Washing Faces....Best way??

[LD1129]

So my gelding gets a lovely allergy/fungus on his face during the summer that causes him to lose hair. I have to wash and dry his face after every ride so that the sweat does not dry ect. I use a face shampoo recommended by the vet that works great however my horse and I are both hating this routine and could use some tips on making this easier on both of us!

I have tried the light mist feature on the hose and holding it close so that it doesn't spray in his eyes and he hates that. So right now we dampen a cloth and run it over his face, add a tiny bit of special shampoo and rub that in, I then rinse the cloth and try to get the shampoo out then towel dry. Sometimes to get all the shampoo out I have to wipe his face with the wet cloth about four or more times and I was just wondering what everyone else does :)

Does anyone have an easier way??

[Tilly]

It's easier depending on your horse :lol:
My girl used to hate having her face washed, but now she stands there very nicely for it. This is what I do:
1. Spray horse's entire head, with setting on shower or something similarly mild [mist takes too long to do a good job]
2. Soap up icky spots
3. Rinse 1-3 times depending on how much soap was used
I use a very mild equine shampoo that doesn't sting. [I know this because I once got some of it in my own eyes]

You can also try using a big body sponge. Some horses like it, some don't, but it will be more effective than a washcloth ;)

[Simkie]

Would he be happier with a wet sponge? I'd think it would make rinsing easier than with a cloth.

[LD1129]

Would he be happier with a wet sponge? I'd think it would make rinsing easier than with a cloth.

I have used both, whatever is clean and in the washstall :lol: I may just have to teach him to deal with the hose on his face as the above poster said.

[ImJumpin]

While I suppose people might blast me for being a big meanie to my horse-- I find a hose to be the best-- yes, they don't like it, but it takes 30 seconds to get a good rinse opposed to struggling with them for 5 minutes with a sponge/towel/etc.

[WorthTheWait95]

Yea, I just set the hose on 'shower' and spray it sort of up so that it rains down on their heads. Some horses really hate it at first but all of mine have at least learned to tolerate it if not enjoy it after a while. It's the only way to get a truly clean head IMO. I have a horse that gets the same skin crud every summer and it's the only way to control it. The wet sponge method just seemed to spread it around.

[deltawave]

A short ladder or step-stool, and just have at it. Really, horses that enjoy this are pretty uncommon and most of them would really prefer you didn't. But if it must be done, just assume the position and get it over with. Being up high really, really makes it easier for you.

[LD1129]

Thanks everyone! He will just have to learn to deal with it. I am short so I'll grab a mounting block and get him from above :cool:

[pines4equines]

I really don't spray faces at all. I bought a terrific wash mitt made from sheepskin and use that. It holds the water well and I try to make it pleasurable to the animals. And, always use warm water. Your horse will come around if it feels good. And, don't rush either, take your time.

Also, Epona makes this little curry called the Gummy or something. It is a wonderful curry for their faces. If you can get into the habit of currying your horse's face everyday and then brushing that goo away, it might stem some of the fungus.

My horses LOVE having their faces curried, brushed, etc. and will turn their heads to me to have them brushed. I can carry a curry or brush and all will turn to face me for their brushing...

[jetsmom]

I am the master of getting horses to let me wash their faces with a hose. Even ones that people say "hate it". I don't seem to have any problem with them. I might ride like a monkey and look like crap on a horse, but I can get their faces washed! Here's what I do- (in wash stall w/halter and lead, but not tied)
Take a hose with a spray nozzle, on the "shower" setting and wet neck and chest (avoids the shock of cold water hitting their skin while doing the face. Then spray lower jaw, making sure you are aiming nozzle downwards. Then do muzzle. Then, standing on a mounting block if needed, do back of jaw, and move nozzle above eye, towards top of the forehead, spraying downward. The key is to make sure the spray doesn't go up near ears. I usually rub the center of their forehead, and over the eye, while spraying. Once the horse figures out that you aren't going to get water in their ears, they are usually pretty good.
It's important to have good enough balance and control that you can follow the horse's head so you don't get water in their ears, don't bang them on the head with the hose, and don't stop spraying just because they moved their head. Once they let me do their face on one side, I give them a treat and do the other side.


