Grooming Rugless Mud Monsters...

[Back2Black]

Any hints/tips/advice? From the 1st of March I am hoping to start sharing a rather handsome coloured gelding who refused to keep a rug on with his previous owner (he shreds them) we are going to try and get him used to a lightweight turnout but failing that he will have to go out naked :( Thing is I want to be able to ride him on my nights during the winter as I refuse to pay 50/50 on bills to ride a horse once a week... What can I do? I am fine if the muds dry but what if its wet? I have always had clipped and rugged up to eyeballs horses so this is a new venture for me :( Hope someone can help :)

[Sophie..*]

If its wet, and not to cold, ill wash it off with warm water, then towel dry.

Hope this helps.

[doris]

Clean dry shavings are a good way to remove wet mud. Just rub in to the muddy patches gently, leave for as long as possible and then brush out the dirty shavings carefully before tacking up. I find this an excellent way of getting my cob's hairy legs cleaner and dryer before the trimmer does her feet.

[blues mum]

hot towelling the saddle and bridle areas helps get the worst of.
I have a grey hairy hippo ( he loves to wallow )
just get saddle girth and bridle area clean and learn not to be too fussy about about the rest

[chickflick1066]

This fab is brush for dried mud on my mud-monsters!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/chickflick1066/Other%20pictures/springgroomingbrush.jpg

Re: wet mud. Half an hour on dry standing should dry most wet mud before you want...and you only really need to move the wet mud from the saddle/bridle area. I shouldn't think it should harm the horse if you cannot remove every scrap of wet mud...they'd only get as muddy on a fast hack ;)

[Mehitabel]

we have one school pony who will only keep a rug on in very cold weather, so we often have to try to make him respectable. wehave a stack of old manky towels, scrub relevant bits with them to get the worst off, then scrub again with rubber or plastic curry comb, then a dandy brush, then another towelling.

[Pink's lady]

My lot live out 24/7, unrugged. They come in horrificlly muddy:rolleyes:

You only really need to do the 'bits that matter' - the saddle area, the girth and behind the ears. Rest can stay muddy;)

Firstly I would spray him with pig oil (or failing that, canter coat shine) before he goes out - it makes it SOOO much easier to get the mud off.

Buy a hairdryer! They soon learn to tolerate it!

Lots of clean towels are essential!