I have some questions about bathing horses this time,
1) do you absolutely need to bathe them?
2) how often should I bathe them?
3) what are some good quality shampoos and mane and tail conditioners in Canada?
Sorry if this should be obvious. If this helps, they will usually be in the pasture 99% of the day, and won't be going to shows normally.
Hi welcome to the forum! Unless you are showing, no you don't need to bathe your horse. As to how often? I only bathe when I have a show, my other horse that I do not show any longer, never has a bath, although I do rinse the sweat off of him if the weather is warm. Any shampoo you find in a tack/feed store in Canada is fine to use, I personally like the Absorbine superpoo but others are fine too. Reason I like the superpoo is because I got a gob of it in my eye one time and it's tearless!
Welcome! Bathing frequently is certainly not essential. In fact, bathing too much can be detrimental since it can strip the coat of its oils and can dry out the skin. Unless you're showing, I wouldn't stress about actually full-on bubble bathing your horse. Shows being the exception, I usually focus more on a good grooming/brushing to help spread the oils/improve circulation. If my horse gets sweaty after I ride in the summer, I'll hose her off. As far as good shampoos/conditioners in Canada I am afraid I am not much help since I am in the US (although Minnesota is pretty close :lol
I use Vetrolin shampoo and, if necessary, Quicsilver for my mares mane/tail/white socks. I order mine online usually
Hi welcome!
The people above me have said it all!
I rinse mine off with the hose a lot, but as far as bathing with soap/conditioner, I do that a couple times a year. Once after the winter when it starts warming up, and usually right before the cold weather hits...just because I like to!
Also. I don't know about good ones to buy in Canada, but I never have really had a bad shampoo...anything at your local tack shop should work. If you're unsure, look up ones at your local tack shop and search reviews of them online.
I only rinse the polo ponies off if they have sweated a lot during their chukker and it's hot out. If it's the least bit chilly, I cool them out and brush them after they've dried.
All the American labels are sold in Canada. Any inexpensive one will do. Shampooing a horse removes beneficial skin bacteria which we all have, except those who shower all the time. In hot weather I'll hose mine and then let them enjoy a roll and they'll find the dirtiest or muddiest spot they can. This helps with fly protection.
1) do you absolutely need to bathe them?
No you dont! Not unless you are showing - obviously. 2) how often should I bathe them?
If you are showing - then do it as much as you like, but don't always use shampoo and stuff because it can dull their coat. 3) what are some good quality shampoos and mane and tail conditioners in Canada?
CowBoy Magic products are good ones to use - I think they have some up there.
You don't really need to bathe them unless you are showing them. Because using shampoo can make their skin dry if you use it too much. But you could just bathe them once in a while if you want, usually I hose mine down and they get just as clean. I like to shampoo their manes and tails once in a while though.
I always like my horse to look clean, but bathing them too often will strip the natural oils out of their coat and make their skin dry. During the summer I hose my mare off with only water after I ride. This is pretty effective when it comes to getting the dirt out of their coat and it wont dry their skin too badly. As far as using shampoo and conditioner, I probably give her a full bath about three or four times during the summer or whenever I am going to a show.
I rinse off my horse after every ride because it is so hot in Texas, and I want him to be comfortable.
As far as actual bathing, I do that probably a couple times a month, and before every show.
Never and often and in between. Horses usually get a good bath grazing in the rain. I had to shut my shelter this summer bc it was so wet, and I couldn't get in there to clean it, and my 3 horses had crap up their legs from walking through the muck in FRONT of the shelter.
So, I gave them a bath, the day I went on vacation.
I also use Mane N Tail on their legs when grooming in the summer before schooling to help with fly control.
1) do you absolutely need to bathe them? - I would say no, unless you were treating a certain condition that needed antibacterial shampoo to combat (or, of course, if you were showing). I very rarely give my horse a full bath with shampoo. I will scrub her legs when needed (white socks!) or her tail on ocassion, but her whole body only gets a cool (not cold) water rinse after a ride or to cool her down on a particularly hot day.
2) how often should I bathe them? With shampoo, very rarely. As others have said, protect the oils in their fur by using shampoo sparingly. You'd be surprised at how clean & shiny you can get a horse by simply using elbow grease & currying/brushing (which is healthier b/c it redistributes the oils rather than drying them out).
3) what are some good quality shampoos and mane and tail conditioners in Canada? I don't know if available in Canada, but Eqyss products are great (& smell really good!). I also like Mane & Tail & Healthy Hair Moisturizer.
I am along the lines of the posts I read. I rinse with plain water, rubbing with my hand to get the loose dust/dirt out each time I ride but only in the event of heavy sweating. If it is an area only under the saddle pad, I will let it dry or just go over with a damp towel/sponge and then brush it out.
I have a gray so as hyper as I am about no stains showing, I may, depending on how bad, rinse off prior to riding and allow to completely dry before tacking up..with my horse's short coat it doesn't take that long. If not as bad I will use a spot leave on shampoo, like Cowboy Magic, along with a towel and elbow grease to get the worst of it off.
I do wash the tail every few days but I am in regrow mode so add in a lot of conditioner and detangler (non-silicone) to help. I do a full bath every few weeks but will spot bathe if something else comes in like fungus on the legs, some minor abrasions or cuts etc. Definitely would bathe before a show.
I used to always want to give my horses baths until the trainer said it wasn't a good idea because of their skin oils. Now we do bathing before shows and 4H camp. I'm too busy riding, mucking, feeding and worrying about them to do the bathing now much anyway. Besides, they just go straight way to the nearest mud or poop pile and muck it all up in a matter of seconds. Phew! But when you're young and have free time I don't think it's bad to give them a bath once in a while in the summer. This time of year you might want to be careful though unless it's on a warm day.
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