Should I Wash My Horse Before Using Beautify?

Usually, no. You don't need to bath your horse before you start using Beautify.

However, there are times when we'd recommend starting with a really good wash first.

The easiest way to decide is to look at what you're actually applying Beautify onto.

Do I need to wash the mane and tail first?

If your horse's mane and tail are reasonably clean and healthy, you can start using Beautify straight away.

But if you're dealing with a mane or tail that's particularly dirty, scurfy, itchy or has a significant build-up of previous grooming products, we'd recommend washing it first.

Even the best conditioning product isn't going to work at its best if you're continually applying it over layers of old product, dirt and debris.

Give the mane or tail a thorough wash and get everything back to clean hair and fresh skin as much as possible. Then start your Beautify routine from there.

This is particularly worthwhile if you're trying to improve the overall condition of a mane or tail rather than simply make it look better for the day.

Do I need to bath my horse before hot clothing with Beautify?

Again, for the average horse, no.

One of the reasons we love hot clothing with Beautify is that it's a brilliant way to cleanse and condition the coat without continually shampooing and fully bathing your horse.

But there's a limit!

If your horse is absolutely covered in thick, ingrained mud, hasn't had a proper wash for a very long time or has significant dirt and product build-up through the coat, we'd probably start with a bath.

Think of it as pressing the reset button.

Get the skin and coat properly clean, then use regular Beautify hot clothing to help maintain that condition afterwards.

What if my horse has itchy or scurfy skin?

If you're starting Beautify because your horse's skin or hair isn't in great condition, we'd generally prefer to begin with clean skin.

Wash away dirt, scurf and old product residue first so you're not simply layering something new over the existing problem.

If the itching is significant, persistent, worsening or you're not sure what's causing it, don't assume it's simply a grooming issue. Itching can have lots of underlying causes that may need addressing separately.

So when should I wash first?

A good rule is: Normal horse + normal level of dirt = start using Beautify.

Heavy dirt, scurf, itching or lots of old product build-up = wash first and start fresh.

Beautify doesn't require freshly shampooed hair every time you use it — far from it.

Once you've got the skin and hair into good condition, regular Beautify use and hot clothing can become part of how you maintain that condition without constantly needing to bath your horse.