trailridngal - 2011-03-09 6:01 PM
I am borrowing this from our local riding organization. "NEKSAG"..these are posted on their homepage. I have tried a few of these recipes...especially the first one.. (works great). Other nifty ideas below.
*To remove manure stains*
1 bottle of rubbing alcohol
1 bottle of water
1/8 cup of GREEN Palmolive Dish Soap
(HAS to be the GREEN one!!!!)
Mix in a spray container -Spray on the manure stain spot then wipe with a damp well wrung out sponge.
Rinse sponge clean and wipe again. The stain should come right out. If it is REALLY bad you might need to apply the remover once more. I made up this recipe after guessing what was in an expensive store product and we used this on two pure white geldings for years before their shows - it worked like magic!
You must rinse your sponges nice and clean as you go though, a dirty sponge
on a white spot will leave a yellow tinge!!
*Homemade Show Sheen Recipe*
1/4 (one quarter) cup hair conditioner
1/4 (one quarter) cup baby oil
2 tablespoons vinegar (to keep flies away, this is optional)
1/4 (one quarter) cup water
Mix and use as you would any other store-bought spray.
*Homemade Fly Spray for Horses #1*
Mix equal parts of the following:
Cider Vinegar
Dawn Blue dish soap *
Water
Mix ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well and use as you would any fly spray.
*Homemade Fly Spray for Horses #2*
Mix the following:
1 cup white distilled vinegar
1 cup Water
1/3 cup Dawn dish soap (blue, not ultra) *
Mix ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well and use as you would any fly spray.
***NOTE: Dawn Dishwashing does contain formaldehyde. If you wish to substitute a non-formaldehyde dish soap, this would work just as well. Lemon Brite is one.
*Homemade Fly Spray for Horses #3*
2 cups white vinegar
1 cup Avon Skin So Soft (Bath oil)
1 cup water
1 tablespoon eucalyptus oil
Mix ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well and use as you would any fly spray.
Homemade Mane & Tail Detangler*
Calgon Bath Oil Beads (dry); Water
Mix the Calgon with water - one part Calgon to three parts water. Store in a spray bottle. It will help recondition your horse's mane and tail. It also works well on knots. Apply liberally and work the knot out with a comb or stiff brush.
Homemade Saddle Soap*
2 bars of glycerin soap (available at Bath & Body Works)
¼ cup milk
1/3 cup Lexol Leather Conditioner
Place all ingredients in microwaveable plastic container. Microwave until goopy and stir well. Smooth out the top and place in the freezer for several hours until hardened. unscented/scented and dyed glycerin soap works fine.
*Sweet Feed Apples*
3 apples
1 cup sweet feed
1/2 cup Molasses
Core and Slice apples into approximately 1/2 inch slices. Set aside on wax paper. In a bowl mix sweet feed and molasses thoroughly. Spoon sweet feed mixture into the center of each apple slice. Refrigerate until firm.
*Horse Cookies*
1 cup Margarine
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup bran
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced apples
Cream margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, bran and baking soda, and blend into creamed mixture. Stir in oats, carrots and apples. Drop by spoonfuls onto un-greased baking
sheets and bake in a moderate oven (350 F - 190 C) for 10 - 12 minutes, until lightly browned. This makes about 4-dozen cookies.
*Wound Care*
A past buyer of these instructions gave me this recipe for treating superficial wounds and less severe cuts. I have not personally tried it, but she has!
Mix equal parts:
Skin So Soft by Avon (to keep away bugs)
Listerine Mouth Wash (to kill germs)
Then just spray onto the affected area. She says it works like a charm helps heal things much faster.
*A few other tips*: Use Dawn dishwashing detergent the original blue formula, not ultra, to bathe your horse. It works great, makes him shine,and is really cheap!
Faster Bathing Idea: When I give my horses baths, I mix my shampoo w/ a little water in a big spray bottle. Then, after I wet them down, I take my spray bottle in one hand, and my soft rubber curry in the other (the pink soft Grooma works great). I can spray on the soap and scrub them all over in record time without all the bending and soapy water running up my arms. Note: Do NOT spray the soap directly on their faces.
When giving your horse a soap bath, rinsing with white vinegar will help to
remove the soap. Vinegar will also serve as a fly repellent.
Put half a cup of fabric softener and pine cleaner in a small bucket of hot water. Wring out a rub rag in this mixture and use it to remove dust, dirt and germs from the coat. This solution will also soften the coat and leave a great shine. Be very careful so not to get in eyes, ears, etc. You may want to test this on a small spot in case of irritation, but I have never had any problems with this.
Equal parts vinegar and water will take out ma nure stains. It is VERY important for white & gray horses.
A little baby oil in warm water is a good cleaner for the under tail area of a mare. It cleans them and softens the area. It is REALLY good for dirty mares.
Use a five-gallon bucket for saddle racks. Take the handle off and nail them to the wall with a few nails on the inside of the bucket so the opening faces out. They keep the saddle in the correct position and the "cubby" inside makes a wonderful place to stash your grooming gear!
*To Cover Scars and Bite Marks* Cover scars and bite marks with an oil pastel stick or artist chalk.
Folks on-line