Smarten up your horse; shampoos, washes and wipes on test
Competition time is in full swing, meaning whatever discipline you compete in, your horse needs to be clean and shining. Our dedicated panel members have been out in all weathers testing various products and here are just some of those featured in the June issue of Equine....
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
NAF – Show Off Shampoo
The company says: For all the dirty horses and ponies in the world, who would really like to be clean and smart, we have created this fabulous shampoo which not only cleans deeper and shines brighter, it smells wonderful too! So to make your show horse showier, your black horse blacker, your white horse whiter and all others in between simply more dazzling, just add to your water and work up the suds. 500ml. RRP: £7.99. www.naf-equine.eu/uk
Our tester, Pam Harrison, says: Well the sunny warm day came and our little stallion Tio was (I think!) looking forward to a bath to help him get rid of more winter coat and associated scurf and dirt – and neither of us was disappointed. I used surprisingly little of this shampoo, mixing it into warm water first and applying it with a soft, pliable plastic ‘curry comb’ brush to the whole coat. Having wet his mane and tail with dilute shampoo, I rubbed in a little more, neat from the bottle, with my hands, then rinsed off all of him, from ears to hooves. All done in half an hour, which is not bad for bathing a rather dirty horse – even if he did stand quietly. So the verdict from me? Easy to use, definitely does the job and amazingly economical. As for Tio – he went bouncing back out into the field ..... and rolled!!!
HySHINE – Magic Dazzle Whitening Shampoo
The company says: A fast acting shampoo with an innovative whitening enhancing formula to make those white areas really dazzle! Not only does this shampoo combat yellowing hair (perfect for getting rid of those morning stable stains), it contains a fusion of avocado, lavender and wheat germ extracts to protect and restore the coat to a healthy texture. One of six revolutionary takes on coat care for your horse to help keep your horse gleaming and looking at his very best. 500ml. RRP: £6.80. www.hy-equestrian.com
Our tester, Johanna Buckley, says: My first impression was that this looked interesting, and was from a recognised company. The bottle was well labelled and the purple colour was very eye-catching but having used it, to be honest, I wasn't hugely impressed. It was very ‘lavendery’ which isn't my favourite smell and it was a little thin in consistency. This meant that it was easy to use a bit too much on application, so on a yard full of horses like ours, you would soon use a lot of it. However the horses did look clean and shiny, and it did work very well on white socks, so I have recommended it, but I don’t think I will be replacing it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Absorbine – Show Sheen® 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner
The company says: Contains Pro-Vitamins to help nourish the skin and strengthen hair. It deep cleans and conditions in one step to leave hair soft, strong and manageable without stripping natural oils and revitalizes and brightens the coat and the handy safety lid prevents spillages. 591ml. RRP: 9.79. www.absorbine.co.uk
Our tester, Rachel Thomas, says: The first thing I noticed was just how nice this smelt. The bottle is a handy sizes and the top is a great design and is limits waste and spillage. It did a great job making the horses look clean and shiny, and I didn’t have to use too much of it either. It’s a great product that I particularly liked, but with several horses, especially grey ones, I would get through quite a lot of it, so I’m not sure how cost effective it would be. Personally I’m more of a 50p supermarket own brand kind of person!!
RECOMMENDED
Horse & Pony Direct – Shampoo
The company says: The Horse and Pony Direct Shampoo is an easy to use product that will keep your horse or pony’s coat shiny, healthy and clean. Its concentrated formula has been developed so that it is ideal for every day, routine use and leaves the coat feeling silky and clean every time. 1ltr. RRP: £6.99. www.horseandponydirect.com
Our tester, Rob Williams, says: Have to say we all rather like this shampoo at Glenwood. We are so into our new wash box that quite a few stallions etc. are regularly having baths, mane and tail washes so we are going through shampoos quite quickly and this one is now quite a favourite here. It really seems to move the dirt and grease and creates a good lather but is easy to rinse so no need to rinse and rinse - and rinse to get rid of the soap which is a boon. It also leaves a silky feel to the skin and they look clean. This is a definite must for the showing season here as we have also Connemara’s here, who are not easy to keep clean!
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
NAF – Plait It Up
The company says: Keep wisps and strays at bay and create perfect, show stopping plaits every time with Plait it Up. Prepare to be PERFECT! 500ml. RRP: £9.99. www.naf-equine.eu/uk
Our tester, Emma Woolley, says: I've always wanted to try plaiting spray but have never done so as I have always thought that water would do the same job. However, now that I have tried this product I have realised I was completely wrong! The spray firstly gives a very non slip feeling in your hands whilst doing the actual plait. When you have finished sewing or banding up it is extremely effective at stopping any fraying and keeps those random short bits of hair neatly tucked into the plait. It also leaves a beautiful shiny finish and I have to say that now I can't imagine plaiting up without it! It is also perfect for plaiting up the night before as the plaits keep their shape.
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