ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: [endurance] clean horses

Re: [endurance] clean horses

Dominique Freeman (fadjurs@sadandy.hpl.hp.com)
Thu, 2 Nov 1995 06:44:47 -0700 (PST)

Marisa,
The vacuum idea is a really good one. No need to spend alot
of money on a horse vacuum either. I have re-engineered a simple
Dirt-Devil mini vac by using the hose attachment and buying the
vacuum end that looks most like a rubber curry comb. The vacuum itself
can be found for less than $30 in most places (comes with hose) and I
think I paid about $0.50 for the attachment. It has been so successful, that
despite the initial peals of laughter from my barn mates, everyone now
has bought one after seeing the really great coats my guys had last year.
Some of the advantages include:
* not breathing in the dander and dust from your horse when you clean,
(important if you suffer from any kind of allergy)

* A deep clean, massages skin and promotes a glossy coat.

* Curry first to remove the large pieces (important if the pasture has
*any* adobe!)

* Really great as they are coming into their winter coats, or when they are
shedding (one of my guys has a "pre" shed every year and if I didn'd vacuum
regularly his coat would look like something the mice got into. :0 :0 )

* *Really* great for removing the dried sweat after a hard ride (seems to be
less stingy than currying out the caked stuff)

If you are concerned about how your horse will react to the sound, flex
etc, find your horses favourite scratch spot and start working from there.
I make sure that I know where the flex is at all times so there is no chance
of me or the horse getting caught up in it if they do happen to spook (same
precautions taken when clipping the hind fetlocks). My guys really look forward to
their vacuuming sessions as they associate it with getting those hard to reach
itches (on the chest, at the withers, on the dock).

In addition STAY AWAY from WD-40. There is a reason we have an MSDS in the
lab on that stuff. I would suggest the following mix, both for detangling,
and a really nice looking mane:

Doms No More (Horsey) Tangles Cocktail
1/3 Show Sheen (Young)
Mineral Oil (Johnson & Johnson)
Skin So Soft (Avon)

Shaken, not stirred. I use the little Tolco Horse Sprayers since they have
a graduated bottle, and deliver an even spray. The Skin So soft has the added
benefit of repelling mosquitos and flies. If you have acces to the Professionals
Edge #7 spray, you can substitute this for the mineral oil for a slightly
lighter cocktail.

Hope this helps,

Dom & (Fadjurs - known as "Mr Clean")

______________________________________________________________________
Dominique Freeman | "Life is short, science is long" |
fadjurs@sadandy.hpl.hp.com | |
Hewlett Packard Laboratories, | |
Palo Alto, CA USA | |
Phone: (415) 857-8596 | |
FAX: (415) 852-8576 | |
______________________________________________________________________