The purple goodness

A few years back I realized Baasha's tail was dirty. I don't remember this realization. It wasn't during the dressage days of trying everything to get his coat from stall stained to white again; it was some random unknown date. I'm talking about the moment I became totally obsessed with keeping his tail clean. Without bagging or socking it.

Some lady on Equine-l* had Lippizans and she always used to say she personally keeps the Quic Silver manufacturer in business. I don't know if she still has Lippizans, but I'm helping the Quic Silver company too. Cuz I truly believe it's the very best way to get a tail white and keep it white. (Not available in Germany, I'm trying not to think about the not-too-distant day when I run out of the precious stuff.) (* = Equine-l was the original internet horsey email forum, a usenet group from the early 90s. Were any you there?)

Anyway, I started washing his tail weekly a few years back. He hates it. He likes to be as dirty as possible at all times. Happily for Baasha, I've switched from using a hose to using a bucket. It's easier, doesn't get his legs wet, and doesn't chill him cuz I don't have to do the whole tail, every time. Just the part below the grayish black hairs. (He's had a two-tone tail since I got him when he was 3.)

One day I was camping, and he pooped on his newly washed tail. I actually got out the scissors. I couldn't ride him like that. Now I realize that is just Vanity++.

When I started riding Galim, oh, I'm ashamed to admit this, but I'd *secretly* wash his tail cuz I didn't want his owner to think I was nuts, but I couldn't stand it. I took before and after pics. Now that my baby is here, Galim's tail's as brown as can be, and Sharif's too. Interestingly, I have recently noticed the barn owner washing her horses tails more often, but clearly not often enough.

And, she has no Quic Silver. The thing about Quic Silver is, it's cumulative. The more you use it, the white the hair becomes. Use it at least twice in a row the first time. Always let it sit. I always massage it and rub the tail on itself for about 10 minutes. Then I rinse, shake the tail dry, spray it with Laser Sheen, and brush it. I totally ignore all the tail experts' advice about not brushing it, and wrapping it. When little Ronnie is not chewing his tail off, it's a decent looking tail. Right now, it's been chewed on, but still looks great. I've added "Anti-Bite" spray to the treatment, every other day.

Now that I'm vain, I continually notice whether other white/grey/palomino horses' owners have this problem as well. I'm always thrilled when I see another white tail that's obviously been obsessively washed. Recently I pointed to a lady walking her grey dressage TB down the street, his white tail had caught the sun and shone like silver threads. I said, "Look! She's obsessed too!" Sometimes I wonder if my husband worries about me, how I can get so excited about such things.

I love to compare his tail - the days when I wasn't inordinately vain, and the present.