If you really don't want to mess with it, try filling a spray bottle with water and using that. Cover the eye w/your hand when spraying.

Good luck.

[Dirty Little Secret]

I use a wash cloth and wet first, then suds up and may use my fingers to scrub the soap in or even a plastic mitt. Then either use the wash cloth to rinse or be a meanie and squirt them in the face.

[amastrike]

I spray my horse in the face to get him wet, then use a wet soapy sponge to apply the shampoo and rub it in. Depending on how mean I'm feeling, I'll either spray his face again to rinse, or I'll rinse the sponge out really well and then soak up lots of water with it and squeeze it over his face. The sponge rinse takes quite a while, though. I usually just hose his face. I then make sure I do not ride that day, because he holds a fairly long grudge after enduring such torture :lol:.

[psychurmine]

A lot of times those fungus issues are due to worms. Ivermectin may help.

Otherwise lift hose-spray head.

[pines4equines]

Jetsmom said: "I might ride like a monkey and look like crap on a horse, but I can get their faces washed!"

Arh, arh!

[esdressage]

My horse loves having her face sponged. If I rub and massage her face with the sponge while I'm washing it, she REALLY loves it, especially after a good, sweaty workout. If it feels good, they'll like it and it'll be easy to do. Most horses really hate getting their face sprayed, so even if it only takes a matter of seconds, they're going to grow to dread it and be more difficult.

I had a horse who also got fungus unless I washed his face after every ride. Some horses are just more prone to it than others.

[Fireangel]

Take the hose, Kink it about three feet from nozzle. Start with a little stream going up there neck and in between their ears. Let water run down the front of their face. Should make horse more comfortable.

[welshrider]

My mare also gets a fungal type infection on her face during the summer -- what shampoos have you found work best? I have been using the Equiss something or other shampoo for fungal infections and applying a tea tree oil mix afterward. Does anybody have a better protocol for dealing with this problem?

[Puddin Pie]

there is a wipe product on the market for fungus/rain rot etc that looks like handi wipes. I can't remember the name, but it came in a zipper type bag. That might solve your problem with out having to actually scrub and rinse.

[lauriep]

First, I never hose their faces, unless they are one of the rare ones who enjoy waterworks on their heads. Second, I teach them the command "Head Down," as I am short and they are all tall. Then, I use just a sponge with whatever I need to shampoo with and scrub as needed. Finally, I rinse, still using the command, with plain water with vinegar, which cuts the soap residue and has some anti-fungal properties. Once rinsed, I wring thesponge out and wipe the face to eliminate drips. Done!

[flea]

I either use a sponge or I take the sprayer off of the hose. I turn the water on to a very slow stream. Then I proceed about like Jets Mom. With just the water slowly streaming out of the hose I can wash and rinse pretty much all of their faces.

[Seven-up]

Take the hose, Kink it about three feet from nozzle. Start with a little stream going up there neck and in between their ears. Let water run down the front of their face. Should make horse more comfortable.



Yup, this.:yes:

[Simbalism]

MY mare used to hate having her face washed. I would just hose face with it set on "dribble", starting low on the face and gradually working up. Over time, I was able to work towards more water pressure and more surface area of face hosed. My girl has actually gotten so she loves having her face rubbed with a towel after it is washed.

[LD1129]

I use Malaseb Shampoo. You can buy it at any small animal vet (Its for cats/dogs/horses). It is not heavy, no perfume and works amazing on small areas of fungus. It was recommended by my vet and really does work wonders. :yes:


My mare also gets a fungal type infection on her face during the summer -- what shampoos have you found work best? I have been using the Equiss something or other shampoo for fungal infections and applying a tea tree oil mix afterward. Does anybody have a better protocol for dealing with this problem?

