Three keys to better bathing

Make the most of your time in the wash stall with three simple techniques.

1. Dilute the shampoo. It’s tempting to squirt shampoo directly onto a muddy horse or your wash mitt, but undiluted soap can be difficult to rinse, and residue left behind can dry and irritate the skin. Instead, dilute shampoo in a bucket of water before application.

Close up of a horse's coat with soap suds on it.
Bathing a horse is simple enough, but a few tweaks to your technique can make the most of your time in the wash stall.

2. Use a mesh shower “scrubbie” instead of a sponge. Not only will a scrubbie remove stains better, but it dries out quickly, making it less hospitable for mold and other bacteria.

3. Pay attention to areas you can’t see. Parts of your horse that aren’t easy to wash probably need it the most. Squat and contort yourself as necessary to safely scrub your horse’s midline, a favorite feasting place for small insects. Also clean under his jawbone and scrub the roots of his mane and tail, checking for ticks as you work.

This article first appeared in EQUUS issue #454

Don’t miss out! With the free weekly EQUUS newsletter, you’ll get the latest horse health information delivered right to your in basket! If you’re not already receiving the EQUUS newsletter, click here to sign up. It’s *free*!

CATEGORIES

TAGS

SHARE THIS STORY

Related Posts

edit 2
Antibiotics & your horse: What you should know
Gray horse head in profile on EQ Extra 89 cover
What we’ve learned about PPID
COVER EQ_EXTRA-VOL88
Do right by your retired horse
COVER EQ_EXTRA-VOL87
Tame your horse’s anxiety

NEWSLETTER

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Country*

Additional Offers

Additional Offers
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.