Posts Tagged ‘Mud’

Anyone who has ever had a horse with a full or part clip knows they are a lot easier to keep well groomed than a horse with a think woolly coat – especially when they’ve been rolling in a bit of winter mud! But those that show all winter long, they also know the frustration of trying to get a good shine on a clipped horse. Those short, thick hairs just don’t seem to ever glow the way a summer coat does!

But there are a few tricks – the clippers you have in your horse grooming supplies can make a big difference, and there are a few other handy tips to get a show ring shine on a winter horse.

Step one – when and how you clip

The first thing you need to know is that a horse just clipped will be at its least shiny. The short, thick winter hairs will have blunt ends after clipping, and they won’t want to lie flat. If you need a shine for a particular event or show clip at least two to three weeks before so you have some time to get let the hairs grow out.

How you clip will affect how much shine you can get. To get an even finish, you need to clip against the lay of the hair, but this will cause the ends of the hairs to bend upwards, causing a dull finish. It’s important to clip in small sections, and after each section go over the hairs with a damp brush to get them flat right away. Keep a clean, soft brush in your horse grooming supplies specifically for this purpose. Use warm water to smooth the hairs flat after each section is clipped. Spraying the hairs with some leave-in conditioner also helps, or you can put a little baby oil into the water bucket to help smooth the hairs down.

Another factor is temperature – when a horse is cold, the hairs stand up on end to trap warm air. When you clip, after you’ve finished a section and have smoothed the hairs down, make sure you keep your horse warm. A light cotton blanket or sheet laid over the newly clipped sections won’t catch the hairs, and will keep your horse cosy – and the hairs flat. Likewise, keep your clipped horse warm before you go into the arena at your show!

Step two – have the right tools for the job

To get a good shine, you need the smoothest possible finish from your clip. If you are clipping for shows, or clipping frequently, that means you should invest in the best horse clippers you can afford for your horse grooming supplies. Most major equine clipper suppliers offer both corded and rechargeable models, and each has their own benefits. Cordless horse clippers are usually quieter, and you don’t risk getting tangled up in the cord – or not being able to reach all parts of your horse, so they are good for fidgety or nervous horses. If you don’t have easy access to electrical sockets, you may have to opt for a rechargeable model. Corded models have the benefit that you don’t need to recharge them, so if you have a big horse or one with a very thick coat, several horses to clip, or need to clip often, a corded model is probably more convenient.

First, always choose clippers from a reliable manufacturer. This way, you will get a good warranty, and replacement blades will be easy to find. Plus, you can be sure that by sticking with the best suppliers, like Wahl, Andis, and Oster that your clippers will be safe – and that’s important anytime you use electrical products around horses.

Try to choose clippers that give you a good choice of blades. If you need to clip a very woolly horse, you’ll need to start with large, broad blades to get through the hair. But for touch-ups, repeat clippings, and to get the best possible finish, you will want to choose the smallest blades you can. That’s why regular clipping is essential for show horses that really need to shine – you want to be able to use the smallest set of blades in your clipper supplies!

Here’s a selection of some of the best choices of horse clippers from the top suppliers:

• Wahl horse clippers. The Wahl Liberty Clipper is one of the best cordless models, With low noise and vibration, it’s ideal for sensitive horses, and when fully charged you can get up to 2 ½ hours of clipping time. As with all Wahl clippers, a full range of blades are available, including a fine set to get the maximum shine!
• Oster horse clippers. The Oster Golden A5 two-Speed Clipper gives you a choice of blade speeds for different types of clipping. The ‘normal’ speed is best for a careful finish or precise edges, and the ‘fast’ speed gets through a thick coat quickly. You can use the same blade sets and attachments as most Oster clippers, so combine a set of fine blades with the precision settings to get a professional finish.
• Andis horse clippers. The Andis AGC Super 2-Speed is great value choice and still gets excellent results. The two speed motor, like the Oster Golden A5, gives you the quick option if you have a lot of horses to do or need to get through a heavy coat. The Andis has a super-cooled motor, so unlike other clippers it doesn’t need any air vents – this means you don’t get a draft blowing the unclipped hairs around, and so you can get a really smooth, even finish. Not only can you use a range of Andis blades, but this Andis model is compatible with Oster A5 range, so you can be sure you can always get replacement blades.

Step three – maintain your horse clippers

Finally, to get the smoothest finish and the best shine, you must take good care of your clippers. Clean the blades as you clip – hairs caught in the blades will lead to rough edges! Keep the blades oiled, and let them cool down if they start to get hot. For the best shine, you want the hairs cut as cleanly as possible, and that means sharp blades. If a good shine is important to you, then keep a few sets of blades in your horse grooming supplies – that way you always have a sharp set for each clip, and you have spares for when you need to get the blades resharpened.

Properly maintained, your clippers can be one of the most useful tools in your horse grooming supplies. For a hard working horse in winter, or one that needs to dazzle in the show ring, a good quality set of clippers and replacement blades will be the first step to both your horse’s comfort, and to your success!

This is the fourth in a series of five articles on horse grooming. This article has some excellent tips for getting a winter shine on a clipped coat. Not only does it provide some great winter tips, but also makes recommendations on the right horse grooming supplies for a great looking coat anytime.

