Lavendar Wash" which he just adores.

In the winter, he's clipped, so I'd then get a warm sponge and rub over him, OR "hot rag" him (hot water - dip towel in, thoroughly wring out towell, and then rub over coat - works a treat).

I wouldn't ever leave sweat or saddle marks on him - he's got a very sensitive skin anyway so a definate no-no.

 

[CrazyHorse!]

I Honestly Never Hosed/Whiped My Horse Down After Riding Them, And If I Did, I Would Certainly Not Put A Rug/Fleece On Them Untill There Fully Dry And It Can Rub Easier, And It Would Take Long To Dry, If You And Your Horse Had A Good Beasting Setion To Make Him/Her Sweat, You Should Always Bring You Horses Heart Rate Down Before Getting Off, This Gives Them Time To Loose The Sweat, So There Would Be No Need To Wash Them Down.
If Your Riding The Horse Day In Day Out With Out A Days Rest Then I Would Maybe Consider Giving Them A Wash Down Maybe Once Ever Fortnight Or Round About That, But If You Riding Them With A Day Or a Few Inbetween, Then I Would Honestly Only Consider Washin Them Down 2-3 Times A Month, Also Depending On How Hard They've Worked, I Understand Alot Of People Wont Agree With This, But As My Horses Dont Like Washes, I Try To Make Them As Happy As Possible With Me, Because Im Sure You All Know That To Bond With Your Horse You Need Trust, And If Your Not Making Your Horse Happy, It Wont Trust You.. So Therefor, Your Not Going To Get Pleasure Out Of Riding
I Hope This LOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGG Message Has Helped You, As I Said Before I Understand That Some People May Not Agree With What I Do, But Its Just The Way I Bring My Horses Up.
Clo.

 

[mymare]

 

[LaurenM]

I sponge the sweat patches in summer. I'd stick a cooler on them in winter and not sponge due to temperature.

 

[Honey08]

Kind of what I thought!

 

[mymare]

Kind of what I thought!

Am actually sitting here LOLing!

 

[Auslander]

Apparently in Germany it is a sackable offence for a groom to use cold water to wash off a horse, although I don't know if that is just in the winter, and presumably their well appointed yardshave hot water on tap, unlike lots of British yards.

Don't know about sackable offence, but I worked in Germany and Switzerland for several years, and they are amazingly well set up out there. The yard I was on had hot and cold running water in the wash boxes, with mixer shower heads - which we used in winter. Every horse got thoroughly washed off after exercise - winter and summer - and was then tied up under the solarium til dry.

We introduced cold hosing during the summer, much to the surprise of both horses, and German staff. The horses loved it though - it was so hot in summer that we had to ride from 5-7am, then take the rest of the day off, before going back to ride more horses from 7-10.

I've maintained a germanic approach to cleanliness. I would rather hose/wash a horse down thoroughly, and then rug up well to keep warm, than leave sweaty bits. I dont' like having a sweaty head, even after it has dried, so don't inflict it on horses. I wash them, scrape them, and let them have a really good roll - then stick a wicking rug on - with a wool rug on top if it's really cold.

 

[UKa]

I dont' like having a sweaty head, even after it has dried, so don't inflict it on horses.

I think that too often we inflict human standards on them... it is not always a good idea to constantly wash a horse's coat - interferes with their natural ability to withstand the weather ...

Besides, my girl cannot be brought near anything too cold, not in the winter but also in the summer she hates the hose, I just use a sponge... think they are happier if they can have a good roll in a bit of mud haha.

 

[blakesmum]

Am actually sitting here LOLing!

Me to, but to pick up on some points.

This Gives Them Time To Loose The Sweat, So There Would Be No Need To Wash Them Down.

Rubbish (and not just the sillly typing). They don't lose the sweat, sweat cannot be removed without washing (if the sweat is wet) or brushing (if the coat has dried). Without some external method of removal the sweat will stay on the coat.

I Would Certainly Not Put A Rug/Fleece On Them Untill There Fully Dry And It Can Rub Easier

How on earth would a well fitting fleece or wicking rug rub a horse that had been washed down? Sorry I'm at a loss there, surely wicking rugs are designed mainly for this purpose.

It is up the the individual what they do, but at least do it for the right reasons.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

if only a few areas are sweaty i get a bucket and sponge the saddle girth and bridle area and anywhere else that is not fair to leave sweat marks on if really hot i hose the sown scrap of the excess if colder wait till dry then put rug on if hot i put fly rug or no rug and turn them out

 

[Welly]

Hose down summer and winter. My old boy use to compete and hunt and I had to wash him off when he came home from head to tail or he would sweat all night. He loved it

 

[Little Squirrel]

Hose down in summer and winter, although I never hose across their back's behind where the saddle sits as this cam lead to getting chills in Kidney's. In Summer I just scrape them off and let them out and in the winter they are scraped, have a cooler on and then an outdoor rug on top (I can hear people cringing now!!!) They dry well, stay warm and are brought in when dry, brushed over and rugged up. They look well and I no problems whatsoever in doing it this way!

 

[R.I.D]

I Honestly Never Hosed/Whiped My Horse Down After Riding Them, And If I Did, I Would Certainly Not Put A Rug/Fleece On Them Untill There Fully Dry And It Can Rub Easier, And It Would Take Long To Dry, If You And Your Horse Had A Good Beasting Setion To Make Him/Her Sweat, You Should Always Bring You Horses Heart Rate Down Before Getting Off, This Gives Them Time To Loose The Sweat, So There Would Be No Need To Wash Them Down.
If Your Riding The Horse Day In Day Out With Out A Days Rest Then I Would Maybe Consider Giving Them A Wash Down Maybe Once Ever Fortnight Or Round About That, But If You Riding Them With A Day Or a Few Inbetween, Then I Would Honestly Only Consider Washin Them Down 2-3 Times A Month, Also Depending On How Hard They've Worked, I Understand Alot Of People Wont Agree With This, But As My Horses Dont Like Washes, I Try To Make Them As Happy As Possible With Me, Because Im Sure You All Know That To Bond With Your Horse You Need Trust, And If Your Not Making Your Horse Happy, It Wont Trust You.. So Therefor, Your Not Going To Get Pleasure Out Of Riding
I Hope This LOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGG Message Has Helped You, As I Said Before I Understand That Some People May Not Agree With What I Do, But Its Just The Way I Bring My Horses Up.
Clo.

sorry...but BULL****..A sweaty horse that is cooled down, properly, will in effect cool down and dry off - you are missing the point here - the dried sweat marks will remain...
I don't get the rest of your thread though, its neither here nor there nor makes much sense tbh..

 

[Auslander]

I think that too often we inflict human standards on them... it is not always a good idea to constantly wash a horse's coat - interferes with their natural ability to withstand the weather ...

I don't think I'm inflicting human standards here - dried sweat, even if you brush it off afterwards, leaves a residue on the skin, and combined with the natural oils already present, leaves a greasy layer - no matter how well you groom them. I prefer to wash it off quickly and leave the coat and skin clean. The natural oils are only removed if you shampoo every time you wash - which I don't - and tbh, even if we do wash these oils away, that's what rugs are for. The horse replenishes these oils pretty quickly anyway, so it's not a biggie.