I was talking to a friend who owns a boarding barn and how she had a heated argument with one of her boarders about washing horses in winter. She has a wash stall, with unheated water and its in an unheated part of the barn so she was really worried about the boarder washing her horse after a long lesson, even though it was cooled out first. She was concerned that she would get it wet with cold water and not be able to fully dry the horse before the evening when it would get colder. Cold water on a cold horse in colder air is not her idea of fun. The boarder adamantly argued the horse would be fine. I don't normally wash horses I ride in winter as I don't show and they don't get that yucky. I would probably want a heated wash stall with warm water though. Any imput?

I still brush or polish my horse regularly to help with this, until she gets too fuzzy and then it is harder. But I was looking at a waterless horse shampoo that I might try this winter.

Yes, I still wash her occasionally but it is less often, and always in the afternoon and in a heated stall. I do everything I can to dry her and then I blanket her with a heavy blanket that I change after an hour in case it got damp.

I'm not sure how the horses could endure the cold water in winter time, I for sure can't do it. A warm water for bathing should be very comforting for it would enhance the circulation of blood.

I try not to wash my horses too much during winter. I have the type of shampoo that SaddleSore is talking about. I use that to wash her but mostly I stick to brushing and since winters in my area can get very cold, I had a heater installed in the stable.

We wash Pumpkin sometimes but we have a heated wash stall with cold/hot water. When we didn't we normally just clipped him to help him dry faster after a good workout or put a cooling sheet/cotton anti sweat sheet on him. Now he has a "bath robe" sheet that works great for after a bath or when he's really sweaty. I'd prefer to not have to wash him unless I need to so I don't strip the oils off his winter coat that help insulate him from the cold/wind.