Product Reviews – Whitening Shampoos…

……And other accessories to survive show preparation with a grey

When it comes to washing grey horses, I know far too much about it being on a yard with three greys and a blue eyed cream who just do not like to be any shade of clean! I have tried out numerous products which promise to dazzle and clean these horses with mixed results. What I have concluded is that with a grey / cream / white you have two issues – (1) getting the surface dirt off – stable stains, mud, scruff and general dirt and (2) whitening yellowed or discoloured areas and tails. I have found that some products are better than others at these areas while some are handy for both.

 I usually start washing by mixing warm water and shampoo into a lather (warm water lathers up better I think and saves the horse from freezing!) and scrubbing in to get rid of surface dirt. I hose off and then tackle the areas that are still not clean enough then final I tackle the areas that are clean but just a shade too yellow!.

 So when it comes to the grey owners grooming kit – what’s hot and what’s not?

 Hibiscrub:

 While it’s not something that immediately springs to mind for washing this was recommended by a friend (Thanks Louise!) as the weapon against dirt. It costs about €6 a bottle which will last ages. Hibiscrub was the only thing to remove the permanent scruff spot from the cream’s legs. I have no idea what this spot is made of it appears to be a gum like dirt that she gets on herself (I have given up trying to figure out what these horses do to get so manky!) and it can be nightmare to get off her back legs. The yard owner now keeps a bottle of hibiscrub in the tack room! I find that Hibiscrub is brilliant stuff for that first wash to get everything out of the coat. It also works well for mixing with other products (see below)

 Washing Up liquid:

 It’s cheap as chips and found just about anywhere. Due to its huge lathering properties washing up liquid can be a great product for using with a first wash on a really dirty horse to get the top layer of grime off them. Mixing the blue or yellow variety with hibiscrub also produces great results. I am wary of using this very often to be honest as if they have very pink or sensitive skin I worry it may irritate them and it can make the tail a bit dry and coarse afterwards. I tend to mix just a little bit of this with hibisrub to get a good lather going if they are really filthy with heavy surface dirt.  

 QuicSilver:

 Quicsilver seems to be one of the cult products you hear about so I will be honest I was expecting a lot from it. It is pricey coming in about €12-13 a bottle. My issue with this shampoo is not that it does not work – it does work – it just does not lather brilliantly and is not much use for surface dirt. I do use it but I keep it for after the first wash and use it on yellowed areas to whiten them up. I do find it very good for tails especially those that are yellowed at the bottom due to its deep purple colouring. I usually wash the tail to get rid of the heavy dirt with something else and then wash it again with Quicsilver leaving it on a few minutes before washing out. This did the trick on Saturday evening with a mare’s tail that was really yellow and dirty before hand. Definitely worth having in your washing kit but save it for using sparingly on the stubborn yellow areas and the tails after your first wash, it would be a waste to use all over at the start.

 Copa Whitening Shampoo:

 This shampoo is an amazing colour it actually looks shimmery UV Blue! This had a huge test as I used it on a pony that is a very light grey. When I arrived I discovered that the pony had made very creative use of the molasses dark brown lick that was in her stable. Her entire nose was covered and she had then rubbed her muzzle and nose against her front legs. It shifted the sticky mess no problem so I was really impressed with it. What I like about this shampoo is that firstly it lathers well so a little goes a long way and you get good value for money. It is also one of the few products to be very good at both removing surface dirt and whitening up yellow legs and tails so it’s a great all rounder. Mix this with hibiscrub (which creates a very cool purple mixture) and lather up to get really fantastic cleaning and whitening.

 Groom Go Whitening Shampoo:

 I discovered this when it was handed to me by a sympathetic onlooker when I was frantically scrubbing the grey mare two hours before a show (note to self never assume anything will stay clean!!). It had a rather innocuous looking bottle and was a new brand so I was not sure what to expect. Its part of Holmesteads own brand of grooming products. It’s a dark blue shampoo that lathers well and gives good all round results on legs and tails. It is a middle sized bottle but is also great value for money as is often on ‘3 for 2’ offer on the Groom Go range. My only issue with this is that it has a strange jelly like consistency when squeezed out of the bottle so you have to be careful to get it on the horse before it slips out of your hands (especially if you are wearing rubber gloves!).

