How Often Should You Bathe Horse?

The question of how often you should bathe your horse isn’t one with a clear-cut answer. For some owners, the answer is never; for others, it’s weekly or monthly. From different grooming routines to different living environments and access to mud, there are a number of important factors upon which the frequency of horse bathing is contingent. Therefore, it is important to bring all accountable factors into consideration before deciding how often you should bathe your horse. 

Below, this article discusses some of the important factors that can affect how often you bathe your horse. 

Horse Bathing – The Perfect Routine 

In Season or Out of Season 

Are you in season? If yes, it is advised that you check your schedule to see if there’s an upcoming show or event. In the event that there’s one, you can give your horse a bath, just before the show, to ensure that it is looking its best on the day of the show. 

If you are off-season and this happens to be during the winter, it might be best to forgo bathing your horse, and instead, maintain cleanliness by using a blanket. If necessary, tails can be washed with shampoo. Also, you can opt for spot cleaning and hot toweling during the winter. 

Coat Type 

With regards to the amount of oil on their coats, horses have different coat types. Some coats are quite oily, while others are not. If your horse has a coat that is full of natural oils, it is advised that you do not shampoo too often. It is also important that you choose only shampoo products that are made for horses. 

Weather Condition 

In cold conditions, especially in the absence of a heated wash stall, it isn’t advisable to bathe your horse. Exposing your horse to extreme cold can be detrimental to its state of health. If you are intent on keeping your horse clean in times like this, you can opt for using a hot, damp towel for cleaning its coat. This will remove dirt from its coat without getting it wet.

Medical Condition that Requires Bathing

In the case of rain scald, an infection that commonly affects horse skin, there are special types of shampoos you can use to aid the healing process. That said, it’s still important to contact a vet to get professional advice concerning the right brand and the bathing schedule for your horse. Furthermore, it may not be necessary to give the horse a full body bath, as spot cleaning may be all that’s required to get the job done.  

Recommended Read:  7 Common Equine Skin Diseases

Other Reasons 

Did your horse get into mud? If that’s the case, bathing may be necessary to wash off the mess. Do you simply want to cool it down after a race or workout? For this, a simple rinse would do. Could it be just a stain on the coat? Simply spot clean to remove. 

Regardless of how often you bathe your horse, it is important to maintain a regular grooming routine. Regular curry sessions before rides help to ensure there’s no trapped dirt under the saddle. Also, this lets you run your hands throughout the horse’s body to determine if it’s in perfect condition. After every ride, be sure to use your curry gloves to remove dried sweat and dirt, distribute the natural oils on its coat, and massage its muscles. Keeping your horse healthy and happy should be prioritized over anything else.  

As clearly indicated by this article, to a great extent, the frequency of horse bathing is dependent on your preference, among other factors. Regular horse bathes works for some; for others, it doesn’t. It’s a matter of sticking to what works best for you and your horse. 

Check Out Our Post on Horse Shampoos

How often do you bathe your horse?  Leave a comment below.