Washing horse down after every ride - thoughts please?

[SO1]

No i don't wash him as getting wet attracts the flies in the summer and in the winter he is chaser clipped so does not get sweaty.

TBH even in the summer he rarely gets sweaty except on his girth area and sometimes his saddle area - he has a wicking saddle cloth.

I use baby wipes to wipe his sweaty girth area rather than washing. If he was really sweaty then I would hose him down but I don't work him that hard in the hot weather.

I also don't hose his legs in the winter if they get muddy either.

 

[VioletStripe]

I sponge down sweaty bits, don't hose down completely unless the horse is VERY hot and sweaty and it's a very warm day. Then I use a sweat scraper and leave in the stable to dry off and cool off out of the sun before turning out or whatever. In winter, will only sponge down the sweaty bits using warmish water and then put on a cooler to wick away the water and other bits of sweat, and then will brush over the areas to make sure the dried sweat is properly gone before rugging up for turnout or to stay in the stable when properly dry xx

 

[daisalph]

In winter ie now, I spray sweaty areas with 'winter wash' - on ebay- ans rub down hard with dryish sponge to give him a good massage. Then rug him and put him out - he brushes up shiny when I groom him next time and no sweat marks!

 

[Tnavas]

Sponge off sweaty areas with warm water - I used to take a large thermos to the yard as we had no hot water on tap. Towel dry and cover. Areas I'd be sponging, base of neck near shoulders, around were the bridle has been, flanks - the rest allow to dry and brush off.

If yoour horse is clipped and sweating then it's not fit - you need to increase the work load.

 

[flyingfeet]

Girth and leg crack washed no matter what the weather, if below freezing I might use warmer water for my hands!

Scraped off and rugs put back on - I use breathable type rugs and they deal with the remaining damp (horses clipped)

 

[Ranyhyn]

This made me weak!!!