Among the many grooming techniques available, hot clothing stands out as a particularly effective method, especially useful when it comes to preparing for, and following clipping.
Proper coat preparation doesn’t just enhance your horse’s appearance—it can also save you money in the long run. Thoroughly preparing your horse’s coat for clipping allows your clippers to glide through the hair easily, keeping your blades sharper for longer and minimising wear and tear on your clippers, extending the life of your grooming tools. Taking the time for pre clip preparation, including hot clothing makes for a smart investment for any horse owner. But what exactly is hot clothing, and why should you incorporate it into your grooming routine? Find out more how hot clothing can benefit your horse below with a brilliant post clip video from Lauren Cotton.
Our Top Products for Hot Clothing
The Benefits of Hot Clothing
Hot clothing is an essential grooming technique that offers numerous benefits for your horse’s coat and skin, both before and after clipping. Here’s why you should consider adding it to your routine:
- Removes Dirt and Grease: The heat and moisture from the hot cloth help to lift away dirt, grease, and sweat that can be trapped in the coat, leaving it cleaner and healthier.
- Enhances Coat Shine: Hot clothing can give your horse’s coat a beautiful, glossy finish, enhance their colouring and markings, especially useful for impressing judges in the show ring.
- Soothes the Skin: After clipping, the skin can be sensitive. Hot clothing helps to soothe any irritation and cleanse the skin.
- Improves Clipping Results: By removing excess grease and dirt before clipping, hot clothing ensures a smoother, more even clip with fewer lines.
- Helps To Keep Blades Sharper For Longer: In essence, the cleaner your horse's coat is for clipping, the longer your blades will stay sharp for. Hot clothing will remove the worst of the grease and dirt, helping you to achieve more clips out of your clipper blades and saving you money in sharpening fees in the long run.
When Should You Hot Cloth Your Horse?
- Pre-Clipping Preparation: Bathing your horse before clipping is always preferable but not all of us have the means to be able to wash our horses, especially in the cold winter months. If you can’t fully bath your horse before a clip, a deep, thorough groom and hot clothing is the next best thing. Hot clothing daily for a few days before clipping will help lift excess grease from the coat, resulting in the best clip possible. A cleaner coat allows your clippers to glide more smoothly through the hair, resulting in a neater, more professional finish while reducing the risk of the blades tugging or becoming dull mid-clip. Read our blog here for more tips.
- Post-Clipping Care: Hot clothing should be done after every clip to remove any stray clipped hairs from the coat and any remaining clipper oil residue. Hot clothing helps to calm the skin, relax the muscles and leaves a beautiful shine without stripping away natural oils. Hot clothing with a diluted solution of dettol or hibiscrub will also reduce the risk of irritating sensitive skin or the development of demographic lines (dermatographia).
- General Grooming: Even outside of clipping, hot clothing is an excellent way to keep your horse's coat in beautiful condition, enhance dapples and give a glossy, healthy shine. Perfect before a show or competition.
What Oil Should I Use for Hot Clothing?
Choosing the right product can make all the difference when hot clothing your horse. Many traditional coat shine products contain silicone, which may give a temporary silky feel but can actually dry out the hair over time, weaken it, and lead to build-up. That’s why we love using Coat Elixir by Honest Riders for both pre- and post-clipping hot clothing.
This 100% organic, silicone-free oil not only helps lift dirt and grease but also conditions the coat from within, leaving a healthy, natural shine without any greasy residue. It’s gentle enough for regular use and even suitable for horses with sensitive skin.
Why we recommend Coat Elixir for hot clothing:
- Made from completely natural, plant-based ingredients
- Adds a natural shine without build-up or residue
- Acts as a leave-in conditioner to support coat health
- Helps prevent dryness and reduce hair breakage
- Won’t clog clippers or affect clipping performance
- Free from artificial fragrances, making it kind to sensitive skin
It’s a fantastic all-rounder that not only enhances your grooming routine but also improves coat condition over time—perfect for everyday care and show prep alike.
How to Hot Cloth Your Horse
Hot clothing might sound complex, but it’s surprisingly simple. All you will need is need two clean buckets, hand hot water, a microfibre cloth and coat oil or no rinse wash of your choice. Our favourite is the Coat Elixir oil from Honest Riders. This completely i
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Groom Thoroughly: Start by grooming your horse with a curry comb and brushes to remove as much dirt, mud, and dust as possible.
Prepare Two Buckets: Whilst some may argue that one bucket of water is enough, we find that using an extra bucket of plain hot water works better to keep your cloth clean. Fill both buckets with hot water (as hot as you comfortably place your hands in). In one bucket, add a splash of your chosen no-rinse wash or coat oil, following the product's guidelines.
Soak and Wring the Cloth: Dunk a clean, soft cloth, flannel, or suede cloth into the bucket with the oil and swirl it around. Then wring out the cloth until it no longer drips with water.
Apply the Hot Cloth: Rub the cloth over your horse’s neck and body in circular motions. This lifts dirt and grease from the coat.
Rinse and Repeat: Regularly rinse the cloth in the bucket of plain water to clean it, then dip it back into the oiled water and continue hot clothing. This ensures dirt isn’t re-deposited on the coat.
Focus on Trouble Spots: Pay extra attention to areas like the rump, where dirt and grease tend to accumulate the most.
When Should You Not Hot Cloth Your Horse?
- Avoid hot clothing your horse if they are unwell or have any known skin conditions that could worsen with certain oils, washes or heat application.
- Don't hot cloth close to wounds as this could irritate them or make them worse.
- Of course, skip hot clothing an overheated sweaty horse or when the weather temperatures are already high to prevent overheating.
Summary
Hot clothing is an essential grooming technique that enhances your horse's coat by removing dirt and grease, ensuring a smoother, more professional clip.
Hot clothing soothes the skin post-clipping, reducing irritation and adding a beautiful shine.
However, avoid hot clothing near wounds or if your horse has known skin conditions that could be aggravated by the oils or heat.
For more grooming tips, explore our blog or contact us for advice on choosing the perfect clippers or grooming accessories for your horse.
Can you hot cloth a horse in winter?
Yes, hot clothing is ideal during the winter months when it’s too cold to bathe your horse. It allows you to effectively remove dirt and grease while keeping your horse warm and comfortable. Just be sure to stable or rug your horse appropriately afterwards to maintain their body temperature. You can view our range of stable and turnout rugs here.
What type of cloth is best for hot clothing?
A soft, absorbent cloth such as a microfibre cloth, or traditional suede works best for hot clothing. These materials are gentle on the coat and effective at lifting dirt and grease without causing irritation. It’s helpful to have a couple of cloths on hand so you can switch them out as they become dirty. We love these soft, quick drying microfibre cloths for hot clothing here.
