Horse Bathing Supplies Guide

Bathing your horse is a great way to get them squeaky clean and looking their best; however, it is not a replacement for the shine achieved through good, consistent grooming! Whether you're bathing your horse in preparation for a special event day (such as a show or rodeo), or you're simply removing excess dirt, sweat, and grime, having the proper equipment on hand to do the job will make all the difference. With the right tools, bathing can become more fun for both you and your equine companion!

There are a variety of products available for getting a horse as clean as can be. From color-enhancing shampoos and stain removers to sweat scrapers and coolers, bathing your horse can include a combination of different supplies and techniques. In this article, we will highlight all of the various tools needed (or that you may find helpful) when it comes time to bathe your horse. Read on to discover how to make bathing your horse less of a chore and more of an activity to look forward to!

After an initial rinsing off, the first step to any good bath is a thorough shampooing. There are many different horse shampoos to choose from. Shampoos can have color enhancers to brighten even the snowiest white coats, antibacterial ingredients for a medicated shampoo, and more (there's even dry shampoo for horses)! When narrowing down your shampoo options, we recommend considering the end result you are hoping to achieve. For example, do you simply want a thorough washing to clean off muck and grime? Or, are you looking for something to penetrate the coat deeper that will help ready your horse for a show or treat a skin condition?

If you are hoping to bring out the best in your horse's coat before a big event, or you simply want to brighten more dull tones, a color-enhancing shampoo may be what you are looking for. These shampoos are designed to brighten and enhance the color of your horse's coat by bringing out its subtle hues. Medicated shampoos are created to treat a variety of hair and skin ailments commonly found in horses. From treating dry skin to rain rot, scratches, and more, these shampoos can offer your horse a world of relief! However, we always advise including your veterinarian in discussions regarding the treatment of skin conditions your horse may have.

Just as you would with your own hair, don't forget to use a horse conditioner after rinsing the shampoo from your equine. A horse conditioner is made specially for use on coarse horse hair; with its use, your horse's locks will be soft as silk and flowing in the wind!

Nothing puts the rain on an equestrian's parade quite like coming out to the barn only to see that your horse has spent the night utilizing a poop pillow. However, these mucky marks stand no chance when stain removers are on the case! Especially handy for those with gray horses or horses with a lot of white markings, these products are nothing short of miracle workers. Stain removers or spot treatments can be helpful when you need to clean messy spots in a pinch, such as on show day when you may not have time for a full-fledged bath. Typically, all you'll need to do is apply the stain remover to the desired area, work it in, and wait for it to work its magic!

Who can resist the feeling of a sleek coat and silky smooth mane and tail? We know we sure can't! The use of a good shine or detangler will leave your horse's mane and tail tangle free while also keeping their coat shining as bright as the sun.

A good shine spray will add that extra sparkle to your horse's coat, making these products great for use before big events. When using shines on your horse, keep in mind that they make your horse's coat slippery, so it's important to refrain from putting shine spray where tack is placed.

Detanglers will do just what their name suggests: detangle knots out of manes and tails to leave them smooth as can be. Detanglers work by smoothing each hair, making it harder for them to get tangled up with other strands. A good detangler makes brushing out a wet or dry mane and tail much easier!

The true MVPs of bath time when it's time to get scrubbing, bathing sponges and mitts will help you get the job done quickly. Sponges come in a variety of different sizes to help you clean every part of your horse's body, from their hindquarters to their face.

Mitts make it easy to give your horse a good scrub during bath time. They also work great during shedding season to get extra loose hair off of harder-to-reach areas, or groom delicate places like the face and legs.

Rub rags are also handy to have on hand after bath time to help dry off or wipe delicate areas, such as your horse's face. Or, you can use a rag to spray grooming products on if your horse is sensitive to being sprayed!

As you near the end of your bathing routine, it's time to break out your handy dandy sweat scraper! This helpful tool removes excess water from your horse as you run it over the coat, making the drying process after their bath that much faster. A horse's body temperature is influenced by the temperature of water that sits on them, so it is important to scrape off any warm water thoroughly. Sweat scrapers can be found in different designs, including simple straight scrapers or half-moon shapes—they are all effective! All you need to do is pick up a sweat scraper in your preferred design and be on your way to a newly cleaned and dried equine.

Your time in the wash rack will be much easier with an assortment of some other must-have bathing tools. Don't count out the helpfulness of specialized wash totes, buckets, and more. Having a few of these essentials will make bath time go much more smoothly, especially when on the road! Buckets are particularly helpful, as they can be used for a variety of tasks, from serving as a home for your other bathing supplies when not in use, to being filled with water and shampoo to create a sudsy solution for washing your horse. Easily transportable hoses are another great tool when you need to give your horse a bath on the road, and they can also be helpful for other tasks such as filling your horse's drinking water buckets as you travel.

Using a horse cooler may be useful when your horse is freshly cleaned and still wet. Coolers can speed up the drying process after bath time and are also commonly used after exercise to dry any moisture from sweat. Not only that, they can also help prevent horses from getting too chilly as they dry off. You can ensure your horse's internal body temperature doesn't drop too low with a cooler, and they will be cozy warm as they finish drying!

Q: When should I give my horse a bath?

A: While there are no set rules for when you must bathe your horse, there are a few occasions when equestrians will usually choose to give their horse a thorough washing. The first, and perhaps most common, instance would be before a show or rodeo. This is the perfect way to help your horse put their best hoof forward and make a favorable impression with a sparkling, clean coat! Of course, another opportune time to bathe your horse is when they have gotten themselves especially dirty, such as having a nice roll in the mud. Even something as simple as a warm, sunny day can make a bath the perfect bonding activity.

Though there are many good reasons to bathe your equine, we do advise that horse owners avoid over-bathing. Having too many baths and shampooings can strip the natural oils from your horse's coat. In the long run, this can cause the horse's coat to become dry.

Q: Do I have to use all of these items when I bathe my horse?

A: No, you definitely do not need to use every single one of the listed supplies each time you bathe your horse! Riders may have their own routines and preferences when it comes to grooming and bathing their horses, so be sure to use whatever combination suits your needs the best. For example, some horses don't have any white markings at all and therefore don't need a whitening shampoo. Other horses are extraordinarily talented at keeping themselves clean, so the use of a stain remover may not be necessary with them. Or, you may not feel the need to use a detangler after conditioning your horse's mane and tail if it was already easy to brush through.

Q: How long should I leave color-enhancing shampoos on my horse's coat before rinsing them off?

A: This is an extremely common question! We advise always following the directions outlined on the color-enhancing or whitening shampoo bottle itself. However, the typical range for leaving these shampoos on the coat is 5 to 10 minutes. Be extra attentive to the maximum time listed, as some shampoos can run the risk of dying the horse's coat, mane, or tail the color of the shampoo if left on too long!

Giving your horse a bath doesn't have to be a chore! It can be a fun and rewarding experience when you have all the supplies you need on hand. We hope this guide has helped you determine the best products to keep in your own custom equine bathing kit. If you have any questions, our customer service team is always here to help. They can be reached at 1-800-620-9145 or via email at info@ridingwarehouse.com. As always, happy riding!