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Solid Mud Every Day

2K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  Caledonian 
#1 ·
I live in Minnesota and my horse lives outdoors 24/7 with a good shelter. He grows a very long thick winter coat as I do not blanket him. In the Spring we have a LOT of mud and he loves to roll and lay in it. He is often COMPLETELY covered in mud and, being that it's clay, nothing short of a jack hammer will take it all off. His mane and tail are currently encrusted in thick clay after a very warm spell we just had. It can take a couple hours to groom him. Would putting a sheet on him in Spring over that thick coat be bad as far as making him sweat (he is pretty active in the paddock) or would it mush his loft down too much for when the temps dip at night? I spend most of my time and energy grooming him for a couple months each spring.
 
#2 ·
Can't offer any advice, as the gelding I ride also grows a very thick coat and while it's not mud, dirt and dust is impossible to get off. He gets mud on his legs and hooves though, which just takes a lot of paper towels (hooves) and currying (legs). My friend's TB though (whom I also work with but haven't gotten to groom yet) gets muddy and I'm curious what suggestions everyone has.

They're both out 24/7 as well
 
#3 ·
Thanks BlindHorseEnthusiast, My horse is a black and white Pinto and he literally appeared to be a black horse the other day. No white at all. And it was ground all the way into the skin. I'm sure with the unusual 60 degree weather in February he was itchy with a full coat. It was awful and it is only going to get worse in Spring.
Btw, I like your quote at the bottom of your message.
 
#4 ·
The right sort of sheet (lightweight) won't make him cold. However, I do get concerned about him getting overly hot as he sounds pretty fuzzy.

You can always put on then take off for hot days, but he will save the rolling for when it's off so you'll still have to clean.

I have a sheet on my mare (palomino pinto) and I'll leave it on until it's too hot for cleanliness sake! But her coat is thick but not too long, I'm not worried about her overheating as she can "breathe" and her turnout is very shady and breezy. Whereas one of my geldings literally looks like a yak. I would never put a sheet on him he'd be far too uncomfortable, it will make the itching worse too (he's shedding pretty heavily atm)

So as long as you are careful about overheating go for it, but I'm not sure it will help much in your situation.
 
#6 ·
I have a b/w horse and this time of year unless they are stalled.. you get used to having muddy messes, mine always was, i moved him recently to a facility with a stall for him, so he goes up at night and they don't have mud in the pasture during the day.. so I'm getting spoiled not having to groom for an hour plus before I ride to get the mud off..lol
 
#7 ·
I sympathise!

There are two things you can use, neither are exactly 'correct' but they do work.

First is a metal currycomb, the square ones with teeth, use that scraping the mud with the hair.
The second is to get some of the stainless steel pot scourers, they are in packets of four or more, carefully unravel three and then braid then together to make a pad of them. This is brilliant for mud removal amd can safely be used on legs, ticklish spots and faces.
 
#8 ·
I hear you RennyPatch! I used to always have a stall but can't afford stall board in the area I live anymore. That and my current horse has always lived outdoors and hates being in. I am considering a move though if I can find a place with stalls AND without muddy turnout.
 
#10 ·
my horse lived outside for 16 years.. and only wore a blanket in sub zero temps.. he was the kind that had access to a shelter but chose to stand in the rain/ snow.. now that I moved him he loves having a stall.. and apparently passes out snoring the same time every night. I know his black is coming back while he;s shedding and hopefully he wont be as sun faded as he usually gets. The other day it was raining and he stood at the gate by the barn door like let me in..lol
 
#11 ·
Not sure, only thing I can suggest is a metal curry, lots & lots & lots of currying...a sheet may help, but once it's off he's going to roll no doubt & you'll be right back where you started. You'd have to get a super super thin/light sheet since he's furry; you don't want him to get too hot.

I hope the mud goes away soon! :( I know it's a pain. Redz rolled this weekend & it took me forever to get all the mud off.
 
#12 ·
I think the mud depends on the horse. We have a horse that is always coated as you describe. We live in NW IL (close to the WI Border) and when it got warm these last few weeks she just coats herself in the mud. We use metal curries and have plastered her in cowboy magic. It seems to make the mud easier to get off- but it also makes a saddle slip. She gets so muddy it is in her ear hair!

We brush our horses nightly and there are just days that we do the best we can and leave the rest.
 
#13 ·
Similar to others I’ve used a metal curry comb but I do prefer a plastic or rubber curry comb. I’ve seen mine covered from head to toe in mud with a topping of burrs in the mane and tail for good measure.
As others have said a lightweight shouldn’t be too much for him and you can remove it on warmer dry days as I used to do to stop overheating.
As for being too cold at nights, I was taught to feel their ears to check temperature as they are the furthest away, upwards, from the heart and so the first to get cold.
 
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