Actually, I maybe only bathe (with soap) maybe once a year. The folks that I ride with, experienced endurance riders, always bathe their horses before a competition and groom them as if they were going to a show - well almost - they do leave ear hair and fetlock hair. I always thought it was just to sort of honor their horses, but I read not long ago that a horse cools better if his coat is absolutley clean. So - I now bathe my horse and braid his mane before endurance rides.
Nancy
