How to Get Green Stains Off a Horse

It never fails. You give your pony a sudsy bath, scrub out all the sweat stains and even soften up her bristly hair with conditioner. You let her loose in a sunny pen or paddock and she immediately finds the filthiest spot and drops to her knees. Before you know it she's on her back turning breakdancing moves you've never seen before. If you're lucky, she's rolling in soft sand that can be whisked right out of her coat. If her aim isn't so good, you might end up with a mostly clean but manure-stained horse.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse shampoo
  • Curry combs
  • Rags
  • Baking soda
  • Touch-up spray
  • Laundry detergent
  • Commercial stain spray
  • Clippers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Start scrubbing. It probably takes the most effort of all methods, but using a soft curry comb or other scrubby tool while bathing the horse ensures a good clean coat.

    • 2

      Try baby wipes when you're short on time. Avoid the wipes that come in canisters. The ones that come in a box dispenser are bigger and usually textured. The texture helps to break down green stains to clean them up quickly.

    • 3

      Soak the green spot with water, then rub baking soda into the horse's hair. Let the spot dry and use a curry comb or other stiff bristled brush to work it out. The baking soda might even make an extra clean spot on a gray horse.

    • 4

      Cover up the stain using a touch-up spray. Touch-up spray won't actually get the horse's coat clean, but it'll temporarily cover the stain like spray paint. Touch-up spray also works well on scars and other blemishes.

    • 5

      Spray on a commercial green spot remover like Cowboy Magic or Healing Tree. These fixes don't come cheap but they do work well. Just spray them on and vigorously rub the stain with a rag.

    • 6

      Spot treat the stain using laundry detergent. Laundry detergent smells nice and will most likely take the stain out with ease, but be careful. Detergents are highly concentrated and can irritate a horse's skin. Always be sure to thoroughly rinse the spot to make sure there is no residue leftover.

    • 7

      Clip it off. It's an extreme measure but if you must have the stain removed and nothing else works, just shear it off.