| Giving your horse a bath is similar to washing your | | | | Start with the bucket that has shampoo in the |
| car. You start on the left front side, work your way | | | | water. Sponge the horses head, in the front, |
| down one side, wash the roof, wash the back panel | | | | underneath the jaw and behind the ears and |
| making sure not to miss the parts lower on the car | | | | between the ears. As soon as you finish, take the |
| and then proceed to the other side. If you miss | | | | sponge from the other bucket that has the clear |
| some spots you will be able to tell. Horses need the | | | | water and rinse your horses face thoroughly dipping |
| same attention to detail for good results. Some of | | | | the sponge into the water, rinsing their head over |
| the tools you will need are: | | | | and over until all the shampoo is gone. |
| - a hose with good water pressure, preferably one | | | | Then hold the bucket with the shampoo in the water |
| that has access to a hot water spigot so you can | | | | with your left hand, using your right hand, keep |
| use a yoke and be able to blend both hot and cold | | | | dipping the sponge into the water and onto the |
| water because horses prefer warm water to cold. | | | | horse as you cover the horses body as well as go |
| - Two buckets, at least three gallons each, | | | | down their legs inside and out, onto their back, rump, |
| - two good sponges that have some flexibility to | | | | up underneath of their belly and in between their |
| them is better, | | | | legs, up underneath of their tail, down the hind legs |
| - a sweat scraper and a good quality horse shampoo. | | | | to the hoof and then onto the other side. When you |
| This would be a shampoo that is designed to clean | | | | get to the rump on the other side of the horse, then |
| your horse thoroughly with small amounts of product | | | | you do the tail. Start at the top of the tail with the |
| and will wash out very easily. | | | | soapy sponge running it down to the end of the tail. |
| Being clean is certainly not a priority in a horse's life. | | | | Scrub the top of the tail with the soapy water and |
| Actually, rolling in the mud or dirt is their preference. | | | | your fingers. |
| Probably dirt rolling is related to scratching and | | | | Lastly, using your hose again, it will not be necessary |
| protecting them from biting flies and annoying gnats. | | | | to rinse your horses head, just the rest of their body |
| The first order of giving your horse a bath would be | | | | making sure you spray up underneath the belly, in |
| to fill both of your buckets with warm water; one | | | | between their legs, under the tail, rinsing the tail until |
| bucket with shampoo and one sponge, and the other | | | | the water runs clear. Afterwards you will take the |
| bucket with just warm water and a clean sponge. | | | | sweat scraper and scrape their body, not the legs, |
| Either put your horse on the cross ties on the wash | | | | getting off as much excess water as possible. Do not |
| rack, or have someone hold your horse standing | | | | turn your horse out or put them into the stall until |
| directly in front of the horse. Use the hose and start | | | | they dry as they will immediately roll and become |
| behind the ears and begin to hose the horse's body | | | | that dirty horse once again. |
| being sure not to get water in the horses ears. | | | | The more baths you give, the faster you will become |
| Getting water in their ears is not acceptable. Make | | | | at this chore. Professional grooms, with the help of a |
| sure you get up underneath of their stomach, in | | | | high pressure hose can bathe a horse in about five |
| between their legs, wet their rump and up | | | | minutes. It probably will take you much longer in the |
| underneath of their hind legs, underneath the tail all | | | | beginning of this learning experience. Clean horses are |
| the way down their legs. Wet the tale as you must | | | | a pleasing sight to behold, so hang in there as |
| also shampoo their tail as well as this helps some | | | | practice makes perfect and you will be a whiz at |
| horses from rubbing. Go to the other side of the | | | | bathing your horse in no time. |
| horse and do exactly the same. | | | | |