he'd get in before it gets dark and i'll be using hot water and putting a cooler on him after but i'm not sure if it's too cold.... however the other day he wouldn't come inside when it was raining and it was in the low 50's but then he didn't get soaked 'cause he had a sheet on...he could really use a bath but i don't want him to get chilled... what would you do if he was yours?
2007-10-30 07:13:33 · 13 answers · asked by Lizzy 4 in Pets ➔ Horses
I wouldn't think twice about it. That's warm enough especially if you are using hot water and have a cooler. You could always then take him back out into the sun and let him hand graze which will prevent him getting chilled and help him dry quicker.
2007-10-30 07:18:58 · answer #1 · answered by lisa m 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
just as important as ambient temperature is wind. Is it breezy?
More importantly, why do you want to bathe him right now? Are you getting ready for a show? if that's the case, then ok go ahead and bathe him - but dry him off quickly - with a dryer if possible - rug him and then stall him in deep, clean bedding.
If it's only because you think he's dirty - I'd not bathe him. The dirt horses roll around in is essential for bringing up skin oils etc. much like a dry shampoo - that bathing takes away. Those oils are essential for keeping his skin in good condition and for making his coat water resistent during the cold rains.
Speaking of dry shampoo - consider using that if he's really grimy - otherwise, hang up the hose until next summer - or at least until the night before a show.
2007-10-30 08:01:30 · answer #2 · answered by Barbara B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats just fine. Warm water and a warm cooler to dry off with? Be just like going in the hot tub, 63 and sunny is ok if you ask me. I'd do it! Be sure to use a sweat scrapper and get the excess water off before putting on the cooler!
2007-10-30 07:27:58 · answer #3 · answered by short_angel_101 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At this late point, if you were gonna bathe him, you probably already have. I would if he were mine with no qualms. I've given baths when it was pretty derned chilly for me, yet my guy would just stand there and not shiver a bit....just give me the "C'mon mom....hurry up with my blankie and my dinner" look. Now, myself, I probably wouldn't bathe just to bathe, but if I were going to be riding and the horse is a mudball, then I'd go ahead and do it.
2007-10-30 14:20:38 · answer #4 · answered by twhrider 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give him a bath but be quick about, use hot water and dry him off afterwards. He'll be fine so long as you don't leave him wet. A cooler would be alright, but drying him off would be better.
2007-10-30 07:34:09 · answer #5 · answered by Flugel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd definitely wait to give him a bath. Horses are fragile animals and could easily get sick, even when you give them a bath in cooler weather. Just brush him---Giving a horse a bath is not completely needed -- Horses survive in the wild w/o even being brushed! -- So I would wait to give your horse a bath until it is at least in the mid-upper 80's.
2007-10-30 08:14:26 · answer #6 · answered by asb.punkin 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not knowing where ya are, makes it kinda tuff to answer. Also is he clipped?
Of course it goes without saying that ya need to make sure all the excess is scraped off w/ the sweat scraper....and ya might want to toss a cooler on and walk him dry, or turn him out.
Of course tpp, tack shops often carry waterless shampoo products...myself have never tried one tho, so I can't vouch for their effectiveness.
2007-10-30 09:28:27 · answer #7 · answered by Tira A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you would be fine to give him a bath today....i have bathed my horses in about the same weather and i don't even have heated water to bath them with....give him a bath and then just take a sweat scraper and kind of squeegee him off.....if he is a good healthy horse he will be fine
2007-10-30 07:23:42 · answer #8 · answered by oklafirefighter764 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He might get chilled so I would not do it, even with the cooler, its not advisable at this temperature unless you have a wash rack with heaters.
2007-10-30 08:17:37 · answer #9 · answered by dressage.rider 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he'll be ok, just make sure he doesnt stand in a breeze, put him in his stall afterwards and he will be just fine. i live in WA and 63 is warm........LOL. the biggest problem with chills, is a wind/breeze. so either do it during the day if it isnt windy and its sunny, or just put him in his stall.
2007-10-30 08:24:17 · answer #10 · answered by nwcowgirl024 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