Do I have to use warm water when bathing my horse?

My well water comes out cold, sometimes really cold, like to the point where it makes your teeth "freeze" from drinking it. I want to bathe my horses, but I am afraid the water will shock them or make them really cold, maybe even cold numb their skin. Do I need to buy a hot wash system or can I just use the hose with my cold wateR?

Do I have to use warm water when bathing my horse?
This is the way that I judge the water tempature. If it is to cold for me to take a bath in, then it is to cold for them. Beside giving my horse the shivers, I really do not like washing them with numb hands from freezing water. I forgo the bath until it is at least above 80 degrees outside. Until then, I make do with with a bit more elbow grease on the brushes. Good Luck!
Reply:I don't have a horse.
Reply:I wash my horses with well water all the time- but ONLY when it's hot enough outside that they don't start shivering!





They seem to enjoy the cool bath during the heat of the summer.





If you want to bathe in early spring or late fall, when it's less than 80 degrees outside, you should, for the sake of their comfort, use warm water...





To warm the water some, you can buy black water hoses at the local hardware or Lowes type store- using 100 to 200' of black hose, laid out in the sun, and putting a spray nozzle on that stops the water flow when you're not using it, will warm it up quite a bit.
Reply:I bathe my horse in 'room temperature' water. If it is extremely cold as you say it is, then you ought to bring the temperature up.





Horses are living - warm blooded - animals that need to be treated just like the way we like to be treated.





If you bathe them in cold water you probably are already aware of this, you will see their skin tremble. Not a pretty sight. If they can speak probably they will swear at you...!!
Reply:It should be body temperature, ideally, as ice cold water to them is much like with us, not very pleasant.
Reply:The cold water is fine as long as it is warm out side. Horse survive in thirty degree weather when it raining so a bath is nothing.
Reply:ok i have horses and what i do is i make sure its a warm day of coarse and that the water is not freezing but not to warm also when giving a horse a bath at the beginning you should spray the water on their leg so they have time to get used to the temperature then work your way up to their neck and so on you want to wash the mane and tail and body but i would not do the forelock or the face because you might get soap in their eyes but you can spray some water on their face just make sure when you do the water is turned down low OK and that's how i give my horses baths just if your horse has not had a bath see if someone can hold it for the first time because just in case the horse tries to pull away or something and your welcome.
Reply:I use cold water, as long as it is over 65 degrees and sunny. We do not have a hot water system in our barn either. They are fine with the cold water (they might flinch at first, but so would I). If it is under 70, I just make it as quick as possible for them. In hotter days, I usually let it go longer, and they love it.
Reply:Make sure the horse is completely cooled off before giving the bath. Warm water is better. What temp has the horse usually been bathed in? you dont want sudden changes in temp. Always start washing a horse by spraying the hooves and slowly working your way up. If the water is too cold the horse will let you know. However, it is better to have the water be room temp, not "hot" or "freezing" but if thats not possible, you can fill a bucket with water and let it set until it warms up for a sponge bath! Sponge baths take longer, but are just as effective. Be sure to get all the soap off, mane and tail especially, or they will rub on fences and frey there hair!


Hope this helps!