How do you keep a palomino mare's tail clean

I have a palomino and 2 Appaloosas with white tails. And I use plain ol bleach. I just pour it on the tail in place of shampoo... let it sit for about a minute. Then I rinse the tail really good. And put conditioner in it. Its fast simple and A LOT cheaper than whitning shampoos. And I have never had luck with whitingin shampoos.

That's what I was thinking I'd try next. I usually do regular whitening shampoo, then blueing, then conditioner. I'll have to try bleach. Thanks

No problem. You just have to make sure that you rinse it out good.

NO no no! Bleach is drying and caustic to skin. READ the label!

My husband has palominos - one with an absolutely gorgeous thick, long tail.

We use a variety -

Wonder Blue
Fiebings Blue Frost
Xtreme Show white

I try and wash her tail once a week during show season to stay ahead of any stains. The night before an event, I braid and bag it too.

For the initial clean, wash the tail with any shampoo first and let it sit a bit, then I use kitchen pot scrubbers - with the sponge in the center - to scrub the tail. Rinse, scrub any really bad areas. Then use a bluing shampoo, scrub again (be use to rinse the scrubbers in between shampoos). Rinse, condition, dry.

I've used several brands of whitener, but the one I've used lately is by Oster.

Actually, I've heard a ton of people say they use bleach in light colored tails. I think as long as you use it on the bottom (below their tail bone, where there's no skin) and wash it out good it can't really hurt them.

But that's about what I do... I just use those rubber cleaner mitts you can buy at most tack stores. I would guess they work about the same.

And Dara, I'm pretty sure that's what I use too :)

Please don't use plain 'ol breach! It isn't meant for hair and it is actually very harsh and dangerous. I wouldn't even use hair bleach. I think it is just too hard on their hair.
With our palomino, we will spend time to pick out the chunks with a hair pick, cut out the horriible stuff (which is usually on the botton so it isn't noticable when cut.) We will wash really well with granny shampoo and conditioner sometimes several times. We braid and bag her tail. You can buy tail bags at most saddle and horse care shops or online. We have had the most sucess with this.
It seems like the lighter colored the horse, the dirtier they like to get ;)

You can always trying diluting bleach... I'll have to try tail bags I guess. For quite awhile last summer I was washing her tail every other day, and it STILL was gross and stained, and I was using whitening shampoo twice, then conditioning it. Thanks :) But yes, it certainly does seem like that!!!

I'm actually surprised no one has mentioned using baking soda mixed with vinegar... much safer than bleach and cheaper than any commercial product. I had a cremello mare who had the same issues with tail staining and all I did was mix up a paste of baking soda and dish soap then, when ready to do the tail I would add some warm water and then right before I dunked the tail I would add the vinegar.. it would foam like crazy but it sure worked!

Just make sure to wash and condition after using this as this mixture can also dry out the hair of the tail... you also might find using a leave-in conditioner helpful in keeping the "stuff" from soaking in and staining the tail once clean. I used to use show sheen and soak my mare's tail with it. It acts like a barrier to keep the stains from working into the hair shaft.

FYI I never used any kind of wrap or braiding on my mare's tail.