Sponging down

[fleabitten]

When is a suitable/best time to sponge down? Can you sponge down all year round/only if clipped/never in a winter coat? Why do you sponge down?

I know that if you sponge down a grass kept horse's coat its important to make sure that he is dry before putting him out again (i think).

Or is it best not to sponge down? If so, do you do something else?

Does it matter what temperature of water to use?

Sorry for such a vague question - any answers appreciated on any aspect of the topic

[maximum]

Summer: If the horse is very sweaty and the day is warm I just hose them down.
If its just the girth area I sponge them down with cold water on that area and between their back legs.
Winter : unclipped I don't allow the to get sweaty to such a degree that they need sponging down. However if they did warm water sponge down and dry off with towel.
Clipped - I would sponge down with warm water and towel off.

[haffyfan]

Like Maxi says in winter I don't let them get too sweaty as they are unclipped/live out and contray to popular belief it is possible to ride a hairy pony and for it not to get sweated up if your sensible. A bit under the girth sometimes and thats about it. In summer if they do get sweaty if required will wash down in cold water, usually they just have a slight saddle/girth mark that is dry by the time they are untacked so brusshes away.
Not sure what you mean about not turning out till dry...in winter you wouldn't want them catching a chill naturally but in summer I'd just let mine roll and dry themself that way. You would have to watch them burning maybe on a very hot sunny day but then i would try to ride early/late to avoid the intensive heat if at all possible

[fleabitten]

Thanks guys, thats really helpful! I suppose if you were going to be doing enough work to make the horse sweatier than a wee bit on the girth/between hind legs, then you would be clipping it anyway, so that makes sense. i.e. you wouldnt be sweating a horse with a winter coat so much that you needed to sponge it down, under normal circumstances.

At new RS, they would sometimes get brushed off in the saddle area after a lesson - have only seen them sponged down a few times last summer (although i havent been down much for lessons so far this summer). Old RS they just get saddles off and taken to field or rugs on in winter and in warm weather if they get really sweaty they get sponged down.

Haffy, i read that in a book somewhere but think they were talking about ponies with winter coats that got sweaty perhaps.

[kitcat]

We always sponge/hose down the horses in the summer if they are sweaty after the 2hr hacks. They don't go out immediately but are not completely dry before being turned out.

[maximum]

theres no difference between turning them out damp in summer than them getting a shower of rain in the field and getting wet!

Problem with unclipped ponies getting sweaty is they can look dry on the outside but underneath they are still hot and they can 'break-out' later when you think they are dry and able to be turned out.

[scattymare]

Think it's all been said above really. In summer I sponge off/hose down dependng on the extent of sweaty bits then turn out straight away to let her have a good roll. In winter if she got sweaty before being clipped I would leave her in with thermatex/fleece on until dry then brush off and rug up accordingly.

[fleabitten]

Thanks for all replies, thats really helpful