What's the coldest you'd bath a horse in?

[TheMagicHaflinger]

I'm taking my horse to a show on saturday, and with our wonderful weather at the moment, i was wondering if it was too cold to give him a bath. So what's the coldest you'd all bath your horses in?

 

[chestnut cob]

I bath mine in minus temperatures after hunting but always with warm water and in sections, with a cotton sheet over the bits I'm not doing. It's definitely not too cold ATM!

 

[Birker2020]

I washed my horses mane, legs and neck the other day and it was very cold outside but I used warm water and a sweat scraper to get the water off, towelled his legs dry with one of those cloths that soak up loads of water. Then I draped a cooler type of rug around his neck and another rug on his body and tucked the neck rug in. He was fine. As long as you keep them warm afterwards and then change the rug to a dry rug you should be ok.

I know (not from experience but from what I have heard/read) that sometimes horses come back from hunting absolutely plastered in wet mud and they hose them off all over their bodies even in really cold weather but its not that initial hosing that is the problem, its the keeping warm and dry afterwards that can be problematic but as long as you are sensible it would be fine.

 

[caberston]

im sure most people bath to some extent in mid-winter after hunting so as long as you use warm water, dry properly and keep him warm afterwards i dont see a problem!

 

[McNally]

I fully wash horses off at work daily with a cold hose from head to foot (trainer checks for dry bits!) the water must run clean from every patch of body so same as bathing! we do it daily like i say what ever the weather- At first i admit i was horrified but they cope and there is never any problem as long as your quick and rug them up well after

 

[Alec Swan]

The coldest? That would depend upon how badly she's behaved!

Alec.

 

[Auslander]

I hose all over all year round if I have a sweaty horse. I'd rather that than have greasy sticky stuff on their skin. I do it as quickly as I can, then stick a thermatex on with an old duvet on top. Never had one sick or sorry afterwards.

 

[Shay]

I've bathed in sub zero if I have to. As others have said - warm water, in sections and as dry as possible afterward. Then layer with either nice new modern wikking rugs or thatch straw under a turnout. (Very Old fashioned that!) have washed 2 out of 3 boys today and am just heading off for the third. Definitely not too cold - at least not here!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I hose all over all year round if I have a sweaty horse. I'd rather that than have greasy sticky stuff on their skin. I do it as quickly as I can, then stick a thermatex on with an old duvet on top. Never had one sick or sorry afterwards.

This. Thermatex is the key!! real one not an imitation, if you dont mind odd colours you can get cheaper on eBay. My 17hh bay looks disgusted with his baby blue 7foot one but he is nice and warm! My Haflinger gets what she's given, she's a tough nut and I tell her it's an alpine rainstorm....)))