Mud monsters - grooming tips?

[MrFibble]

Is there a quick way to transform a mud monster into a reasonably clean horse you can tack up and ride in less than 20 minutes?

I have just spent over half an hour scraping, de-tangling and de-muddifying my mare so that I could ride. By the end of it I was exhausted and totally covered in mud and had only 40 minutes left for my hack (which was bloody marvellous nonetheless).

I feel so guilty if I just groom the bits that rub (and have had comments on it in the past ) as my yard seems to be filled with teflon horses that repel dirt whereas my girls are mud magnets. Ho hum.

I was going to suggest just grooming the bits that rub! Had the same problem when I had my horse, he could completely cover himself except a small triangle at the top of his tail. Maybe take a route where no one will see?!

She even gets mud in her ears FFS! How does she do it? I tried a neck cover but she nearly strangled herself with it. Daft mare!

Could try riding under cover of darkness?

Lol, the shetland had mud in her ears on saturday. I thought she was quite clean when I first saw her, then she turned round...

The only suggestion I have is a rubber curry comb, the old-fashioned orange sort with little pointy teeth, and don't be afraid to scrub.

Pixel as long as she doesn't have comedy timing and roll just as you get to the yard so the mud is still soggy ... Maybe a hairdrier in that case?!

those mitts that are like bendy rubber curry combs are fab for getting dry mud off quickly, but if in hurry I just do the essential areas and have a quick flick over then groom thoroughly afterwards

I sometimes feel bad that horse has gone to all that trouble to get mud and poo absolutely everywhere and I ruin all his hard work

Redclover, she has been known to do it while ds was riding her. They both got up plastered with mud and it was all in the tack and everything. My mum was too busy laughing to be any help so it was lucky ds wasn't bothered and climbed straight back on.

I think you can get some stuff that you spray on, that is supposed to stop the mud sticking to the hair. I'll try and find out what it's called. Never tried it myself mind.

Ooh I've got some of that stuff - is it called Cowboy Magic or Mud Magic or something like that. Not helping much am I. I'm going to get mine in soon so I'll have a look.

Tbh, I didn't rate it that much though. If you've got a fairly clean horse then it's probably an added extra but for a mud monster I'm not convinced.

Warm water and sponge for the very worst bits?

Actually, I was thinking of sealing both my mares in plastic wrap until June 2010.

I'm hoping it will get better now I've fully rugged up one of my mares but the other I'm leaving to become a hairy horace since she's out of work / retired except for a weekly gentle hack. She gets the most delightful mud ringlets / rasta plaits overnight it seems so I am intrigued about this spray. Sounds peculiar but anything that would increase my precious riding time is welcome...

I googled and found this. It says it's good for manes and tails so I wonder if it is actually the same as the show-shine just in different packaging?
Dhorse has the thickest mane and tail ever so it might be worth a try.

Looks interesting but I am slightly skint at the moment. I'll try loads of mane and tail spray - see if that makes a difference.

Pixel that's the one I was trying to think of - no idea where I got Cowboy from! I paid £9.30 from a local saddler but wouldn't bother again. Doesn't seem to be any different to mane and tail conditioner.

I'm with all the others - rubby curry in circular movements and for mane and tail Cowboy magic is awesome stuff.

I've got a hippo too.

How do they get it inside their ears?

We keep them rugged so usually not a problem - except their legs and sometimes their necks.

However the best things we've used for years are those metal combs on springs which come in two concentric circles attached to a handle.

They look brutal but work fab on mud and we've never had one yet which has minded them.

LOL Pixel, reminds me of my best friend. She was an instructor and took some children out on a hack. The mare she was on sat down in the middle of a lake sized puddle and she had her leaky boots on so was completely stuck! LMAO!

Right, that's it. Even my retired mare is going to be rugged as of tonight. It took me 30 minutes just to get the bits-that-rub clean and I ended up hacking out on a mud horse.... And of course, I met one of the riders from the yard whose teflon horse is fully clipped - let's just say there was a bit of a contrast between our mounts...

I had to get dhorse clean today as we had the farrier coming and he won't do anything muddy. I've now got a pile of wet muddy towels to wash, think I might clip off his feathers after all!

Anyway, he was spotless and looked lovely so I've now given in and he has his rug on too.

I've just acquired one of the circular metal comb/brush affairs Butkin and I can honestly say it's fantastic. I'd never seen them before til my friend gave me one of hers and it does the job in half the time of any curry comb or similar.

I have the answer to all your prayers... a cattle comb. www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/curry-comb-circular

It looks like an instrument of torture but is amazing for getting mud off and as it is springy, it doesn't seem to bother the horses in the slightest.

We have a yard full of muddy horses to groom every morning that have to be turned out spotless for their lessons and the cattle combs are the most popular tools of all.

THat's the one Southwestwhippet. How come the cows get the good brushes then? Not fair. I love mine.

The cattle comb is great! But rugging up has made a huge difference. Now I wondering whether I should clip her a bit in case she gets too hot with all that hair under a rug. I know nothing about clipping.

A plastic curry comb is the best! and I would just hose the mud off from the knees down and then dry with a towel. Trim the heels and if living out maybe give them just a neck & belly clip which will save you a lot of work! Also get one of those rugs with a neck extension - goes up the neck a bit but not a seperate hood - saves half the mane and the withers anyway! And I use an old hairbrush for the mane and tail, much quicker than a comb, but I woulndt use this on the tail every day as it does pull the hairs out if your not careful. Keep the tail a bit shorter for winter so it doesnt get so muddy?

Try a metal scourer to get the mud off. The best kind are the plain, loosely "woven" types that are about 99p for three in cheapy shops. They fold nicely to accommodate bony bits and the horses seem to love being groomed with them. Sounds odd, but it works!

Also, for tails, give them a thorough brush with mane and tail spray then plait tightly all the way down and fasten with a big thick elastic band (those red ones that the posties drop are ideal). Will save hours of detangling, especially with thick tails.

Not heard of the metal scourer before - that sounds like a plan as my TB doesn't really appreciate the cattle comb. Thanks for that.

Mane and tail does work doesn't it? I will try plaiting up my Belgian to avoid the mud bead plaits although they do have a certain grunge charm about them but I think she is just too old to carry off that look .