There’s no grooming challenge greater than a muddy horse in early spring. How do you handle a hairy hair, coated in thick mud when it’s too cold for a bath? Channel some patience and follow these steps:

1. Let the mud dry.

 Put the horse in a stall or other covered area with dry ground for a few hours, if possible. The more you let the mud harden and dry, the easier it will be to remove.

2. Use a hard curry comb or toothed side of a shedding blade to break up the dried mud.

Both of these tools are very effective at loosening mud from the coat, but you’ll want to be careful not to use them on bony or otherwise sensitive areas of the horse. For those areas, try a curry that has longer, softer flexible “fingers” or an old-fashioned cactus cloth, which is kind of like a cross between a loofah and a towel.

3. Use a wide-toothed comb or your fingers to remove as much mud as possible from the horse’s mane and tail.

Work carefully and slowly to prevent hair breakage and loss.

4. Brush the horse with a hard or medium-bristled body brush to remove the loosened mud and dirt.

 Use a “flicking” motion at the end of each stroke to lift the dirt from the coat. (This can be a very dusty process, so you might opt to wear a mask to protect your lungs.)

At this point, your horse will likely be clean “enough” for a schooling ride or trail. If you’d like him to look sharper, continue with a few more steps.

5. Brush the horse with a body brush.

The softer bristles of a body brush will move the smaller particles of dirt and dust on your horse. Again, working from poll to tail, flicking the brush after each stroke to lift the dirt from the coat. If you have a grooming vacuum, you can use it to accomplish the same goal, but it won’t stimulate and distribute the natural oils that lead to a shiny coat.

6. For a finishing touch, spritz a towel with grooming spray and wipe the horse down.

The spray will attract any remaining dirt to the towel, effectively “dusting” your horse like you would a table.