Author: Marcus Koll
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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You are getting ready to ride your horse, go on a trail ride, take them to a show, or it has been raining. You discover your horse has been “rolling in the mud.” If it hasn’t happened to you yet, sooner or later you’ll get a surprise at the worst time. I have seven beautiful Paint Horses or, most of the time they are beautiful. When they roll in mud, it is not a very pretty sight to see and if neglected for an extended period of time, it will have undesirable effects on your horse’s mane, coat and skin. I live in Texas, in an area where the soil is a black-clay so when it rains, the soil becomes deep, sticky and very muddy.

Once my horses roll, because they are wet, they turn black instead of their natural color which is mostly white. This is what I do to keep them groomed, not only for their skin condition, but to look really good. People often ask me “how do you keep those horses so clean.” The answer is simple… I bath them regularly. Now it is time, not only groom your horse, but to give them a bath first.Simply brushing the horse only removes some of the dirt and the remaining dirt and dust is unhealthy to their coat and skin and coat. Your horse should always have a healthy diet for that natural shine to their coat. If you groom and/or bath your horse and they still have a dull coat, you should make sure they are getting a healthy and proper diet.

You will need grooming products. There are lots of them out there. I find the sources on-line are cheaper, even with shipping and offer discounts. You don’t have to get the most expensive brands to groom your horse either. You will need the following:

1. Shampoo – Suave(TM) — Inexpensive (buy at local grocery store) or, use Vetrolin Bath(TM) as it is not that expensive and a little goes a long way — It contains PABA Sunscreen (buy on-line).

2. Conditioner – Suave(TM) — Buy this at your local grocery store… very inexpensive or use Vetrolin Conditioner(TM) as it is not that expensive and a little goes a long way. It contains PABA Sunscreen (buy on-line).

3. A good detangler – Survivor Detangler(TM) by Eqyss — Expensive but well worth it. Great for the Mane and Tail and it smells wonderful (buy on-line).

4. Sheen (optional) – If you really want your horse to have a brilliant shine, you can use a “ready to use” spray such as Vetrolin Sheen(TM) (buy on-line).

You want your equipment to last so it’s best to spend a little extra in this area. If it’s really cheap, there is usually a reason.Here are some suggestions:

1. A comb for your horses mane and tail (buy on-line)

2. A regular curry brush (buy on-line).

3. A good rubber curry comb. Using the rubber curry comb to lather your horse will give them a great message. (buy on-line).

4. A good brush for when the horse is dry – Pick one that will feel good to your horse (buy on-line).

5. Electric clippers – I use all Oster(TM) products because they last forever (buy locally or on-line) Used to clip bridal paths, chin hair, ears but it’s not natural to cut a horses mane or tail. These are best combed out with brush or detangler.

Now that I have everything I need, I put all my stuff in a horse bucket that I can carry around (except the clippers).

Location – Pick a spot where you can tie your horse and have a water hydrant and hose long enough to avoid getting their legs tangled-up in the hose. Try to avoid bathing in area that will become muddy during your horses bath. It’s easiest to use a variable sprayer for your hose, of the garden variety.

1.Wet the entire horse down, starting in the rear and working your way forward and around the other side. When you wet their heads and, avoid spraying them directly in the face. Using the “mist” selection on the sprayer works really well from about 18″ away from the face and spray upwards and allow the mist to settle gently on their faces. This will minimize your horse’s resistance to getting their faces sprayed.

2. Once your horse is wet, you can begin to apply the shampoo using the rubber curry brush, creating a good lather, and giving them a nice massage. Most horses really enjoy this part once they get used to being wet. Wait until the very end to apply any shampoo to the facial area in case your horse gets soap in their eyes. You don’t want to try bathing them with their eyes full of soap. When applying to the face, use a sponge, a mildly soapy rag, or even your hands.

3. Rinse well and message, with rubber curry, to get out any remaining shampoo and spot clean any dirty areas still visible

4. Apply the conditioner and leave it on for a few minutes. Again, wait to apply to your horse’s face last, with your sponge, instead of the hose.

5. Rinse your horse thoroughly with the “shower” setting on your sprayer but, use the “mist” setting to rinse your horses head.

6. Use a squidgy to get most of the water off by starting at the upper neck and working your way down to the hooves.

7. Spray the horse with Vetrolin Sheen(TM). Do not spray the sheen to the horses back if you plan to ride the horse because it is too slippery and will cause your saddle to slip.

8. Apply the de-tangler to the mane and tail with your hands. Comb out the mane and tail, starting at the bottom and work your way toward the roots.

9. Tie your horse in a dry spot until they are totally dry. The last thing you want is to have your horse roll while wet and ruin your efforts.

When it rains, I try to wash one horse a day until they are all clean and I wait until after the weather dries out for a day or two before I begin. Once they are clean, brushing them every day or two will keep them quite clean. Of course you don’t want to over bathe your horse as this will dry out their skin by removing all the natural oils necessary for a healthy coat. Bathing them every other month is sufficient unless “Mother Nature” gets involved.

Sherry Marshburn has been working with horses for over 20 years. She now runs a small ranch, called Paints of Texas Ranch with APHA paints outside of Austin, Texas. If you would like to see the products in this article or tips on horses, such as buying, selling, training, or general care, please go to http://www.paintsoftexas.com or e-mail sherry@paintsoftexas.com

Author: Sherry Marshburn
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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