| Lets first talk about the subject of horse washing; I | | | | unsaddle my horse and turn him out and let him roll in |
| always get asked how often do you wash your | | | | the arena or pasture while I go clean his stall. By the |
| horse? Well I feel like horse washing is a practice that | | | | time I come back to halter him up he is cool. Then I |
| is done way too much. I see people wash their horses | | | | brush him really good making sure I brush away all the |
| for everything. | | | | sweat marks. |
| If you think about it how often do horses get washed | | | | The only time I think its really necessary to wash your |
| in the wild in a natural setting? | | | | horse often is if you are showing your horse. You |
| Horse usually get washed in the rain if the is not | | | | don't want to be competing or showing with a dusty |
| protection or when forced to swim across a river or | | | | looking horse. When you do wash your horse make |
| lake. Otherwise they get along pretty well with out it. I | | | | sure you scrape all the excess water and let him dry |
| don't think any harm is done for the lack of a bath. I | | | | in a place where its not very cold or use a good light |
| believe this to be true for the domesticated horse as | | | | weight blanket. |
| well. A lot of times after working a horse hard and he | | | | The best way to groom your horse clean is with a |
| is wet and full of sweat, most people like to hose them | | | | brush & curry comb and use plenty of elbow |
| down with cold water. Washing a horse with cold | | | | grease. This is another good way to bond with your |
| water when he is hot or when the whether is cold is a | | | | horse & your horse will love every minute of it. |
| major temperature shock to a horse. How would you | | | | Give him all the attention he wants. Brushing usually |
| like it if someone just all of a sudden hosed you down | | | | takes no time at all. Keep in mind your horse should |
| with cold water especially in the winter? Though when | | | | always be brushed well before saddling. He may have |
| my horse is hot after a work out I sometimes will hose | | | | hay or stickers on his back or girth area from rolling |
| his legs down but that's it. Also when washing your | | | | around. And if you saddle him, you may come flying |
| horse its not necessary to use soap or detergents | | | | off when you get on to ride. Lastly always brush your |
| every time you wash him. This will remove natural oils | | | | horse after you ride to clean up any sweat marks that |
| from the skin and hair. | | | | appear from being saddled. It's also a good idea to run |
| Instead after a hard ride, walk your horse around a bit | | | | your fingers down your horse's spine to make sure |
| until he dries off then brush him. A lot of times I | | | | your horse isn't experiencing any soreness. |