I looked outside to see my pony just mudding it up out there. I will be doing as much as I can to clean him up but really he just needs to be bathed.
I’ve always just used people shampoo/conditioner on my horses, with no ill-effects.
Are the horsie ones REALLY better or is it just what they want you to think?
If I can just continue using the el-cheapo, I’ll do that, because by the looks of this horse right now, I will need an entire bottle.
In a word. Yes. I used to think the same way but have found the “horsey” ones rinse cleaner and seem to lift more dirt.
Depends.
People shampoos are designed to work in hot/warm water. Some of them do not work as well if you only have cold water.
Horse shampoos are generally designed ot work as well in cold as hot water.
I have hot water in my barn and I use Suave “daily clarifying” shampoo.
I like Vetrolin for the way it leaves the hair.
Using a shampoo designed to promote ‘body’ in your hair will create fluffy puffy horse hair. I like 'em to look more like a seal than a puff toy.
[QUOTE=CFFarm;6164241]
In a word. Yes. I used to think the same way but have found the “horsey” ones rinse cleaner and seem to lift more dirt.[/QUOTE]
To take care of any extra soapy residue, you can rinse the horse with a mix of white vinegar and water. It doesn’t take much, maybe a cup of vinegar in a big bucket of water.
I can sympathize with the op. My mare is mostly white and loves to play in the mud, or lay down on the one pile of poop in an otherwise clean stall. I usually don’t bathe her except for shows, because to keep her spotless I’d have to spend more time in the washrack than working her in the arena. :winkgrin:
Workday routine is curry/brush, work, plain water or liniment rinse if she gets super sweaty or good brush out if she’s not sweaty.
Pre-Show routine is curry/brush, bathe entire horse with human clarifying shampoo and scrubby mit, wash mane and tail with moisturizing shampoo, rinse entire horse. Repeat bathing process with whitening shampoo and stain remover for knees/hocks, condition mane and tail with moisturizing conditioner. Let whitener and conditioner stay on horse for 5 or so minutes. Any shorter and the whitener won’t work as well, any longer and oops, purple horse. Plain water rinse. Vinegar/water rinse. Plain water rinse. Dry horse. Apply liberal amounts of coat spray in futile attempt to make horse stain repellant. Detangler/shine for mane and tail. Comb mane, pick tail. Light gel for mane if braiding or banding. Hoof oil or polish depending on type of show. Final wipedown of entire horse with clean, soft towel. Pray horse doesn’t get dirty before first class.
Post-Show remove any and all braids, rubber bands, and yarn. Turn horse out and watch as she thoroughly undoes hours worth of grooming in 30 seconds. 
I really like the human humectant shampoos - esp the cheapy suave one.
Human shampoos are made for a different PH level than equine ones, and can make the horse’s skin more at risk of getting a skin condition/infection.
Are they really though? I am not purely arguing, I’m just wondering. Because if you look at Mane N Tail, or Cowboy Magic, they tout that you can use them on humans. Does it only go horse-to-human, or can it go human-to-horse.
It just kills me to buy the horse stuff if its basically the same, and when I don’t spend that much on my own hair.
Getting something like Orvus, which is designed for livestock use (only, AFAK) and last forEVER, is far cheaper in the long run than human shampoos. Even the el cheapo ones.
Yes, you pay initially, but seriously, I’ve had one tub of it last an eternity (more than a year) bathing probably 10-15 horses two or three times a month during show season, plus it was left in the washrack more than once, which meant other hands were dipping into it as well. And it rinses clean clean clean.
The barn where I used to groom used Orvus for the bodies and Suave conditioner for the tails. Everyone had great tails and no skin issues.
I use Tresemme and have for 15 years now. I buy when it’s on sale in the huge bottles. Lasts forever and none of my horses have skin issues nor do I have problems rinsing clean. I also don’t agonize over dumping a handful on a nasty tail because it’s so cheap. 
