How often do you bathe your horse?

[yellowbritches]

I used to bathe Vernon as little as possible because I was worried it would dry out his already sensitive skin. However, I’ve learned the hard way this year that if he’s not SUPER clean he will get rubbed by everything. So, while I still don’t bathe him a ton, he gets more baths than I used to give him. A mild soap bath before shows and if he’s gotten grimy playing in the pasture…so about 3-4 baths a month. I also hose him when he gets sweaty (sweat is so drying), and he is groomed very well before every ride (good curry, good, thorough brushing, and a good, brisk rub with a rag, usually with a spritz of Healthy Haircare). His coat is the BEST it has ever looked right now (knock on wood) for three reasons- his skin allergies are under control, he gets a great diet with lots of quality fats (both in his feed and through a good skin and coat sup- SmartShine Ultra), and I keep him neurotically groomed.

For the other horses in my care, though, I am less crazed. They all get a rinse after work, but the dark horses usually get only what they need, bath wise, before shows (they are all well groomed, so most can get away with a sock and tail wash pre-show). The greys and the herd of palominos get bathed a bit more regularly…those colors look the best if they are maintained a bit. ALL of our horses are shiny…even my guys who live out 24/7 (well, when they aren’t covered in dirt!).

[mojo7777]

My boy Mojo sees a good deal of the hose. In the warm months when he comes in for the day, if he’s covered with mud he’s hosed off before riding or going to his stall. After a sweaty workout, the sweat marks are sponged off or hosed again. Then he’ll get a soapy bath and mane and tail shampoo about once a month to deal with scurf. His lovely shine is due more to staying in during the high sun of the day and grooming than to supplements–he is only on ShowHoof at this point.

[Auventera_Two]

All mine got bathed today with soap and conditioner. They usually get the whole soap treatment several times a year. Lots of hosing and sponging in the summer though. Tails whenever needed.

I use Quic Screen and a Rambo fly sheet on the dark bay to keep her coat from fading.

Now that I own a grey, I imagine the bathing routine will become more frequent.

[Saddith]

Depends. I usually wash once a month - but maybe more in summer cause they dry quickly. I water rinse when they sweat - either from riding or from running around. When I do wash, I use Healthy hair care herbal horse spray wash, and have found that this soap is easy rinsing and doesn’t leave his coat dry. I compare it to baby shampoo, but it comes in a bottle hose attachment and saves water/time. I highly recommend it for washing more frequently.

[SkipChange]

I think a sweaty coat makes them bleach out and look dull faster. Mine gets hosed off every time he’s ridden. Soapy bath if he’s really sticky sweaty, nasty and really hot. At shows he gets a soapy bath daily, although I dilute it a lot on his body, mostly just scrubbing his legs to keep socks white and get the footing off his legs. At the big A shows you see a lot of people bathing the horses daily.

[jewll27]

my guy gets hosed thoroughly everyday, usually after he gets ridden but also on days we dont ride b/c its been ridiculously hot here. If I dont hose him well enough to get all the sweat off, he gets hives. Im not sure its the exact reason why he gets the hives, but Ive noticed a correlation so I make it a point. I also try to rinse him with some vinegar water after hes been hosed to help with the bugs. Again, not sure if this def. works, but Ive noticed a serious reduction in his hives from the bugs so I do it. I wash his scratches a few times a week with ivory soap depending on treatment, weather, etc. His tail gets washed and conditioned once a week usually with some sort of dandruff shampoo on top since hes a tail rubber. And he gets a bath every 1-2 weeks usually b/c I like him being clean and shiny