How to Bathe a Horse

Whether it is to get ready for a show or to remove a buildup of dirt or grime, your horse will benefit from an occasional bath. Bathing a horse is a messy job and you will most likely get as wet as he will, so be sure to dress appropriately.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hose
• Horse shampoo and conditioner
• Pail
• Sponge
• Curry comb
• Towel

1. Pick an area to bathe your horse where the ground will not get muddy. Grass or gravel will work best. Tie the horse up for her bath.

2. Choose a shampoo that is specially formulated for horses. Horses have a balance of healthy bacteria that lives on their skin. It is important to use a shampoo that will not kill the bacteria and upset the balance.

3. Mix the shampoo in a pail of warm water. Follow the dilution directions on the bottle closely.

4. Use a sponge to wash the horse with soapy area. Wash a small area at a time being sure to keep the soapy area wet until you rise it to avoid leaving soap residue behind.

5. Work the shampoo into the horse's coat and the dirt out using a curry comb or a grooming mitt.

6. Rinse the soap out well using clear running water. Be careful to get all of the soap out because residue left behind can dull the coat and irritate the horse's skin.

7. Towel the horse dry and then walk him around for awhile until he has fully dried.

Tips & Warnings

• Horses do not like having their heads washed and probably will not tolerate you rinsing their head with the hose. Instead, fill a clean pail with fresh water and rinse the soap off of the horses head with a clean sponge.
• Manes and tails can be difficult to bathe. Dunk the tail in a pail of fresh water and then wash it like you would shampoo your hair. Wet the mane and wash the same way. You might want to use a mane and tail conditioner to prevent the hair from getting brittle and breaking.