Cleaning the chrome

[Forego]

I have always been a plain bay person,but I fell in love with a chestnut mare with lots of chrome!
What are your favorite tricks [ in the winter when it is to cold to hose]to keep white legs white,right now they are the color of red clay!

[Threedaydream]

In the winter I usually just tell myself to get over it, honestly. :lol:
BUT, if you want them clean with little to no water, the cowboy magic green spot remover works pretty well, and you could just keep all of the white doused in show sheen 24/7

[Keep1Belle]

a little rubbing alcohol in a spray botte and a rub rag works pretty well for the toughest spots.

[JB]

Honestly? Leave them alone for now.

if you have to get them white(ish) for a clinic or something, then really, as long as your hands can stand it, you can wash them. Mild soaps (I use Dynamite, which has oils in it to help not strip out natural oils so much) is great, and so is Ivory (liquid). I've also used Miracle Mist shampoo too and like that a lot.

But other than that, I just leave them alone, maybe washing here and there on warmer days just because it makes things look pretty :lol: After that, once things warm up a little, I wash, clip (long) and wash again, and then it's easier to keep it clean.

And yes, my boy's white legs stay red all Winter too LOL

NO amount of Show Sheen or anything else will keep white legs white when you turn out in red clay. Won't happen. Get used to it :winkgrin:

[scribbles]

keep the whites clipped, and then when you need to go somewhere they will be easier to get clean :D

[Grataan]

I use Quicksilver shampoo and a dab of blueing if I need to get them extra white. In between I wash them as needed, soak with show sheen, and brush out/spot clean with something like the miracle groom or cowboy magic gs remover.

[JB]

keep the whites clipped, and then when you need to go somewhere they will be easier to get clean :D

Whether this is a good idea depends on the maintenance of the horse. It would be a *bad* idea for mine, as he's out all the time, in rain and mud, and the last thing I want is for all that to constantly be on his skin. The thick (well, his is thick) hair serves as protection for his skin.

If the hair is thinner, like on my TB mare (and on my old TB gelding), it's less of an issue to clip, but because there's already less hair, it's by default already easier to clean :)

IME the pink skin on those white legs need more, regular protection than the black skin.

[kookicat]

Just don't look at them until spring. :lol:

[Forego]

Yeah I will try to close my eyes until spring!
I didn't word my post correctly.I really did mean how to clean them up in the winter when needed.
My horses are out 24/7 so keeping anybody clean in the winter [even all my plain bays] is a fantasy.
I lesson at a very fancy DQ barn,so I just need to clean her up when we go there,other times she can be a happy little pig!
Graaten tell me more about how to use the blueing,where do you get it,how do you use it.
I also remember someone using baby powder on white legs,does that work?
Thanks for all your answers.

[JB]

A thorough washing with a good, mild shampoo will do the trick. You can get something like Clairol Shimmerling Lights for gray hay - it has blueing in it. Blueing is what takes the yellow out of gray/white. Just don't leave it in too long - it will also make the white purple/blue!

Baby powder or corn starch can indeed be used to brighten the leg further, but honestly if you just do a good wash, I think that would be good enough for lessons :)

[Perfect Pony]

Whether this is a good idea depends on the maintenance of the horse. It would be a *bad* idea for mine, as he's out all the time, in rain and mud, and the last thing I want is for all that to constantly be on his skin. The thick (well, his is thick) hair serves as protection for his skin.

If the hair is thinner, like on my TB mare (and on my old TB gelding), it's less of an issue to clip, but because there's already less hair, it's by default already easier to clean :)

IME the pink skin on those white legs need more, regular protection than the black skin.

amen...clipping would be the worst thing to do. Leave them alone and deal with them looking dirty, it's better than dealing with the myriad of terrible skin conditions you could be at risk of getting by messing with those white legs.

[Hampton Bay]

I use laundry detergent with bleach alternative. It's a blue base, and the bleach alternative helps remove the stains without being harsh on the skin like bleach is.

The added bonus is that it rinses very easily because it doesn't lather as well as normal shampoo.