Do you know that feeling when your very clean, white or gray horse runs out and rolls immediately after you JUST gave him a bath? If you have a white or gray horse, it is something you have experienced more than once. So, how do you go about keeping your white horse whiter?
Here are a few tips and tricks from the experts.
First and foremost, make sure your stalls and pasture areas are kept as clean as possible. Keep fresh bedding down for your horse, especially right before a show.
Keep your horse clipped. This leaves less hair for stains to "stick" to. Also, if you have a vacuum, this will really help draw dirt and grime off your horse.
A healthy, consistent diet is essential for a beautiful coat and a happy, healthy horse.
Old fashion elbow grease is the number one tip by many of the pros.
A good curry brush and regular grooming routine will ensure you do not have built up stains through the week. If you can curry and then vacuum, your horse will easily be able to fight off those pesky stains that stick to white and gray hair.
Of course, the use of a horse sheet and hood can help keep a freshly bathed horse clean before a show. Oh, and you know how your horse just absolutely has to roll after a bath? Go a head and let him, BUT make sure he has a sheet on and let him roll in a stall full of fresh shavings. That will ensure he stays clean, but also gets to roll after his bath.
Check out our Therapeutic Mesh Sheet - keep your horse clean AND feeling great!
So, since we are talking about grim and dirt, let's get down to the nitty gritty.....a few whitener recipes you can whip up at home and try yourself.
Make a Malox Paste
Yes, you read that right. Peroxide mixed with some Malox and cornstarch...Make a paste, brush it in, let it sit 15 mins or so and rinse..follow with conditioner and some protective spray.
Whitening Shampoo
Choose aw shampoo with a blue or purple tint, mix with water and elbow grease. Let it sit for 15 minutes and rinse.
Baking Soda
Baking soda mixed with water will also help scrub those whites clean. The baking soda helps to lift the stains and also is slightly abrasive and helps scrub away dirt.
Quick Fix
For that chrome on colored horses, as a quick fix use Baby Powder on dry legs to quickly cover dirt or stains.
Vinegar is your friend
Dilute vinegar in a bucket of warm water, and sponge over the horse after they’ve been bathed. This will remove soap residue and protect the horse from skin irritations. The vinegar helps change thee pH of the skin just slightly. Towel dry the legs and let your horse dry completely. The added bonus to this trick is your horse will have a little extra shine!
These are just a few tips and we would love to hear your tried and true methods. Feel free to comment, as well as, share this article with your horse show friends.