Honestly, I think you over pay when you buy horse specific stuff. And I’m not sure it really does anything that great. And I HATE Orvus. I can never get it to rinse away well…and I don’t believe it is designed for livestock. Isn’t it actually meant for carpets?
My go-to is Ivory or Dawn. Cheap, gentle, readily available, does an awesome job, takes practically nothing to get a good bucket going, and rinses away easily. I have used it extensively on two very sensitive skinned horses with no ill effects, and I know it is gentle because MY hands don’t suffer when I give baths (Mane and Tail trash my hands and we won’t even talk about Orvus!). And it is so multi-functional…clean elastic on tack, clean buckets, clean brushes, wash the dog (Dawn repels fleas). Love it :yes:
I do like Pert Plus (or store brand) for tails. The only horse specific shampoo I use is Quick Silver…and almost don’t need that because Ivory and Dawn do a pretty stellar job on whites. Baby shampoo is nice for a fussy headed horse.
I got pulled into marketing and bought a bottle of Quick Black shortly after I bought my almost black horse. Silly. I think that was the last bottle of horsey shampoos I’ve bought, actually (unless you count medicated shampoos).
[QUOTE=tabula rashah;6164292]
I really like the human humectant shampoos - esp the cheapy suave one.[/QUOTE]
Me too!
I buy the horse shampoos because I can be sure they won’t get raided by the DH or DD, who are notorious for failing to put “shampoo” on the shopping list, LOL.
I use what’s around, and that includes the big bottles of big box brand conditioner, but I agree with Kat that I like my bathed horse to look more like a seal than a plushie!
[QUOTE=TheJenners;6164338]
Getting something like Orvus, which is designed for livestock use (only, AFAK) and last forEVER, is far cheaper in the long run than human shampoos. Even the el cheapo ones.
Yes, you pay initially, but seriously, I’ve had one tub of it last an eternity (more than a year) bathing probably 10-15 horses two or three times a month during show season, plus it was left in the washrack more than once, which meant other hands were dipping into it as well. And it rinses clean clean clean.[/QUOTE]
I swear by Orvus as well. Great for draft horse feathers–you can really work it in there and I’ve never had a problem rinsing it.
As for Mane & Tail–I don’t think it works very well for horses or people.
My mother uses really expensive shampoos and conditioners but then midway through a bottle, she will stop using it for something else. I used to think it was a total waste until I realized that I had four dogs and numerous horses that could benift from her $30 shampoo!
When she does not use her shampoo and conditioner fast enough, I just use ivory dish soap or sally brand shampoos and conditioners. I have to say that they make a greying shampoo that is super cheap and works really well. Also like another poster said, ivory is great at getting horses white. Both rinse super easy.
I have to say that I used to use horse shampoo, but like another poster said before, it does tend to wreck my hands worse then people shampoo. The only horse shampoo that I use now is antifungal shampoo and on ocasion random horse specialty shampoos that my relitives and my mother buys me for holidays. Can’t really turn down free shampoo.
[QUOTE=yellowbritches;6164494]
The only horse specific shampoo I use is Quick Silver…[/QUOTE]
Pantene makes a shampoo for gray/white hair called Silver Expressions. It is purple in color and works just as well as Quic Silver, etc. There is also a Silver Expressions conditioner. It smells really good and is a lot cheaper then Quic Silver.
For cheap whitening, you can buy bluing solution in the laundry aisle & add to any shampoo! Whole bottle of Mrs. Stewart’s bluing is like $5 and will last forever. Just add a few drops to a handful of shampoo and mix it well.
By the way, Orvus paste is what they use to clean historic textiles at the Metropolitan Museum. It apparently has a neutral ph.
Im a hair dresser and love horses lol…the horse ones are going to be better for ur horse, altgought if ur using suave, dove, vo5… then they should work… those shampoos strip hair so they will get all the nasty stuff up… but if ur conditioning ur horse…go with the horse ones because the cheap conditioners dont do a single thing but waist ur money
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
