As temperatures rise and horses begin to feel the full effect of warmer weather, there is nothing more soothing than a good wash and a close clip. Whether preparing a horse for competition or to reduce the impact of biting insects, it is important to follow a good routine.
Rider, trainer and business owner, Bex Mason, offers some top tips on how to go about the process.
1. When
I have heat lamps, so my horses don’t get cold, but, for many, it is better to wash a horse when the weather is warmer. Once temperatures hit the teens, horses can be comfortably washed outside. Spring and summer represent times when your horse is most likely to suffer heat stress, especially if you are competing. The pest burden of biting insects will be made worse if your horse has a strong body odour, which will be more likely in hot conditions, so setting out a washing routine in advance will mitigate this.
2. What you’ll need
The obvious, but often overlooked, list of necessities includes a hose, bucket, good big sponges, a good shampoo that won’t remove too much of your horse’s natural grease and a squeegee and towels to dry the coat quickly. The choice of shampoo is important, and I use ProGroom which is gentle but leaves the coat with a great shine. It also works well with lukewarm water which is important because the temperature needs to be just right so as not to make your horse uncomfortable.
3. Cleaning
When your water is the right temperature, it’s important to use a hose that has a sprinkler style head so that your horse doesn’t feel the pressure of the water. Start with the legs, gradually move upwards so that you don’t risk shocking your horse. Once wet, it’s time to get your hands busy with a sponge, lathering all over the horse in a circular pattern. Starting at the neck and working down is better for sponging, to allow the horse to adjust to you, and it is important to be careful when cleaning close to the eyes or muzzle.
4. Rinsing and drying
Rinsing is as important as cleaning because all the shampoo needs to be removed from your horse’s coat. Using shampoos that are gentle and easy to rinse out will help and, again, lukewarm water will make rinsing faster and easier. A quality shampoo will require less water and time to rinse out. It will also preserve the natural oils and leave the coat feeling soft and looking shiny. Drying thoroughly will help cool your horse and there is no benefit to leaving horses wet in warm weather because excess water will only cause your horse to get hotter.
5. Clipping
Clipping can transform the look of a horse in minutes. Done well, using the right clipper and techniques, it is both an essential part of the grooming effort and a way to make a horse stand out from the crowd. I use a Heiniger Xplorer Pro, which has two speeds and is really quiet, which helps when clipping close to the head. Your blades need to be factory sharp, ideally, and it’s important to work carefully around sensitive and tricky to reach areas. Whether you are new to horse grooming or an experienced hand, it pays to find the time and the right kit to keep horses clean and clipped throughout hot weather. Create a routine that works for you and your horse, and the results will pay dividends.
