Would Love to hear everyones winter grooming tips and tricks :)

Seen as I've not been able to ride due to the horrific weather my boy is gleaming! He gets hot clothed off after he's been ridden, usually with some detol, baby oil and coat shine in.
 
lhotse said:
I have a grey horse who is too much of a diva to roll in the mud!!! Everyone comments on how clean she is, she's white grey too!!
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I have a grey who behaves like a hippo so lots of grooming for me either due to stable stains or mud :D
No magic potions just lots of elbow grease, water, baby shampoo and conditioner :D
 
Honestly? Owning a grey, mud-loving hippogit?

As Vodkagirly says: De-clog the bits where the tack goes and look the other way.

Even baby oil does nothing much for him. And trust me, I've tried EVERYTHING. :(

(Though not a onesie ;))
 
Avon Skin So Soft body oil - not the lotion, the oil.

Detangles manes/tails and keeps coats shiny and seems to repel wet mud, it tends to slide off like pig oil does. Also in the summer it was the only thing that kept away flies, especially those horrible horse flies.

Best thing about it? It's only £1.99 for a big bottle! Winner :D
 
For me its short tails - as in cut at the hocks to prevent mud clogging and bashing their legs (recently learnt!), canter mane and tail - keeps the mud away applied twice per week and a metal rounded curry comb used on unclipped horses - brilliant job at getting off caked on mud and also good for when they shed their coats! :D
 
The gateway and fence boundaries of my horse's field are like muddy soup now so he gets legs and feet hosed off when he comes in otherwise it never dries enough to brush it off. He is hunter clipped so otherwise it's a quick flick off with the brush for riding, feet picked out. His tail is like dreadlocks, covered in mud and filthy so yesterday I took the scissors to it and hacked about 5in off. It was far too long anyway. I haven't hunted this season and have let my tail management go to pot! Now it is the sort of length I'd have for hunting and is hopefully going to be much less messy!
 
Just discovered pig oil/ baby oil this winter. Why did I never try this before!!! I wash and towel legs about twice a week and smother in oil, it soaks in overnight then when they go out the next day mud just slides off!
 
Vodkagirly said:
Close your eyes and don't look. Trying to remove all the mud takes forever when you have a horse that insists on grinding it in everywhere especially ears and eyes. It just gets replaced again in minutes.
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This, but Spring Loaded Curry Comb (the round metal ones) gets the worst of it off the saddle area quickly so long as it's vaguely dry.
 
Agreed with the closing your eyes and don't look. I felt blinded for a few minutes whilst brushing Jack's face and neck the other night.

I keep the rug on him when he's outside just because it's easier. Also Nettex's 7 Day Mud-Away is an amazing product and I use it on his mane, tail and legs, and when I want to give a bit of extra condition and brushing ease I use Carr&Day&Martin's Canter Mane and Tail.

Also, I keep his tail in a plait most of the time apart from when he's ridden (don't ask, it's a force of habit now), it's kept his tail much cleaner for much longer.
 
Hose off legs and feet when they come in, groom rest of horse (I love a rubber curry comb for mud). I can't bear leaving any mud on, especially not to be ridden. Tails have to be combed through with fingers to remove any dirt/shavings. One must have standards, regardless of weather. ;)
 
Spring loaded curry combs are awesome and great for getting dried mud off. I always use one to scrape the body brush as I groom but in winter I use it directly on the horse.

I might not get him gleaming but he has to have a daily flick with the brush, he loves being groomed ... not fussed about being clean but he certainly loves being groomed :p

For me it can often be a choice ... he either gets a good groom or he gets ridden. I try and do both but exercising him takes priority :)

Hot clothing seems to be very popular and I do it before a show so will start doing it more often when I have the time :)
 
I have two greys. Snuggy hoods, full neck turnouts and tail bags are a must and pig oil for exposed bits. They come in overnight so they also have lovely stable stains, particularly on their off-side flanks (they both seem to lie on the same side!) I try to wash them in hot water at least once a week, but this doesn't always happen. I also keep their feathers trimmed as one's an IDxcob and the other's a IDxTBxSecD so they both have a decent amount of feather which get very clogged up if the'yre allowed to grow. One's very flea bitten so we get a way with more on him but the other is pretty much two-tone white/beige all winter. I don't worry too much unless I'm going somewhere, then I spend hours scrubbing and cursing myself for not washing their yellow bits every day.
 
I left mine over the holidays (in the care of a groom of course!) and despite not having seen a brush in a week, he was the cleanest he'd been all winter when I got back.. I recon they do it for the attention! :-)
 
OK so here's my tip(s):

Firstly do a full-clip; mine is a traddie cob (white legs!) and its so much easier this way.

So then, thereafter, brace self and bring in mucky, smelly, gunky horse (usually waiting at the gate for his supper!).

Stand said horse up in yard as near to the hosepipe as possible without raising his suspicions.

Spray feet/legs/hocks/tail area with Lynn Russell Stain Remover. I usually go to around or just below the hock level. THEN hosepipe to wash it all off!!!! Comes off a treat.

Then bung on a thermatex or similar, and put horsey, all nice and clean, in his clean bed; simples. OR go out for a brisk trot round the block to dry off.

When legs/tail etc are dry, apply either Pig Oil (no sulphur, as he's sensitive to it), OR Baby Oil; put the stuff in an ice-cream tub and brush it in. Or (if can be @rsed) go and put some Avon Skin So Soft in a saucepan of warm water (the blimmin stuff freezes up at low temperatures:().
 
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