Horse (or even dog) people... help w mud.

[Ginevive]

My horses are always rolling in the mud; especially with Emma who is mostly white, this really makes them look hideous. The mud (and let's face it, manure) hardens into their coat and it is not like you can give them a bath in January, in NY... so any ideas on removing it? I use baby wipes on their faces but they are not big enough to use everywhere, and I do try currycombing them and brushing, but the mud prevails and I go in the house with a heavy heart.) So any tips on removing mud from critters in the winter?
Another thing is, how can I better clean out their feet? Not the sole per se, but the back part where it joins with the fetlock? It gets so darned muddy there and it is just so tough.. any helpful ideas?

[sirhissball]

when our horses get winter-time muddy, they just stay that way 'till we get a warm enough day to powerwash them (yes powerwash!). As far as the mud in the hooves, we use chisels, or screwdrivers, or anything sharp and tough...that mud can be almost impossible to clean out. I know that chisels and screwdrivers sound like implements of pain...but as long as you are a bit careful, the horses are fine.

[Ginevive]

Grr; that mud really works its way into there doesn't it? Mainly my problem is that it is soppy wet and I cannot remove it because it just smudges all over whatever brush/rag I try using I am dying to just hose it all out of there, you know?
How do your horses like being powerwashed? I know that my one mare has possibly never had a bath in her life, and I am still thinking of how I am going to get her used to the hose. Of course she sees it now when I am filling her water, but it isn't squirting her! And she is a drama queen too; she will stand on the bank of the little creek they have to cross, when coming in/out of the paddock; she stands there for half an hour, not wanting to get her feet muddy. Then she'll do an on-the-spot bunny hop over it; the weirdo. Our other mare just slogs through it without a care in the world (and the mud, oh it does cling, lol.)

[sirhissball]

ours don't have too much say in the matter..realize that we are dealing with thouroughbred racehorses at our place, so they aren't really pets per say. We just put the short lead on them, attatch it to a post and begin with the spraying. They get used to it after a while...I know of a couple that would much rather get the powerwasher than be escorted to the walker for a couple hours of round and round!

[Shelby]

Once the mud is dry I use a hard brush to get the chunks off.. any manure stains come off real nice with cowboy magic (you should be able to get this at most feed/tack shops) Just let it sit on there for a minute or two.

For the hooves.. get one of the real nice hoof picks, not the ones with the thin little handle, the cunky ones help you have more leverage so you can get the chunks out from around the frog.