Winter Coat, Be Gone: Your Spring Coat Reset
Spring is here. Unfortunately, some horses haven’t received the memo.
Whether you have a delicate Thoroughbred dropping a light dusting of hair, a miniature pony impersonating a yak, or a saddle pad that appears to have grown its own coat, this is our practical, no-faff plan for shifting the winter fluff and bringing back the shine.
The secret isn’t one miracle product. It’s doing things in the right order:
Shed. Wash. Lift the scurf. Polish.
Step 1: Shift the winter fluff
The everyone-and-everything option
The Hairy Pony Horse Grooming Block is one of those inexpensive little tools that earns its place in every grooming kit.
It is gentle enough for a delicate Thoroughbred, effective on a moulting miniature pony and brilliant for lifting loose hair from saddle pads. We’ve also used it on cat fur and just about anything else that appears to be wearing more hair than it should.
Use the block in short strokes over the coat, following the direction of the hair. Clean it as you go and let the small silicone nodules do the work—there is no need to scrub your horse into next Tuesday.
Got a genuine yeti?
If your horse, pony or miniature has a seriously thick winter coat, the Hairy Pony Metal Shedding Brush is fabulous for tackling the heavy stuff.
This is the tool for the proper woolly mammoths—not the finer-skinned, delicate types. Use it gently over the fleshy areas of the body and avoid the face, legs, prominent bones and sensitive spots.
Step 2: Give the coat a proper reset wash
Once you’ve removed as much loose hair as possible, it’s time for a good deep-clean wash. Getting the excess coat out first means your shampoo can actually reach the skin and lift the winter grime.
We have three very good options and, naturally, Lisa and Sally have different favourites.
Lisa’s secret stash: Tydee Equineshine
Lisa raves about Tydee Equineshine Horse Shampoo. It cleans gently and brings out serious brilliance and shine.
So secret was this step that it took Sally approximately six years to discover Lisa’s hidden stash. Apparently we’re keeping standards, not secrets now. 🤣
Sally’s go-to: Eco Horse Charcoal
Eco Horse Charcoal Shampoo is Sally’s favourite for Mule. She loves its coat-clarifying properties and fresh minty smell when the aim is a genuinely clean spring reset.
Rumour has it the newest stock may also be squandered on a Pets Day calf or two. Sometimes greatness requires sacrifice, look out Group Day.
The sweet-smelling all-rounder: Eco Horse Bubblegum
For a fresh everyday wash with a fun fragrance, there’s Eco Horse Bubblegum Shampoo. It’s a crowd-pleasing option for horses and ponies ( and cats and lambs...)that need a proper clean without turning bath day into a full scientific experiment.
Whichever shampoo you choose, rinse thoroughly. Shampoo left sitting in the coat can create dullness and irritation—the opposite of what we’re trying to achieve.
Step 3: Bring the remaining scurf to the surface
Follow the wash with HSE Hot Oil Coat Conditioner.
We’ve tried the lot, and this is the hot oil we genuinely like best. It’s light, smells amazing and helps bring residual scurf to the surface so it can be wiped or brushed away once the coat is dry.
It is also wonderfully versatile: dilute it with water in a mister bottle to make a grooming spray for maintaining the coat between washes.
Step 4: Gold-star grooming
Once the coat is dry, bring out the NTR Embrace Sisal Brush.
This is gold-star grooming. Its natural sisal fibres help lift dirt and debris, gently exfoliate the skin and distribute the coat’s natural oils. Use it as the finishing brush after your deep clean, or pair it with diluted HSE Hot Oil as part of your regular grooming routine.
It’s the difference between clean and properly polished.
Step 5: Add the finishing shine and help keeping it clean
If you want to go the whole hog, finish with Carr & Day & Martin Canter Coat Shine.
It creates an oil-free, non-greasy shine while helping repel grass stains, mud and soiling. It also makes quarter marks easier to apply and can be used over the chest and shoulders to help reduce rug friction.
Once the coat is completely dry, pop on a clean, nylon-lined rug and let it help keep your hard work where it belongs,on the horse, not redecorating the paddock overnight.
The TCH spring coat reset
- Shed: Grooming Block for everyone; Metal Shedding Brush for the genuine yetis.
- Wash: Choose Tydee Equineshine, Eco Horse Charcoal or Eco Horse Bubblegum.
- Condition: Use HSE Hot Oil to help lift remaining scurf and nourish the coat.
- Polish: Finish with the NTR Embrace Sisal Brush.
- Protect: Apply Canter Coat Shine and use a clean nylon-lined rug.
You don’t need to do the entire routine every weekend. Start with one proper spring reset, then maintain the result with regular grooming, diluted HSE Hot Oil and the occasional wash when your horse finds something revolting to roll in.
Less winter wool. More spring shine. Bring on show season.
Yours in horsing,
Lisa & Sally
The Cleanest Horse
From paddock to podium, we’re helping keep standards—not secrets.