Winter Grooming Tip - How to Cool Out a Sweaty Horse on Cold Day

If you are training hard this winter, and weren't so fortunate to clip your hairy beast, you've experienced the challenge of drying and then grooming a long coat encrusted with sweat and dust. Here's the method that's worked best for the Good HorsePerson:

After the horse's respiration has returned to normal or pretty close - before the horse dries -spray her down with a generous coating of dry shampoo spray (try Cowboy Magic Green Spot Remover/Shower in a Bottle) and immediately cover her with a breathable cooler (polarfleece works well). Then, peel the cooler back in sections to rub the shampoo into the coat with a towel or rag that has a good nap to it. After the rub-down, you can stall the horse, still wearing the cooler, to finish drying. He will dry much faster after all your rubbing and with the help of the shampoo, his coat won't be so crusty and swirled. If you're worried about the horse rolling and getting tangled in the cooler, a dirty, unrolled polo wrap tied around the horse behind the elbow makes a quick surcingle. After 20 minutes or so, you can remove the cooler and brush the hairs back in the natural direction of hair growth so the coat is smooth - especially important if you're blanketing. All done!

Horse Grooming Tip - Winter Tail Care

In the colder months, your horse's tail probably receives less attention than during all those summer hose-offs and baths. Winter is the worst time for tails anyway, since the dry air and layers and mud and dust can make hairs brittle, leading to split ends and breakage.

Some of the most dedicated tail preservationists advocate braiding and wrapping the tail in socks, tail wraps or tail protectors. But these can come off, and if your horse is the mischievous sort, he could get the wrap caught in a fence or eyehook and damage or at least scare himself. If you're looking for a lower-maintenance approach this follow these simple guidelines:

1 - Resist the urge to brush! USEF "S" judge Elizabeth Madlener warns against taking a comb or even a soft dandy brush to the tail hairs. Every hair that breaks will take years to fully grow out!

2 - Use your fingers to pick out hay and debris as often as possible.

3 - Use a concentrated leave-in detangler like Cowboy Magic Detangler to help pick out knots and tangles

4 - Again, don't brush it!

5 - When the temperature permits, wet the tail and dunk in a bucket of lightly-concentrated shampooey water (try Cowboy Magic Rosewater Shampoo or Vetroline Bath) until the water from the tail runs clear. Rinse and apply a leave-in detangler liberally while wet. Let it try and if you have lots of time, pick the tail by hand!

Okay, now if you absolutely must brush - start at the bottom and work up in small sections - and use a brush designed for the purpose - the Oster Tail Brush is a great choice (see the dover saddlery link below or Google it for many results).

Also, check out Cherry Hill's advice...(though she is partial to the tail bag...)

http://www.horsekeeping.com/horse_grooming/tips_for_long_tails.htm

http://www.cowboymagic.com/products-detangler-shine.html - Detangler

http://www.farnamhorse.com/aqha/vetrolin_email.htm - Vetrolin Bath Shampoo

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-10076&bhcd2=1201621692 - Tail Brush