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  Discussion on White horse with c**p coloured tail
Author Message
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Thursday, Oct 3, 2002 - 12:28 pm:

Dear friends

My new horse is grey. Wrong colour... actually she's nearly white but you know what I mean. Problem is, the bottom half of her tail is what you would politely call dark golden. It seems to be staining from urine and faeces (this is a mare that likes to lie on the stuff whenever possible).

I've tried washing it several times with Carr Day & Martin shampoo for white horses etc. but it's not getting any better. Any suggestions (other than peroxide...)

Thanks

Imogen
Member:
Maureen

Posted on Thursday, Oct 3, 2002 - 3:20 pm:

The brand "Cowboy Magic" has a spray-on product that is formulated to remove manure/urine from grey or white horses. I don't think you have to rinse it out.
Member:
Sefiroth

Posted on Thursday, Oct 3, 2002 - 4:04 pm:

There's also a product called Quic Silver, and a similar product made by Farnham called Show Clean that are GREAT for getting white horses white. You shampoo with it, leave it on a bit, then rinse off. It gets stains out of white and makes whites whiter with out using harsh peroxide. I personally prefer the Show Clean as its a bit cheaper, and has a great apple scent.

I've used both on drafts with white manes, tails, socks and/or bodies to get stains out and to brighten them up for weddings or working out on the streets. To get them really clean you must let the shampoo sit a for a bit before rinsing it out. Cant stress that enough. Too many people were rinsing the shampoo out too soon at my barn for it to do much good.

~Sharon

Member:
Equus

Posted on Thursday, Oct 3, 2002 - 4:12 pm:

I always had buckskins and bays so I've never had to clean a white tail. However, a friend of mine who has a palomino uses Cheer laundry detergent. He applies it from the dock down, and lets it sit a little bit. Bright white when done. Whatever method or product you decide to use to get it clean, you might want to invest in a little "tail bag" with a fly swisher on the end so you don't have to fool with it so often. :-)
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Monday, Oct 7, 2002 - 9:39 am:

Thanks all. I find the Carr Day and Martin works perfectly OK on stains anywhere else except her tail so I imagine it's quite similar to Cowboy Magic/Show Clean etc.

If you think about it, the bits of her tail towards the end have probably been getting stained for 3-4 years since that's how long it takes for a tail hair to grow... I think the tail is "clean", it's just that clean ain't white because the tail hairs have actually become dyed in some way.

I shall see if our tack shops here in Ireland can get any of the products you mention, if not I may have to come to an arrangement with someone to buy me some in the US and post it...

Thanks again for all your suggestions.

Imogen
Member:
Maureen

Posted on Monday, Oct 7, 2002 - 10:37 am:

Maybe we should ask Heloise?
Member:
Chrism

Posted on Monday, Oct 7, 2002 - 4:40 pm:

To get the yellow out, I've seen animal folks use:

Mrs. Smith's blueing (in the laundry section of your grocer)

Shampoo for gray haired ladies

Shampoo for gray haired horses

The same folks who make Show Sheen make a product called Show Clean that works very well for whitening dingey white.

Sprinkling corn starch on white socks can brighten them up in shows.

Cheers.
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 8, 2002 - 12:07 am:

Chris is right! Blueing that you use for your yellowed laundry does work and the shampoo for little old ladies always did a good job.
Member:
Ntucket

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2002 - 4:17 pm:

I agree with Sharon above, I had great luck with Show Clean, but you had to leave it in a while. I'd heavily lather the tail (and the ankles), tie the tail in a knot and leave it until the rest of the horse was washed (loved QuicSilver for the bod), rinsing it out last.
Also, I don't know if this is appropriate for your discipline, but routinely trimming the ends so the tail ends were blunt made the off-white less noticeable. The untrimmed, tapered tail really brings the eye to the progressive staining at the end.
Good luck!!
Member:
Juliem

Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 10:33 pm:

Well, to continue with this old thread.....I heard from a friend to use Oxyclean (the household product for laundry and carpet stains, etc.)to remove the "green" from a white tail. What do you think? The Oxyclean product I have doesn't have listed ingredients, but it sure cleans up carpet stains! If it would work like that on my paint colt's tail I'd be thrilled! How about the rest of his coat and his mane?
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 3:25 am:

Well, the horse's tail is still c**p coloured. I haven't found anything that really works, I'm afraid... but as it's showing season, if I can get about 100lbs of serious fat off her I will have to readdress this problem and will keep you posted.

All the best

Imogen
Member:
Jerre

Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 11:43 am:

Imogen, this month's Horse Journal has a recipe just for this; here it is briefly:

Wash tail with gentle human shampoo and rinse.

Pour white vinegar directly onto the tail below the dock and let sit for 10 minutes. Wash the vinegar out and wash off the rump and back legs.

Use QuicSilver horse shampoo full strength and leave on 10 minutes, then rinse.

Put a capful of liquid blueing (for laundry) in a half cup of human shampoo and work into the tail. Leave on for 5 minutes and rinse out with cold water.

Apply human hair conditioner for five minutes and rinse out.

Then they suggest QuicSilver once a week for maintenance. They also suggest spot checking the ingredients and waiting 24 hours to make sure your horse doesn't have a reaction to anything.

Good luck! (Both my horses have dark tails :-) )
Member:
Penner

Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 7:47 pm:

Years ago in Pony Club, we made a thick wet paste of corn starch & water to get out the greenish yellow manure stains on white or grey horses. When it dries, just brush it out.

Hair on the tail probably has a thicker cuticle, so thats maybe why it takes longer for things to penetrate. May have to repeat your treatment several times??

At least this is a pretty cheap way to start. Good luck.
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 11:33 am:

thick wet paste of cornstarch and peroxide - let dry - brush out
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 8, 2005 - 6:31 pm:

I have found that if you get a couple of packets of any type of chelating treatment for human hair ( removes chemicals etc)it's stronger than vinegar or baking soda and found at any beauty supply, it takes the nice yellow colors out. Make sure you condition really good afterwards.
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