How do you get a very muddy pony clean in an hour?

[craggyhollow]

Last week I used a mane comb to get the dried mud off

then hosed the feet and fetlocks

it took FOREVER

is there anything else magic I can do? I have an hour to get two ponies ready for a rally this evening and it stresses me all day

[gallopinggranny]

Read the bit about washing mud off can cause mud fever. I have been doing this round dpony's fetlocks and feathers. Should I stop? She is out 24/7. What is the best way to avoid mud fever?

[Pointeshoes]

Pfft I was going to say car wash !

[ClaireAnneJames]

I use a cheap plastic currry comb, go easy on tummies but they scrub dried mud off much better than brushes. Not sure rubber ones would work as well as plastic, haven't tried. We have one of the metal things but I'm scared of scratching the horse with it so I daren't use it. Plastic curry comb is fine, and hose off legs.

[pumpkin2012]

Baby oil mixed with water in a spray bottle. Mud slides off when you hose it. Or 7 day mud away is a more expensive version :)
Also good to put on manes as it doesn't make the reins slippy.

[horsemadmom]

car wash?

[Mirage]

I have two greys who live out. Our PC Chief Instructor drives past my field 4 times a day and can see for herself what a state they get in.She always comments at rallies,on how clean we've been able to get them.We never enter 'Neatest and Cleanest' at gymkhanas though-I know my limitations.

[Eve]

I would get worst of mud off and then shrug my shoulders at the Instructors and say what do you expect... its winter, there is mud, they are clean .. you didn't see what they started like, besides the kids are clean.

Though I am fearsome enough to not have PC instructors argue back with me.

[Stinkyminkymoo]

I second a furminator, theta re brill at getting mud off and then winter coats later in too.

Good luck!

[Butkin]

We use one of those spring loaded metal curry combs in two concentric circles. Looks a bit mean but they all love them - even the thin skinned ones. Gets all the dried mud off quickly and then just clean their heads with a dandy brush - gently applied. We'd wash tails with whitening shampoo but you are risking them not drying (for a show we'd wash two or three times in the days running up and one last wash the night before but that requires stabling).

In the spring we love our Furminator for getting their coats out but don't use it now in case it takes the sharpness off it.

[craggyhollow]

You'll be amused to hear that one of them won best turned out at their rally

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I have a metal hoop sweat scraper thingy. Its staight with small teeth on one side, got a plastic handle at each end which join together to make it into a loop, and its brilliant for mud/moulting.
There's also a product called Cowboy Magic which is apparently erm magic!

[craggyhollow]

Dcob made it quite clear he didn't appreciate the furminator on his back legs thank you very much

Do you know what was amazing! An old denman Hairbrush - a paddle one with stuff plastic bristles

The dds hate it but my god, it did a great job of getting off mud!

[craggyhollow]

great I have both pledge and a furminator

I will buy some muddy buddy - would a tea tree wash work do you think

[CMOTDibbler]

The furminator is amazing at getting dry mud off. For manes and legs, I swear by 7 day mud away for keeping the mud off, then if dpony needed to be tidy, I'd wash legs with Muddy Buddy which seems a v effective shampoo but is also antibac - I don't like hosing legs as it feels like driving dirt into their skin.

Frizz away serum is fab on manes to soften and stop frizz and goes a long way

[elastamum]

I think Pledge has got silicone in it which is what stops the mud sticking. Worth a try?

[NigellasDealer]

there was a girl on our yard who was using it last year on her grey and his skin broke and he got an infection right in bone-deep and nearly had to be put down!

[craggyhollow]

ok thanks nigella I havent tested it on them either

I have it left from an old pony

I wont use it

[craggyhollow]

Thank you this is all very encouraging

I think the mane comb took ages

I will buy a rubber curry comb as the magic brushes look too tiny to be that useful

luckily its just their legs and heads really and tails (tails are revolting )

One is very easy to get looking smart actually and one is just a dirt magnet

Pledge! love it I expect its the beeswax?

[NigellasDealer]

please do not use pig oil it is liquid paraffin and can really irritate the skin.

[craggyhollow]

I dont wash with shampoo or anything
I just get as mcuh off as I can then BLAST their hooves and fetlocks with the hose (they love that )

I did think of pig oil BUT then they just look pig oily

[elastamum]

Showing yard

[Mitchy1nge]

to be truthful the magic brush has only modest magical properties, I do think it is slightly better than the other curry combs - the furminator is surprisingly good at getting dry mud off though

I was trying to give you some hope good luck, am sure they will look nice, half an hour on each is not bad is it?

[elastamum]

I use a spiky curry comb thing to get the mud off. I can clean up 2 big horses in about 1/2 hour with that.

My friend who works in a sowing yard always sprays pledge on mane and tails after washing them! Have never tried this myself, but apparently it helps.

[Floralnomad]

That spray for manes is good for getting them sleek and untangled and I'd also go for the rubber curry comb or one of those rubber brushes with the rubber thin bristles .

[NigellasDealer]

rubber curry comb all over.....or one of those curry comb glove things? but as mitchy said if the mud is wet then you are a bit buggered. I really would avoid washing too much in this weather because of mud fever (dpony has it really badly had to get the vet out yesterday and she needed antibiotics ££££££)
also you could try 'Prize' from Equisoothe link here it is a really good product for easy grooming and leg protection