|
6. Use a hose with a spray nozzle and warm water and never spray your
horse in the face.
7. A horse who has never been bathed will probably be afraid. Be
prepared for a quick release. Whenever your horse shows signs of fear, return to
an area of the body with the water that he previously accepted. Start moving
toward the area he didn't like very slowly. Praise him and talk sweet the whole
time. Repeat this as necessary.
 Spray
front legs first.
Next,
the chest, shoulders, neck. Use a gentle spray - turn the water pressure down
some if needed.
Do
barrel, back and butt.
Soak
your horse completely. Always keep the spray directed toward the
rear of your horse
8. Time to shampoo. Always follow label directions. Apply shampoo
to be used full strength to a wet sponge, then to the horse. If directions
call for diluting the shampoo, use a bucket of warm water.
Scrub
the horse from it's neck to it's hooves.
Re-wet
the sponge and apply more shampoo as needed.
Work
shampoo through the mane and tail with your hands.
Use
a whitening shampoo on white areas - don't leave it on too long or it can stain
the hair.
9. Rinse Completely. This is very important as shampoo left on
your horse can cause drying of the skin and hair and irritation.
Rinse
in the same order as you wetted it and shampooed - from the neck back.
For
stallions and geldings, gently clean the sheath. If there is a lot of
debris, do the following:
 Wear
rubber gloves as the smegma is odorous and will not clean from your skin easily.
Use
an old, soft rag.
Apply
a generous amount of mineral oil to the rag.
Gently
clean the sheath inside and out. There are many pockets inside so gently use
your fingers to reach these areas. If your horse is touchy, only do as much as
he will allow. Be sure to stand in a position to avoid being kicked. He will
likely strike forward with a hid leg, so don't put your face down there!
Wash
gently with warm, soapy water.
Rinse
completely with clear, warm water. (There are special products for this
purpose...)
|
