If the horse is covered in mud or you need to prepare it for a competition, then you need to bathe it. Remember that the pet's temperature can drop a lot during the cold months, so it's a good idea to schedule washing on a sunny day. If the horse is sick, consult your veterinarian before proceeding.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Preparing the Horse
Step 1. Get the right material
Properly washing the horse requires some specific tools and materials. Among these, the most important are a specific shampoo and conditioner for horses.
You will also need a variety of grooming tools, such as a sweat scraper, curry comb, mane comb, and chamois cloths or towels. Also, you will obviously need to have access to a water source and a stool or three-step ladder if the horse is very tall and you can't reach its rump
Step 2. Tie the horse with a quick release knot
To wash and insure your pet, choose an area where the water can run off quickly. Most riding schools have racks for this purpose or an area of the stable dedicated to washing horses.
- A quick release knot, also called a safety knot, is the best choice, because a panicked animal could injure itself and damage the fence / barn if it were locked with a tight knot. This type of knot can be loosened quickly and without difficulty with a jerk thus avoiding having to tinker with the rope while the horse pulls it madly.
- You can do some research online to learn how to tie this knot or ask an experienced craftsman to help you.
Step 3. Use the curry comb on the animal's body
Scrub it in circular motions to loosen any dirt and debris that is stuck in the coat hair. You can then switch to a rough one to clear this debris from the body.
- The curry comb is a rubber or plastic brush that is used to gently stimulate circulation in the muscles and skin of the horse. It is usually the first tool used when caring for this animal to remove dirt and dust from its coat.
- The brusca is a stiff bristle brush that can be synthetic or natural. This tool is perfect for removing the layers of dust that you raised with the curry comb. It also allows you to remove the mud from the legs and hoof walls.
Step 4. Use the brusch to brush the paws
Depending on the type of curry you have available, be aware that this can be too aggressive on the legs, in which case it is better to rely on brusque. To get rid of the dried mud, slide it from top to bottom following the direction of hair growth.
Step 5. For the mane and tail you need to use the comb
This is designed specifically for the horse's longer hair and has spaced teeth to loosen dirt and loosen any knots that have formed. If the knots are particularly tangled, untie them with your fingers instead of tugging on them with the comb.
Don't get behind the horse. When you comb or wash her tail, always stay to the side of her butt and extend your arms to reach her. This way, if the horse kicks with its hind leg, you will be out of reach
Part 2 of 2: Wash the Horse
Step 1. Wash his face
It is very likely that the horse is very sensitive in this area and does not like to have its face washed; for this reason do it first. Dip a sponge in warm water and wring it out. Gently rub the muzzle, following the direction of the hair; be very careful in the eye area to prevent water from entering. If this happens, you will be very annoying to the animal and will cause him unnecessary stress.
Never use muzzle shampoo, only clean water. If the head area is very dirty, change the water in the bucket often, as often as necessary, until the rinse water remains clean
Step 2. Wet the horse
It is best for the coat to be damp before applying the shampoo. To do this, you can use a garden hose or dip a sponge in a bucket of water and wipe it over the animal's body.
- Not all horses like to be bathed in a garden hose. Start with the hooves and slowly move up to the legs before moving on to the body. This way your equine friend understands what you are about to do.
- Do not squeeze the tube to generate a high-pressure stream of water, you will only stir the animal.
Step 3. Clean the horse's anus and genitals
This is a good opportunity to clean the sheath of the male horse and the anus (the latter regardless of the sex of the animal). For this operation, use cotton balls or a clean cloth that you have reserved for these areas. Use two different cloths for the anus and the scabbard.
- To wash a horse's penis and sheath, you need to gently use the sponge and rinse the area with water. Additionally, you should also check your genitals for abnormalities. You can find more information about this step in the article: How to Clean a Horse Scabbard.
- As for the anus, simply dip a washcloth in water and scrub the area. Use a clean area of the rag when the first gets dirty. Keep scrubbing gently until the fabric no longer gets dirty.
- When washing the anus, do not position yourself directly behind the horse, always stay to the side.
Step 4. Soap the pet's coat
When the body is wet, apply a coin-sized amount of shampoo (or as directed on the specific product package) to the damp sponge and rub it into the coat. You will need to repeat this step several times, depending on the size of the animal. It may be necessary to lather the horse in sections to prevent the cleaner from drying out and making the coat dull.
- The cleaner is not always necessary. Be very cautious about frequent washing with a soap, as cleansing products remove the natural layer of sebum from the coat. these oils naturally present on the animal's body make the coat water-repellent and protect the horse from adverse atmospheric agents.
- If your specimen participates very often in equine competitions and therefore you have to wash it frequently (more than once a month), always shelter it in the stable, as its natural ability to protect itself from the climatic conditions is rather poor.
Step 5. Rinse the horse
If you leave the cleanser in contact with the skin, it can dry out and irritate, while the coat will become dull. For these reasons, always rinse every trace of shampoo with great care. Use a bucket of clean water and rinse the fur several times with a wet sponge until you no longer notice any frothy residue. Alternatively, you can gently spray the horse with the garden hose.
Step 6. Dry your equine friend
When you are satisfied and the rinse water runs clear without a trace of soap, you can stop and dry the horse.
- You can use a sweat scraper by making movements that follow the direction of the hair. This tool eliminates excess water that is on the mantle; if you don't have one available, you can use the edge of your own hand as if it were a "puller".
- Alternatively, use different cloths to scrub the animal's entire body and dry it.
- When you have achieved a good result and the horse is as dry as possible, let him walk for about ten minutes in the sun. If the day is cloudy, cover the pet with a sweat blanket or cloak.
Step 7. Carefully comb his mane
Do not use the comb to untangle the most difficult knots. Instead, use your fingers and then gently comb the rest of the mane.
Step 8. Wash the tail
You should also take care of this area, especially if it is light in color. Since tail washing does not lower the animal's body temperature, you can do it whenever you want. Hold a bucket of warm water and shampoo in one hand. With the other, lift the tail and dip it into the bucket that will be held at the height of the under-tail. Try to clean most of the tail.
- Shake the tail in the bucket and squeeze it a little to get rid of the dirt. You can clean the top with a sponge dipped in warm water and shampoo.
- Rinse it several times in several buckets of clean water, dip the sponge in water and use it to remove soap residue from the top of the tail.
- When finished, dry it with a cloth. Let the animal graze in a sunny spot to dry the tail hair.
- Again, remember not to stand exactly behind the horse. Always stay on either side of his butt and reach out to reach the tail with the bucket, so you'll avoid getting kicked.
Advice
- If you have a rubber curry comb available, you can use it to remove dirt from the pet's coat after applying the shampoo. Remember to be very careful when working near the paws.
- If this is your first time bathing your horse, consider using only water. If the animal is uncooperative, you will not be forced to rinse as well.
- A net bag filled with hay will keep the horse busy while you wash it.
- If you are bathing the animal for an equine contest, consider taking it indoors to a clean stable because the horse usually rolls on the ground after a bath.
- Wear the right clothing to work with the water and manage the horses.
- If you have just ridden the animal, wait until it has calmed down and cooled down before spraying it with water.
- If this is your first time washing your horse, then start with the legs and work your way up.
Warnings
- If the day is really hot, make sure your horse doesn't get soaked, as that way he won't be able to expel the heat. It is best to use a sweat scraper and a cloth to dry the animal so that it stays just a little damp.
- The bath removes the natural sebum from the horse's coat, so you shouldn't wash it too often.
- Use common sense when bathing the horse - don't scream and don't run.
- If the horse is scared, stop and calm him down. Resume washing it when it has calmed down.
