Beautiful Horses Don't Happen By Accident.
How I wash, condition, untangle and care for my own horses, plus the little techniques I've learned make the biggest difference.
— Annie
Four things I wish every horse owner knew.
Great results aren't just about what you put on the hair. How you start and how you care for it along the way, matters.
Start with a clean baseline.
If you're starting a new routine over silicone, oils or product buildup, you may not see its full potential. Start by removing the buildup and giving the hair a clean baseline with Clarify.
Start with less.
More product doesn't automatically mean better results. Start small, distribute it well, then add more only where you actually need it.
Use your hands.
Especially with manes and tails. Feel the hair, find the tangles and distribute your product before reaching for the brush. Your hands tell you a lot about what the hair actually needs.
Protect the hair you've grown.
A detangling spray can't replace good hair care. Condition the hair, untangle gently and pay attention to friction, dryness and breakage. Manes and tails take years to grow.
Start With A Really Good Wash.
Clean hair behaves differently. This is where I start.
Clarify Shampoo
When I want to remove dirt, sweat and buildup to start fresh.
Thoroughly wet the coat first. Work Clarify through the coat with plenty of water, massaging all the way down to the skin. I love using our silicone grooming + bath mitt with Clarify. It helps distribute the shampoo and work it through the coat, then I keep scrubbing with the mitt as I rinse to help lift away loosened dirt from the coat and skin. That extra step makes a big difference in getting a truly thorough clean. Rinse completely.
For especially dirty horses or product buildup, I prefer a thorough rinse and, when needed, a second light wash rather than simply using a large amount of shampoo at once.
For white tails and socks, work Clarify thoroughly into the stained hair and allow it to sit for 10–15 minutes before rinsing. Repeat for best results.
Mane Magic
My choice when I want cleansing with added conditioning and softness for the mane & tail.
Wet the horse thoroughly, work Mane Magic through the mane and tail, then rinse completely. You can use Mane Magic on the coat if your horse needs extra conditioning.
I reach for Mane Magic when conditioning and softness are the priority. Clarify is my reset; Mane Magic is my more conditioning wash.
Add water as you massage shampoo through the mane & tail before automatically reaching for more product. I like to squeeze, twist to release the dirt and work Mane Magic in.
Condition First. Untangle Second.
The softest hair starts before the brush.
Intensive Conditioner
Deep conditioning for manes and tails...and yes, you leave it in.
Intensive Conditioner can be used on wet or dry hair. Start with a small amount and work it through with your hands, concentrating on dry lengths, ends and areas that need extra conditioning.
Don't stop at the hair. Massage it into the base of the mane and tail dock. This puts the aloe, humectants, peptides and conditioning ingredients where the hair grows. It's a leave-in, so don't rinse. Let it stay in and do its job.
I work through the hair with my fingers first. It lets me feel dry areas and tangles before I ever pick up a brush.
Glisten
One bottle, several jobs. Untangle manes and tails, condition dry hair, add a beautiful coat finish, or use it for my Hot Cloth and Hot Oil methods.
Start with a small amount of Glisten on wet or dry hair and use your hands to distribute it through the mane or tail. Give it a moment to absorb, then add more only where you need additional slip.
Always work from the bottom up rather than pulling a brush through the entire length at once.
Gather the tail and gently twist it. Release one small section at a time, brushing from the bottom up before releasing the next section. Continue until you've worked through the entire tail. Don't forget the dock, gently brushing and grooming this area helps stimulate the skin at the base of the tail.
Glisten is one of my favorite finishing steps after clipping, bathing or whenever I want that polished, conditioned coat.
Spray Glisten on the coat, then take a hot, damp cloth and work it over the coat (dunk cloth in bucket of hot water, wring out then repeat as you go). The cloth helps distribute a very light layer evenly while picking up lingering dust and leaving the coat soft, smooth and beautifully finished.
Think polish, not product. The coat should feel soft and conditioned, not oily. My Tip: spray lightly, it doesn't take much to get that beautiful shine.
For dry manes and tails that need deeper conditioning, use Glisten as a modern take on the traditional hot oil treatment.
Work Glisten through the mane or tail, concentrating on dry lengths and ends. Brush through. Follow with a hot, damp cloth to help distribute the oils evenly through the hair and remove any excess.
This last step is especially helpful on light-colored manes and tails. You want the hair soft and conditioned, not coated with excess oil that can attract dirt and dust. If you do not have access to water, simply run a cloth over the mane & tail.
Don't Save Coat Care For Bath Day.
A little consistent care goes a long way.
The Daily Spray
Everyday conditioning for that ridiculously soft, touchable coat.
Shake well first: The Daily Spray is intentionally bi-phase to make it a very light conditioning treatment. Lightly mist over the coat and brush through.
Use between baths to help maintain softness and hydration. It can also be lightly misted through already-untangled manes and tails for maintenance.
Think Daily Spray for the coat and ongoing conditioning. Also perfect for the coat and saddle area - no slip. When you have serious mane or tail tangles, reach for Glisten.
Cleansed
For the days when the horse needs to be clean and a bath simply isn't happening.
Brush away loose dirt and dried mud first. Apply Cleansed to what's left, work through the dirty area and wipe clean with a very damp/wet towel. Repeat where needed.
I love it for faces, legs, stains, winter grooming, trailer days and quick cleanups. This is also our "Go-To" for light horse clean up to remove those green spots, dirt and for that last minute show prep.
Don't use product on dirt your brush can remove. Get rid of the big stuff first and let Cleansed handle what's left.
Bright White + Soft. What A Concept.
Brightening doesn't have to mean purple.
Shimmer Leave-In
A finishing step for white and grey hair without purple dyes.
Start with clean hair. Apply Shimmer to white or grey areas where you want a brighter, polished finish and work it through evenly.
For stained whites, I start with Clarify first. Shimmer is the finishing step, it is not a substitute for getting the hair truly clean.
If a white tail is stained or carrying buildup, that's where I start. Get the hair clean with Clarify before trying to change how it looks.
Healthy-Looking Hair Starts At The Root.
Thoughtful care for the skin underneath it.
ROOTED™
Targeted care for areas where the skin and hair need a little more attention.
Part the hair so you're applying ROOTED directly where it's needed (the skin!) rather than simply coating the hair above it.
Apply a small amount and gently massage into the area. Consistency matters more than using a large amount at once. Apply at least once a day.
Start with clean skin. Before beginning ROOTED, wash the area with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo such as Clarify or our Hypoallergenic Shampoo. This gives you a clean baseline and allows you to apply ROOTED directly to clean skin. Continue applying ROOTED daily. Around day five, check the area...if dirt, oil or product has accumulated, wash again, allow the skin to dry, and continue your ROOTED routine.
Beautiful horses don't need complicated routines.
Clean well. Condition consistently. Protect the hair you've spent years growing. And use what your horse needs that day.