[Lori B]

I tend to agree with those who say that most horses don't want water on their heads no matter how dainty and careful you are of their ears. My girl sticks her nose to the sky whenever I think about getting her head wet. Washing her face is never completed without me getting water, dirt, and horse shampoo all the way up both of my sleeves. Lovely.

I think just get 'er done quickly but gently. I use one sponge for soaping, another for rinsing, since horse marginally more tolerant of water from sponge than water from hose.

[bort84]

Take the hose, Kink it about three feet from nozzle. Start with a little stream going up there neck and in between their ears. Let water run down the front of their face. Should make horse more comfortable.

Yeah, this is what I tend to do. If you can get a nice steady stream going that's not too strong, you can put your hand up at the top of their head/poll and run the stream between their ears. That gets the head nice and wet to start, then you can move around the face a bit. If you're careful about not getting anything in their eyes and ears, they will usually learn to tolerate this. Then I just rub off the soap with my hand or with one of those nice soft little jelly curries while running the water directly above where my hand is.

A sponge with LOTS of water can also rinse pretty well.

If all else fails, and he has a dirty face that must be cleaned - stand back and spray... I try to use a lighter nozzle setting (like shower) so they aren't getting blasted. And, like others said, if you can get up a little higher, it makes it easier to avoid ears and such (and the dreaded wet armpit effect...)

[Gloria]

Warm water or cold water? None of my horses will stand cold water on their faces but even the fussy one stand quite nicely with warm water running down their faces. As long as I'm careful not to get the water into their ears, they are happy.

[cloudyandcallie]

I use Johnson's no more tears baby shampoo. And I put a find mist sprayer on the end of the hose, spray face lightly and shampoo. Then I promise not to get any water into ears but end up doing so and horse gets furious. I need some kind of ear protector made of waterproof fabric.

[Gloria]

If you try to spray water on your horse's face while facing it, it is very difficult not to get water into the ears (or at least I have found that impossible for me).

What I do is, facing the same direction as your horse do, and place the nozzle between ears on top of the forelocks, point the nozzle down and dripple the water first, gradually increasing the water volumn. This way, the water flow down instead of shooting up onto their faces. I will generally need a stool to stand on for this but it works quite well for me. My horses tolerate or even enjoy this procedure, providing the water is warm that is. Cold water? no way.

[MunchkinsMom]

My mare also gets a fungal type infection on her face during the summer -- what shampoos have you found work best? I have been using the Equiss something or other shampoo for fungal infections and applying a tea tree oil mix afterward. Does anybody have a better protocol for dealing with this problem?

Yup, Equiderma. I don't even wash, just brush well, and apply the lotion, the fungus is gone the next day. I'm not kidding, one day cure. Works great on cannon bone fungus too.

http://www.equiderma.com/fungus.html

[DMK]

I am the master of getting horses to let me wash their faces with a hose....

That's my method as well except I just use a regular spray nozzle and make sure I hold the handle so it only has a light spray. For some strange reason, when a horse figures out you aren't going to blast it in his ears like half the people I see (delightful - stand back and blast your horse in the face and ears with a hose, way to be a horseman, eh?) he's usually pretty good. The only exception is that when I am putting soap on the face I generally use a good rinse sponge and a bucket of rinse water to rinse off the face mostly so I can also use that sponge to clean off excess water in the eyes and clean the ears.

[luvs2ridewbs]

You can train a horse to stand quietly while their face gets hosed. I've done it plenty. Get carrots or whatever your horse likes, and start rewarding the behavior you want. I take the nozzle off the horse and just have a steady warm stream. Its less likely to splash into their ears that way. Get a ladder, put it up their neck and then on their poll. Let water run down face and feed treat. After daily work, it will be no problem.

[welshrider]

Thankyou LD and Munchkin...I'll be trying both products! This is the year I plan to whip the dreaded fungal infections !