White Legs? Keeping clean this winter!

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Foxtrot Filly

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Now winter is fast approaching I have probably not picked the best time of year to start this but I am taking the plunge and letting my boy go au-natural (well almost!)

I have always had feathers off main pulled and all neat and tidy! I used to do a lot of dressage so kept him platted type but now I am looking to show him next season and he is Welsh Sec D x (but looks typical welshie! tiny bit of tb in him)

Anyway now the feathers are growing he has 2 white legs and I am looking for recommendations on how to keep them clean / white this winter I did have a friend recommend pig fat as this stops the dirt sticking to the feathers? has anyone had experience of this?

Or does anyone have any other tricks they use?

Thanks :D
 
I cant give you any day to day tips but to get them WHITE for shows wash as normal (i use baby shampoo) then allow them to dry off and when they are damp use sheep face whitener. You get it in many agricultural stores in a large tub, it looks like talc powder and i make it into a paste and add to damp legs then gamgee and bandage up. Just brush off in the morning and you will have the whitest legs around!
 
I use pig oil and sulphur. It isn't pig fat. It is the oil they use on pigs. You can use it without the sulphur. My friend also thought it was made from pigs. Think baby oil - not made from babies ;)

It really helps keep the feather in good condition and means the legs won't get as muddy and the mud comes off easier.
 
tbh i leave well alone over winter - i think the more products you put on and the more you wash off the natural oils the more chance of mud fever there is. i hardly even brush the mud off :o
 
It wont stop them staining but to waterproof mine and stop the mud sticking I make sure their legs are clean ish and dry, and then liberally brush on baby oil, right up to the top of the leg (have a dedicated brush for this or your body brush will always be sticky!). Then i smear Zinc and Caster Oil Cream into their heals. This stops them getting any mud fever in my experience, and the mud falls off easily without leaving behind loads of dust. I redo this once a week and it works all winter.

For washing and whitening I shampoo with normal shampoo, then use Silver Highlights purple power stuff which you disolve in hot water, dilute with cold water, and then lather up and rinse. It works a treat and really gives "reflective" whites!
 
I'm with Posie-honey - too much washing removes natural oils and can soften skin - think your fingers after washing up or a long bath. It's hard to leave mud on the feathers but if you check underneath you will see white, dry hair and skin. If you want to discourage mud, you can use baby oil - if your fields produce runny type swampy mud, this will run off. Not so effective for clay though. The feathers will protect your horses legs - it is what they are for.
 
I leave my welsh's white feather alone all winter, give it a good scrub in spring and it comes up white :) failing that, i've always been a fan of canter mane and tail conditioner- dry mud just falls off- just don't spray it under the saddle area or you'll be on the floor!!
 
I use Gold Label leg guard - keeps my pony's legs clean and stain free. Its so good I use it on her neck and mane too (she is grey!)
 
Pig Oil - is Liquid Parafin, the liquid form of Vaseline - cheaper to buy as Liquid Parafin than Pig Oil

Get socks really clean and dry then apply the liquid parafin, work well into roots.

Will reduce the amount of mud that sticks but can be just as much of a pain to remove as the mud!

Best thing is don't stress about the conditionof the feather - your horse isn't going to worry. If you go to a competition then brush them - once dry and maybe wash if you can get them fulkly dry. The more you wash and brush the more likely you are to get Mud Fever.

Buy a bottle of Nizoral for the days when you do wash - this shampoo will knock any mudfever on the head before it can get hold.
 
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