Winter is Coming - EP.3: Bathing & Blanketing

Winter in the Barn

It’s here, people. The icy cold winds, the half frozen pastures, frosty mornings spent breaking icy buckets. Evenings in a frigid arena realizing we REALLY can’t feel our toes anymore. Ahhh, winter in the barn.

Winter can come with holiday perks. Presents. A vacation somewhere warm. Gatherings with family and friends. But it can be  a royal pain for horse owners. Unless you travel south, you’re stuck with the sleet, ice, snow, frosty mud. And one dirty, stinky horse.

Can you Bathe a Horse in the Winter?

Many horse owners wait for the first warm spring day to give their horse the first bath of the year. And for good reason! Who the heck wants to give a cold bath when it’s below freezing? It's NEVER advised to wash a horse in winter!

We know that dirty coat texture and smell all too well. Our fingernails are BLACK grime after giving your horse a good scratch. They smell like ripe manure and mud. So we brush, use spray shampoos, and dream about spring days. Or living somewhere else.

Take the inability to bathe and mix it with blanketing for months...  and you have one smelly horse.

Blanketing Horses in the Winter

But it’s not just a stinky pony you have to worry about. It’s what might be hiding under that blanket. Because blanketing is needed for clipped horses, this can be a pain. Also, many owners in wet climates use blankets or sheets to keep their horse dry during turnout. And the risk that comes with blanketing horses is the development of bacteria or fungus on the coat.

Bacteria and fungus thrive in warm, moist conditions. And a horse’s coat is the perfect home for these during the winter months. And the blanket or sheet can remain on for an extended period of time, and it grows worse. because there's no sunlight or air to help control these colonies, they grow. Add mud, rain and a changing climate... and you have the perfect place for these microscopic friends. Just the guests you wanted for the holiday, right?

How to Keep Your Horse Clean this Winter

Avoid another battle of the funk, gunk, grime and stink this winter. How? COAT DEFENSE®. Ease the holiday stress and give yourself peace of mind this with COAT DEFENSE® daily PREVENTATIVE POWDER.If you read Episode One or Episode Two, you know COAT DEFENSE®can knock out mud fever and rain rot. But the wonders of this stuff doesn’t end there. It extends to a multitude of equine skin needs. Including winter bathing and under the blanket protection!

What's COAT DEFENSE®?

COAT DEFENSE® daily PREVENTATIVE POWDERis an all natural solution with no harsh chemicals. And it’s non-toxic, working to create a dry environment, which prevents bacterial and fungal growth. Because they need moisture to thrive, bacteria and fungus can't survive with COAT DEFENSE®. This bottles of wonders is a grooming aid that keeps your horse’s coat shiny, clean and healthy during those dreary months.

How does COAT DEFENSE® daily PREVENTATIVE POWDERwork to bathe horses?

COAT DEFENSE® daily PREVENTATIVE POWDERis used as a dry shampoo to bathe horses. And it's perfect for winter when it's too cold to use a hose! Because it's all natural and safe, it's effective to use daily. Even after chilly rides on a sweaty horse to aid in drying.

Kim shows us an example below on a sweaty horse after a cool trail ride…

Simple as that, sprinkle it on, use a curry to rub it in and watch the sweat, dirt and grime disappear. Here are the results…

Can COAT DEFENSE® daily PREVENTATIVE POWDERbe used under blankets?

Yep. An added bonus of COAT DEFENSE® daily PREVENTATIVE POWDER is the anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. Use it under blankets, sheets, coolers, pads, boots and more to prevent the build up of bacteria and fungus.

So rather than worrying this winter, stock up with our Funk Free Fall Package that includes a 10oz TROUBLE SPOT DRYING PASTE and 24 oz PRO SIZE DAILY PREVENTATIVE POWDER to use under horse blankets and dry bathe your horse! The bonus? FREE SHIPPING!