Next show question....

[seeker]

Pale grey live out pony. It's going to be too clod on Saturday to bath her before show on Sunday. Any tips? Apart from mega groom of course, and washing her tail and legs? And not getting a grey pony in the first place? Has anyone successfully shampooed a mane without soaking the rest of the horse?

cold, even. I've obviously got mud on the brain!

hopeful bump

Through the Winter we often just wash legs, mane and tail. Usually too cold to do anything else. They are rugged anyway so don't get too dirty elsewhere in the field.

We've been wanting to wash our palomino connemara for ages to help with her coat before her first show of the season on Saturday. However with this cold weather we've been holding off.

She will definitely get legs, mane and tail tomorrow (followed by night in stable with rugs and lycra hood) but body may come down to a good grooming!

We've pulled her mane this week and I've had the Furminator out every day trying to get her coat out.

Good luck with your grey - I'm sure you'll be able to wash the bits you want and any stray water won't hurt! Just be careful how you groom on the day though, as you don't want to apply anything which will bring out any scurf if not washed.

We only got this pony in December and she was filthy when we got her! And she's been out most of the time since then so as you can imagine she is very yucky now. Oh well- we'll do the best we can!

Have you got access to hot water at your field? Or an aqua roll/water carrier? I would bath my grey with warm water in the morning, making the bath as quick as I can, And either take it for a walk to warm up/dry out or rug up with a clean sheet/fleece under a turnout. When dry I'd change to a clean rug/put hood on for show. Use plenty of showsheen, mane conditioner, which will help keep clean in future, and rug up for a couple of days after till coat grease comes back. Not ideal I know, but if you do it am the day should warm up, and if it was to pour with rain and pony got soaked it wouldn't mind, and that's cold water! And p.s. Make sure you have a clean headcollar to put on after as the water will make any mank on the headcollar stick to your pony. Good luck. Xx

'Have you got access to hot water at your field?'

we've got a kettle!!!

Oh well, she can still jump even if she's a bit scruffy!

Yes forgot to mention we use hot water which we take down to the stables in the same water barrels we use for topping up their water in the field.

Also after grooming you can always use a hot sponge in particularly bad spots ie grass stains etc.

Do you intend to plait for your show classes?

Definitely easier if clean and pulled.

Don't use mane conditioner if you are going to plait! It's hell!

And seeker, a kettle is fine. Add one kettle full to a bucket and top up with cold. We never used to have even that! Poor buggers got cold baths!

Not going to plait - she's an Arab. Or she can pass as an Arab in our little local shows!

Probably too late for today, but babywipes are very good for stained bits

Tell us how you get on. X

Oh, forgot about cactus cloth! It's great for rubbing grass/stable stains off greys. You can get a square like this or I've got a mitt with it on one side that I've had for years and just wash out when it gets a bit grubby.

Well - day started disastrously - pony decided for the first time to stop - and stop often. Eliminated from 2ft3 after 3 refusals at the 3rd. Then couldn't get her round the clear round course - despite lots of lovely help and encouragement frrom the steward. Lots of sadness and tears - then a 4th in prettiest mare. Then some very derermined practice in the warm up arena, followed by a 4th in the horse and groom - then a 2nd in the pairs jumping. So the day finished on a high note! God - I'm too old for this! She's only every ridden other people's horses for them before - didn't realize how different it would be on her own!

Well done!!

Think it is much more stressful for the parents!

I have been to a show today, DD competing, me judging! 2x stress!!! Knackered now! Well done seeker, you made it! One down, just the whole of the summer left to go!

We were supposed to go to our first show on Sunday, but pony is lame (vet suspects laminitis)and on box rest so very jealous, Seeker, despite the traumas. Brilliant that the day ended so well. I bet next time out will go like a dream. Your dd sounds like a very determined rider who'll stick at it when it's difficult so it sounds like she really deserved the good end to the day.