Bathe Your Horse Like a Pro
Gather your supplies and find a safe place to wash your horse.
Rinse your horse's entire body, mane, and tail, positioning yourself so he can't strike or kick you. Use a damp sponge or mitt to apply your shampoo of choice- which might range from a shine-enhancing product to a medicated shampoo--following application instructions found on the product label. Some are used full strength and others diluted.
If your horse has white markings, apply bluing shampoo to a sponge or mitt and use it to scrub those areas, again following the manufacturer's instructions. Shampoo the mane and tail, using your fingers to massage it into the hair roots and tail dock.
Some horses tolerate having their faces gently sprayed with water. You can also use a sponge to dampen the face and forelock. If you're not confident you can remove all the soap from your horse's face, skip shampoo and use water only. Use a clean sponge or rag to wash other delicate areas, such as the teats and vulva on a mare or the outside of a gelding's sheath. Rinse the horse's body, mane, and tail to remove shampoo and body wash until all signs of soap and suds are gone. You can use a sweat scraper to remove water so the horse dries quicker.
Apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner to the tail. You might also apply a conditioning spray to the body of horses with dry coats or that get bathed frequently. Apply a cotton scrim sheet or cooler and, if possible, hand-walk the horse while he dries.