What would you do with this?

[Gingernags]

I'll set the scene... you have a youngster, rising three. It has a coat like a polar bear but is moulting like mad. There is a really hard frost outside and no mud as its solid several inches down into the ground. So you turn the youngster out without a rug so she can scratch off some hair as you know she'll be warm enough.

When the beastie comes in, you have 4 options - scroll down to the picture... then answer...

 

[Alibear]

I'd leave polar bear well alone, mud won't hurt it and it will only add more tomorrow.

Should you want to ride it I'd just groom the saddle and bridle areas.

Lazy arse x polar bear owner me

 

[Hayleycob]

leave it, she'll only do the same again tomorrow !

 

[saskia295]

Ah, reminds me of my first little pony who was grey/brown permanently!!

 

[Gingernags]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd leave polar bear well alone, mud won't hurt it and it will only add more tomorrow.

Should you want to ride it I'd just groom the saddle and bridle areas.

Lazy arse x polar bear owner me

[/ QUOTE ]

Picture doesn't actually do it justice... the mud was nearly black and very wet!

See mine comes in fairly clean and shiny...

 

[SSM]

Leave it - it'll only add more tomorrow, and all the dust would be so bad for you both!

Donkey would love to come in looking like that!

 

[Sooty]

Ah you see I'd never have made that basic mistake.

Always turn out with a thin rug on to prevent coat ending up like this...

A lot depends on your soil, and how warm your stables are. We have thick clay that really clings to the coat, and would not want to be hosing in this weather. If you do hose, I suppose a fleece of thermatex type rug in the stable is the answer. Personally, I'd go for the 'shoot it' option!

 

[*hic*]

You want the non-politically correct answer?

Leave it to dry and then break the worst of the "clumps" up with a metal curry comb used gently and held horizontally to the skin.

 

[Gingernags]

The evil one who may or may not be my sister... is praying Asti has a leopard spot foal so she can get her own back when mine comes in looking like that!

Aside for me personally voting D and laughing lots at her, she did give her a going over with a shedding blade to break up the clumps, and just let her dry off overnight as the stables are quite warm.

Me - I'd have hosed it and rugged it but then I have a bit of an OCD about that! I'd have it clipped, rugged and neck covered so it couldn't get that filthy!

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

[ QUOTE ]
You want the non-politically correct answer?

Leave it to dry and then break the worst of the "clumps" up with a metal curry comb used gently and held horizontally to the skin.

[/ QUOTE ]

Echo that, or better still one of those circular metal cattle combs is BRILLIANT when the RS ponies come in from the t/o black all over

 

[sunflower]

Definitely the 4th option

 

[WishfulThinker]

Id leave it, she will only get MORE muddy, and when I had a pony that did that it was great actually as the super groom helped get the hair out to!

 

[Fairynuff]

Didnt vote at all. Shes a horse! She/he is supposed to do what horses do-they roll, they get dirty, they are happy doing theses totally equine "things".
I would give her a rub down and her feed/hay. I would then give her a hug and go and do what humans are supposed to do-link up with the forum and moan about the natural behaviour of the "horse". She looks like a happy ned-leave her alone. M.

 

[pottamus]

Leave it and if you need to ride, just clean off the saddle and bridle, girth areas! It's a horse after all!

 

[Gingernags]

[ QUOTE ]
She looks like a happy ned-leave her alone. M.

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite literally she is as happy as a pig in muck!

She is funny... she gets feed splatted all over her face then wipes it on you and licks your nice clean coats etc... I now always cover up my work top when I go to turn out on a morning on my way to work or she drools feed and slime down it.

She is the muckiest beast I've ever come across but yes, is very happy that way.

Sister has given up and just occassionally de-grimes her to ride then lets her get all mucky again... but I just get very amused seeing her face when she comes in bay instead of palomino! It just looks worse on her than on a ginger mare

 

[Tharg]

How is Ivy's riding going?

 

[Gingernags]

She hacks out in the forestry now! We have to box there and seeing as "Auntie" Asti is good to travel, Ivy is now good to travel... Asti is good to hack so Ivy is copying that too!

Much as I hate to admit it, I'm quite fond of the little ratbag now! Mind you, I say little, she's not 4 til June and she's 16hh now... from 2 x 15.2 parents!

Still just taking it slow with her though, only ridden once every week or two until (a) the weather turns and (b) she's that little bit older.

But all going well touch wood!

 

[guisbrogal]

Tee Hee! I voted 4

if she were mine though I would have washed her with the cold hose and then arranged to have her shot

Naughty girlie!

I looked out for her on Sunday but you didn't come

Mind you I had a migraine so I doubt I could have rode out...I was VERY fragile.