Middle of the Road:

 There are so many whitening shampoos out there it would take forever to review them all!. There are so I have tried that I would class as middle of the road – they will clean and they will lather and won’t cost the earth they just won’t dazzle you! Gallop whitening shampoo, Carr and Day and Martin Dream Coat and Gold Label Blue shampoo are three that Spring to mind. For a moderately dirty horse they will do the trick for you but for riding school horses splashing in mud and greys ridden everyday in the outdoor arena with a penchant for rubbing in dirt I stick to the big performers.

 The Accessories:

 Cleaning a grey does not stop at the shampoo and dry off stage. Many an innocent new owner has put a clean grey to bed only to find a filthy horse the next morning. We have one horse who is an expert in his trade, he was once put to bed with stable bandages a rug and a hood this lad managed to poo and rub it into his only uncovered area – all over his stomach – it was as impressive as it was horrifying!. Thankfully the equestrian market constantly unveils helpful new products to help keep your grey clean until you get on them at the show.

 Chalk Powder:

This product is a lifesaver. After washing legs, smear damp legs in chalk powder then stable bandage (thanks to Caroline for this advice!). The next day remove your bandages and the legs will look perfectly white. This really does work and looks more natural than brushing in chalk that day. Stable bandages keep the legs clean over night – the hocks and knees too if you buy the pre shaped pads!.

 Stable Bandages and Pads:

As mentioned above when used overnight with chalk these are brilliant. Make sure yours are the non elasticated fleece kind and bandage firmly to reduce the risk of them being removed. There are a variety of pads on the market but those that come pre designed in the shape of the legs are excellent as they cover the hocks and knees.

 Barrier Animal Healthcare Grass and Stable Stain Remover:

In this weather an all over wash just really is not practical particularly when animals are clipped. Which leaves you with the question of what to do when you end up with a horse with washed white legs, belly and tail and a yellowed looking head and neck? This is where this product comes in – Apply, rub in and then rub out. It is also brilliant for removing last minute stable stains in the morning. I have found that it works brilliantly when used with baby wipes – squirt onto baby wipes, rub onto skin and rub vigorously – stains will vanish onto the baby wipes. This was used this weekend on the horse’s yellowy looking head and made a huge difference.

 Pantene Conditioner:

After washing the tail, apply this and leave in for a few minutes then wash out – tail will be like silk, easy to brush out and leave you with no broken tail hairs. Costing a couple of euro in your local shop you really can’t go wrong. Use the intensive conditioner sachets on really dry or fuzzy hair. I also use this on the grey connemara’s long mane for showing. It takes her thick hair from fizzy to silky soft. Just a word of warning – do not use this on a mane or tail you plan to plait – you will not have any grip at all!!

 Eqyss Survivor Detangler:

Grey for all colours of horses and for using on wet or dry tails. This product smells just amazing – to the point where people started smelling my horse last time it was used! It’s a smooth silky gel and a little goes a long way. Apply to the tail and brush through to end up with soft and tangle free hair. The effects will last several days. This is just perfect for using when the tail is clean but knotted and you don’t want to have to wash it or risk breaking hairs when you brush it. Unlike some mane and tail products this does not coat the hair but brings out a natural shine.

 Face and Neck Hoods:

There are a huge variety of these on the market at the moment so whatever brand you go for this will make things much easier! Fastening under the girth area and covering the neck and face leaving ears and eye holes. These prevent stable stains over night. If you plait down the mane the night before, these have the added bonus of keeping the mane clean and the plaits in place. Definitely worth the investment.

 Undersheets:

Putting a cotton under-sheet which is on the large side underneath your stable rug can help keep a stomach clean over night. Put the sheet on then the stable rug. When fastening the stable rug cross over straps make sure first that the under-sheet meets in the middle so the stomach is covered. If your stable rug already meets in the middle you are grand but many don’t!

 Fleece Bandage:

As well as using these on the legs, I also use one on the tail. It could be unsafe to leave a tail bandage on overnight, but there is no harm in bandaging the tail below the dock as you will just be affecting the hair. I plait the tail up, fold over and then bandage the part below the dock with a fleece bandage. It keeps the tail clean over night. Plus, the next morning, you can add an elasticated tail bandage before travelling to the top of the tail covering the dock and meeting the fleece bandage – these means that the entire tail is kept clean in the horse box too. You can buy specifically made tail bags for leaving over night and travelling but the fleece bandage will do the trick on a budget – it’s done me for years!

 Baby Wipes:

Possibly the most universally used product when it comes to horses and riders – it’s worth always having a pack in your kit or car. Baby wipes are great for everything from removing stains, rubbing over the face to getting chalk powder off your hands!