Pig oil is pig oil really, it's a mineral oil so I think it's one of those things that is what it is, regardless of the brand. We used to buy it from Mathew Burke (Auchengree Clydesdales) in big bulk bottles, but I tend to use plant based oils now instead. If you prefer plant based then the Farriers Shire Oil is good. If I remember correctly it's soy based, whereas pig oil is petroleum based. Both do the job well though, it's just a personal preference thing for me. One thing I would say is try to avoid is the big equestrian brand names, just because they tend to mark up the prices on stuff like this. It's way more cost effective to buy from someone like Mathew Burke or even look on ebay / amazon. And avoid buying anything in a spray bottle, the nozzles just clog up so fast it's unreal! Sorry for the waffley answer 😂
This is so handy, this is my first winter with my friesian, and its my first time having such a hairy breed. Thinking about starting using pig oil on the feathers to protect from the mud. However legs are already caked so presume you would recommend shampooing first and then starting pig oil treatment? She hasn't shown any signs of mud feaver or related muddy wet leg issues yet so also thinking should I leave it the winter and see how she copes naturally? Also, as typical to the breed she doesn't have full feathers all the way around just the section at the back. Does anyone have experience using pig oil on these types of feathers? EEEK. Any tips and advice would be so welcomed trying to successfully navigate my first winter with such a hairy horse.
Well, I'm a bit of a rebel when it comes to oiling muddy feathers. I will be honest, I don't tend to bother shampooing in the winter now unless there are skin issues or we are going to a show. If the mud is already dried on and clumped, I just put the oil straight onto the muddy legs. It will loosen the mud and help it to come out more easily, then in a few days you can brush it out. Probably not what some would do, but it's far easier than spending hours brushing dry crusty mud out of their hair and pulling their skin as you go, or trying to shampoo out dreadlocks (been there, done it, not fun 😂) Once the mud is brushed out you can shampoo if required and re-apply the oil to stop any further mud from sticking. If the mud on their legs is fresh and wet, I would hose it off (shampoo if required) and keep the horse somewhere clean and dry over night, and oil in the morning when the feathers are dry and mud free. Either works to be honest and it completely depends on your situation. Equally, if your horse lives out and you can't dry the legs, you can just oil on top of wet muddy legs too. It's a messy job and takes a little longer to get the desired results just because it doesn't stick as well to wet muddy legs, but if that's your only option it will help. If you regularly apply the oil, even to muddy legs, they will pretty much self-clean. It won't be a sparkly clean show ring finish, but they will be mud/dirt/dreadlock free . And oil can be applied to feathered and non feathered legs in the same way, it doesn't matter so much how hairy the legs are. We had a Welsh X gypsy a few years ago with feather much like Fresians and we used to oil her legs in exactly the same way as the others, and the same applies to our Shetland pony 😊
@@specterman2000 Honestly, I'm terrible at proportioning stuff ... I am one of those people that just eye balls everything 😬 when I initially researched neem oil the recommendations were vague and varying to say the least and after a quick google search it seems that is still the case sadly. For the leg oil solution I made in this washing up bottle, I'd say I put a couple of tablespoons of neem in ... Ish ... Then topped up with the pig oil. I think the important thing to note is that neem oil can be used neat. In fact I have noticed a few companies seem to be recommending the use of neat neam oil for sweet itch and as a mud barrier on legs now. So I don't think you can overdose, if that helps at all 😊 I have used it neat a few times but I feel diluting it down gets as good results with the added bonus of takeing some of the unique smell away ...
@@AmandaHoranGoBookYourself you don't have to use loads of it tbh ... In the middle of winter that old washing up bottle would probably do all 3 of mine, maybe half a bottle per horse if it's really quite muddy out
I use farriers shire oil. Its all plant based and by far the best leg oil I have cone across 💕 ecogreenequestrian.co.uk/product/shire-oil-feather-conditioning-oil/
