“Splish, Splash, I was takin’ a bath” (Splish Splash, Little Richard).
There is nothing quite like the feeling of taking a shower after a hard day’s work on the ranch.
We’re sure your horse would agree.
They work just as hard as we do and deserve all of the sudsy-goodness that comes with a refreshing cool bath at the end of the day.
Keep reading for tips on how to give your hard-working horse the spa day they deserve.
Do I use hot or cold water to bathe my horse?
Do you remember running through the sprinkler as a kid? It was a freezing relief from the heat of the summer.
Using the water from the hose on your horse is comparable to us running through a sprinkler or getting sprayed with a super soaker. It can be abrasive and uncomfortable for some horses, especially pink-skinned horses which tend to be a bit more sensitive.
If your horse seems sensitive to cold water, try bathing them with warm water.
How would I heat up water for my horse without breaking the bank?
There are a couple of ways you can heat up water without killing your power bill:
1. A portable propane shower
There are quite a few different brands of portable propane showers. We recommend one that you can put on a cart. That way, if your horse has a hard time being in a wash rack you can move them into a more open area. Just make sure you bring your own hose in case they don’t have one available for a competitor’s use.
2. A solar shower
If you can’t afford a propane shower, you can make your own heated water source out of a camping solar shower.
You can get a solar shower that holds up to 5 gallons and use it for your horse. It won’t be high-powered like your hose, but it’s good in a pinch if you need to rinse your horse on a trip or clean an injury. You can also use this shower on the road too. It is easily stored in your trailer.
There doesn’t need to be sun for your solar shower to be warm. You can boil some water (add in cold water till it’s the temperature you want it to be) and pour it into the solar shower.
What shampoo do you use to wash a horse?
Color Enhancing Shampoo
Color-enhancing shampoo is the best type of equine shampoo to get out the stains that seem to manifest themselves on your light colored horse.
Why, you ask?
The color technology is used to enhance colors and to lift and get rid of stains without the use of chemicals.
Quic Silver Color Enhancing Shampoo, 1 pt.
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However, If you have a light-colored horse then you may need a little extra help in removing the dreaded “green spot”
You know, the one that seems to magically appear a couple of hours before you have to leave for a show?
Yeah, that green spot.
Thankfully, we have a solution for that. Try adding a few spritzes of Cowboy Magic’s Green Spot Remover. Let that sit until it dries, wash your horse with Quic Silver Color Enhancer Shampoo, and watch them shine!
Cowboy Magic, Green Spot Remover, 32 oz
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Vetrolin Liniment Shampoo
Does your horse get worked consistently?
Just like us, when horses get worked hard, their muscles get sore. If you give your horse a bath using a lineament wash, it will help your horse’s recovery time. Liniment wash or oil is like using IcyHot after you’ve had a hard workout.
Farnam Vetrolin Liniment Refill, 1 gallon
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If you use Vetrolin Liniment Wash make sure that you dilute it using either a bucket of water or a foam sprayer. This will ensure that the solution isn’t too strong for your horse. Before you use this on your horse talk to your vet and read the instructions for the proper dilution measurements.
Most horses have dormant bacteria on their skin that when it becomes moist for long periods of time it will activate and turn into rain rot.
If your horse has this problem, gets ringworm, or any other fungal skin issues give them a bath using Vetericyn medicated shampoo (after a check-in with your vet, of course).
This shampoo goes on easily and washes away without leaving a residue. Make sure to follow the instructions before use.
Vetericyn, FoamCare Equine Medicated Shampoo, 32 oz
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How do I give my horse a bath?
Now that you know what products to use, let’s get down the nitty gritty: how to bathe your horse.
If you have never given your horse a bath there are a few things to take into consideration:
- Has your horse ever had a bath before?
- Does your horse like water?
- Do they have any allergies?
Before you get your horse wet, these are the things you will want to think about. They will determine how your horse experiences their first bath with you.
If you don’t know the answer to any of these questions you can always call the previous owner to find out the answers.
If your horse has never had a bath they will need to be desensitized to the area that you’re bathing them in and also to the sounds, smells, and sensations that come with giving you horse a bath,
For instance, if you are using shampoo straight from a bottle and not from a foam sprayer, your horse may have a hard time with the sound the bottle makes or even the sounds that the hose makes when they step on it.
Once your horse is okay with all of the fun new things that accompany bath time, you’re ready to get them squeaky clean!
But, how do I actually bathe my horse?
There are a few different ways to give your horse a bath.
You can go the easy “I’m running late for a very important date” route and just give them a quick, post-workout rinse.
Or…
You can go head to hoof, would make a Hollywood princess jealous, spa day.
Whichever direction you choose to go, or something in between, you can be sure that your horse will enjoy it.
How to bathe your horse:
- Spray any “green” spots on your horse with your choice of green spot remover, and follow the directions on the bottle for how to remove green spots.
- Turn your hose on. Make sure to check the temperature of the water coming out of the hose before you move on to step 3. If your hose has been sitting in the hot sun the water coming out can reach scalding temperatures.
- Rinse your horse off completely. Don’t put any soap on them yet.
- In this step you can either use your foam sprayer (and your shampoo of choice) to lather up your horse OR you can take a bathing brush and put some of your shampoo on it and lather up your horse by hand. Most horses enjoy the latter of these two options because it feels like a massage for them. It will also give you a chance to check them over for any minor (or major) injuries.
- Use a clean, wet washcloth (no soap) to wipe down your horse’s face; starting with the eyes, moving to the nose, and then the rest of their face.
- Rinse your horse. Make sure that you get all of the soap off. Leaving a bit of soap on your horse can cause an allergic reaction.
- After you have rinsed all of the soap off of your horse take your horse squeegee or the back of your shedding blade to get all of the excess water off of your horse. This will help your horse dry faster and will allow you to check for any missed soapy spots.
Partrade, Metal Shedding Blade with Grip, 244590
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- Before your horse’s mane and tail have dried out, apply some detangler and brush out all of the knots.
- Let your horse dry, and enjoy your shiny new pony. If you don’t want them to get dirty after their bath (because we both know they’re going to roll) , put a fly sheet with a hood on them.
Going to a big show and need some last-minute bathing products? Stop into your local Wilco Farm Store for all your soapy, sudsy needs.
