I've got a little show to take my Clydesdale to, not a breed show or anything like that, but I'm dying to make her feather look amazing. White and fluffy is the name of the game!
HOW?!
How the heck do I get them white, keep them white and make them fluffy?!
I'm in New Zealand so there's no pig oil anywhere. I'm a bit iffy about using washing liquid. I'm also confused as to how you keep them clean during transport.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
(I'm trying to attach photos but it's playing up:x)
It's also winter here, or may as well be! So her body is no longer clipped. She's also been uncovered and in the care of my brother so she's a bit scruffy now haha
In the 'old days' used to wash well with shampoo, rinse well then use 'laundry blue' to make the white pop. Rinse and then stand them in a bucket of clean sawdust and rub into the feathers until they dried, then brush it all out.
When I used to show my uncles Clydesdales we would wash the feathers in whitening shampoo, then rub mineral oil into them and brush out. It made them super fluffy and white. And before going into the ring we just used baby powder to touch up the white.
I don't know about clydes feet, but I know on my white tails I use a blend of Tide detergent and oxyclean and that makes them sparkly white. I also use baby powder when they are dry to add more white finish to it.
I did as NB posted for our Belgian gelding. Just before we entered the ring, I'd take my powder covered hands and fluff the feathers a little. To keep him clean in the stall, we bedded deep with clean straw if permitted, otherwise shavings. The straw was better at absorbing the urine and that pee also splashed less too.
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