I’ve seen videos of race horses being washed after a work and the grooms are washing the horse’s face with no objection from the horse. Their coats are always so shiny, so what’s the secret?
TB trainer I worked for used a glug of pine oil in a 5 gallon bucket.
When I worked at the track it was vetrolin in a bucket of water. Or something with touch of the green soap… what was the name of the stuff that came in the little glass bottles?
The same things anyone else uses. There isn’t any secret product. Vetrolin, Orvus, big gallons of horse shampoo, human shampoo, pine sol, homemade concoctions… it all depends on the barn.
The horses’ coats are generally nice from being cared for daily and not being exposed to the elements.
The washing the face is really just a repetition thing since they are washed just about every day, often year round. Not all love it.
Years back, I remember using Orvis. The horses were never allowed to dry with sweat on them, so the salt and dirt was always being cleaned. And they were groomed at least once a day, were exposed to the sun for limited amounts of time. And they weren’t rolling in dirt!
I steal jugs of perk a poo from my husband. Love the stuff, and that’s what he uses at the track.
Seems the products mentioned would burn their eyes. No?
I was thinking maybe baby shampoo?? Thanks for your replies.
The Asmussen barn swears by Ajax soap (with citrus, has to have citrus) so it’s what I use. I like it well enough. I think the biggest thing is that we don’t let their coats dry with sweat on them.
I mostly just used either ivory or dawn dish soap. Like several others have said, the big keys are rinsing out the sweat and usually multiple grooming a day. Plus you have to remember that most racehorses get fed lots of top quality foodstuffs too which helps the shine.
Sheila
[QUOTE=In the Air;7787292]
When I worked at the track it was vetrolin in a bucket of water. Or something with touch of the green soap… what was the name of the stuff that came in the little glass bottles?[/QUOTE]
Tincture of green, maybe.
I always wondered that too. They soap up their heads and I also thought that would get into their eyes so it much be something mild like baby shampoo.
A friend of mine at the track uses the BJ’s Wholesale club store brand (Berkeley and Jensen) anti-bacterial hand soap. The anti-bac probably help with any skin funk and his horses always look great from good food and lots of grooming.
I use what ever shampoo is on sale at the tack shop. I rinse them in Apple Cider vinegar once in a while
When I get shampoo soap in my eyes, it stings. I can’t imagine these products not bothering the horses eyes. Thought maybe there was one product everyone used that made them shine and didn’t sting their eyes. The grooms are really soaping up the faces right along with the bodies.
Yes, we want the whole horse clean. I’ve never had one act like it really bothered their eyes.
When I take a shower and wash up my face, whatever gets in my eyes stings. Then I rinse well with water and I’m okay. I have never held it against myself.
Side note, but I never thought baby shampoo stung any less (personally). “Tear free,” my tookus. Others’ mileage may vary.
“the little glass bottles”
tuttle’s elixer?
Every barn seems to have somewhat of their own mix. Personally and what seems to be popular is Orvis. Pretty mild. Depending on what the horse did I and others like to add some Absorbine liniment. Don’t really have an exact mix, eye ball it and stick my hand in the bucket for “feel”. Our course this is only for a body wash, not around their head.
There are a number of “body bracers” to be had.
I don’t like to “shampoo” horses on a daily bases. Especially with soaps that will wash out the natural oil in their coats. We just hose them off really well until the water “runs clear”. On hot days mix up a bucket of water and Absorbine and toss it on them after hosing and then scrape.
When working the winter meets in South Florida we tended to use an anti bacterial wash because of the notorious “Florida crud” especially in the girth areas. All horses had designated girth covers and saddle cloths. Washed daily.
As to their heads, generally just hose off, and then go over with a sponge and some days with a mild soap. As Texarkana said, most are good with hosing their heads, but I have found just as many that aren’t. Kind of goes against their natural instinct. Don’t see too many horses with their head up in the air when it’s raining.
