Horse Care Secrets

Home Made Body Wash

2005-08-28T14:14:00.000-04:00

Home Made Body Wash

Below is a recipe for a body wash that is economical and works well.

Equal parts
-rubbing alcohol (I like to use the wintergreen scented variety)
-antiseptic mouthwash
-small amount of green soap (1 Tbsp per quart of body wash)

Mix and store in plastic bottles.

To use, mix about 1-2 cups in 4-5 gallons of water. Sponge on liberally, then scrape off with a sweat scraper.

Do not apply undiluted body wash.

As always, check with your veterinarian before trying any new product.

Rain Rot Remedy

2005-08-28T13:53:00.000-04:00

Rain Rot Remedy

In the steamy humid summer months fighting rain rot on your horse's coat, legs, and face can be a constant battle. The greasy, scabby pest is not only unsightly, but painful for your horse. Below is an inexpensive and easy to use formula given to me by a veterinarian in Louisiana that really works!

equal parts
- pine type disinfectant (or any scent)
- astringent mouthwash (any flavor)
- mix and store in plastic bottle

To use, thoroughly wet down your horse with water.

You may either mix about a cup of the soapy solution in about 2 gallons of water to wash your horse's body, or apply it directly to particularly scabby or greasy areas, such as the legs. Use a gentle brush, soft rubber groomer, or your fingers to gently cleanse the area and remove the scurf and scabs.

Rinse thoroughly with clear water, making sure no suds are left on the body when you sweat scrape off the excess water.

When your horese's coat dries, it should actually feel soft and silky.

This can be repeated as needed, treating your horse up to every other day.

Always be sure to check with your own veterinarian before using this remedy.

Electrolytes for your horse

2005-08-25T14:14:00.000-04:00

Electrolytes are minerals that are vital for the horse's nervous system to function properly. They are depleated by sweating, so it's important to make sure your horse is getting the electrolytes he needs when his work causes him to sweat a lot and especially during the summer months.

The minerals that are in electrolytes are sodium chloride (salt), potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Salt is easy to provide and many feeds and legume hays are good sources of calcium. Potassium is the mineral most electrolyte supplements are low in.

You can make your own source of electrolytes very inexpensively. My veterinarian suggests using potassium chloride. It is the salt/mineral combination used in water softeners and can be found in most home improvement stores in the water conditioner department. It's available in bulk, so your supply will last a long time!

To prepare the potassium chloride for feeding, you need to crush it because it comes in rather large hard chunks. First, put some of the chunks in a small bucket or plastic container. Those little ones that supplements come in work well. Pound the chunks into tiny pieces with the butt end of a hammer. Put the tiny pieces in a zip closure freezer bag. The freezer bag has greater thickness and strength than a regular storage or sandwich bag. Now pulverize the bagged chunks with the hammer into a powder. Store in a dry place until ready for use.

My vet recommends 1 to 2 oz. (1 to 2 Tbsp.) in the feed per day, depending on the heat, humidity, and the horse's work load.

Always check with your veterinarian before trying new supplements.