A week at Horse of the Year allowed our team to pick up lots of tips from the showing pros, but one of the most commonly mentioned was the use of hot cloths to improve the look of the coat. Our editor hadn’t used hot clothing since she was back in the UK, but with the show as a reminder she came back, took a hot cloth to her Nooitgedacht and was astonished at the results, so here’s an introduction to the value of this straightforward, yet effective, technique!
The benefits
Hot clothing is an essential grooming technique that offers numerous benefits for your horse’s coat and skin. Here’s why you should consider adding it to your routine:
- Removes dirt and grease: The heat and moisture from the hot cloth help to lift away dirt, grease, and sweat that can be trapped in the coat, leaving it cleaner and healthier.
- Enhances coat shine: Hot clothing can give your horse’s coat a beautiful, glossy finish, enhance their colouring and markings (like their dapples), which is especially useful for impressing judges in the show ring.
- Improves clipping results: By removing excess grease and dirt before your horse is clipped, hot clothing ensures a smoother, more even clip with fewer lines.
- Soothes the skin: Hot clothing helps to soothe any irritation and cleanse the skin, particularly after clipping!
Did you know?
Hot clothing your horse before clipping him helps to keep your clipper blades sharper for longer. This is because the technique helps remove the worst of the grease and dirt, reducing the dulling effect on your clipper blades and allowing them to go for longer before sharpening.
How to hot cloth
Hot clothing might sound complex, but it’s surprisingly simple. All you need are two clean buckets, ‘hand’ hot water, a cloth, and a coat oil or no-rinse wash of your choice.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Groom thoroughly: Clean your horse with a curry comb and brushes to remove as much dirt, mud, and dust as possible.
- Prepare two buckets: Fill both buckets with hot water (as hot as you comfortably place your hands in). In one bucket, add a splash of your chosen no-rinse wash or coat oil, following the product’s guidelines.
- Soak and wring the cloth: Dunk a clean, soft cloth, flannel, or suede cloth into the bucket with the oil and swirl it around. Then wring out the cloth until it no longer drips with water.
- Apply the hot cloth: Rub the cloth over your horse’s neck and body in circular motions. This lifts dirt and grease from the coat.
- Rinse and repeat: Regularly rinse the cloth in the bucket of plain water to clean it, then dip it back into the oiled water and continue hot clothing. This ensures dirt isn’t redeposited on the coat.
- Focus on trouble spots: Pay extra attention to areas like the hindquarter, where dirt and grease accumulate most.
When should you not hot cloth your horse?
- Avoid hot clothing your horse if they are unwell or have known skin conditions that could worsen with certain oils, washes or heat application.
- Don’t hot cloth close to wounds as this could irritate them or make them worse.
- Of course, skip hot clothing an already hot, sweaty horse or when the weather temperatures are already high to prevent overheating.