So many equestrians vow to never buy a grey because they can be a nightmare to keep clean – but with the help of the best whitening shampoos for horses it’s possible to remove stains and yellowing. All-purpose horse shampoos are great for deep cleans, but when you have a grey a whitening shampoo is likely to bring out the best in your horse’s coat. The best whitening shampoos aren’t just for grey horses either, they can work wonders on white markings, too. If you don’t have time or it’s too cold to bath your horse, you can also use water-free stain removers, which work in a similar way to dry shampoo for humans.
When choosing the best whitening horse shampoo for your horse, it’s worth noting the size of the bottle (or bar) and how many washes it delivers – we’ve asked for the number of washes when used as recommended. This will also give you a guide as to how much to use but will, of course, depend on the size and type of your horse – most good shampoos don’t require you to use too much at a time, and following the guidance will save you money and prevent wastage.
Shampoo Hose Gun | Amazon
Put your shampoo in the soap bottle where it is automatically mixed with the water and then use the eight spray modes to wash your horse with ease.
Best whitening shampoos for horses
Supreme Products Blue Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml, 1l, 5l
Suggested washes per bottle: Unavailable
RRP: £11.75 for 500ml
H&H Rating: 9/10, H&H Approved
This shampoo formulated to produce a white and bright finish to grey and white coats. It also adds colour definition and a lustrous finish to bay, brown and black coats.
Our showing editor tested this shampoo and said it was one of the most effective whitening shampoos she’d tried. Read her full Supreme Products Blue Shampoo review.
Carr & Day & Martin Gallop Extra Strength Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml
Suggested washes per bottle: 5–10
RRP: £9.95
H&H Rating: 9/10
This shampoo is formulated to target stubborn ingrained grass and stable stains. It is an extra-thick, concentrated formula with powerful stain-removing properties.
Read H&H’s review of the Carr & Day & Martin Gallop Stain Removing Shampoo.
Smart Grooming Deep Purple Shampoo
Sizes: 250ml, 500ml, 1l, 5l
Suggested washes per bottle: Up to 5 from 250ml
RRP: £6.95 for 250ml
H&H Rating: 9/10
This shampoo is designed to lift and neutralise discolouration while also effectively cleaning any dirt or debris from the hair or skin. Its colour enhancing properties help to brighten white coats while adding shine. Made with lavender essential oils, it it suitable for horses with sensitive skin.
Read H&H’s review of the Smart Grooming Deep Purple shampoo.
NAF Show Off
Sizes: 500ml, 2l
Suggested washes per bottle: Up to 25 from 500ml
RRP: £10.99 for 500ml
H&H Rating: 9/10, H&H Approved
This shampoo, cleans, shines and smells great. It is designed to make coloured coats brighter and grey coats whiter.
Our showing editor tested this shampoo and found it to be very reasonably priced. It didn’t remove some of the most stubborn stable stains on the first attempt, but it was great for regular use to keep on top of stains. Read H&H’s review of the NAF Show Off shampoo review.
Wild Wash Equine Natural Whitening Horse Shampoo
Sizes: 300ml, 1l, 5l
Suggested washes per bottle: 10 from 300ml
RRP: £16.95 for 300ml
H&H Rating: 9/10, H&H Approved
This natural shampoo uses a blue pigment derived from the chamomile flower combined with lavender and ylang ylang. This unique natural whitener is formulated for white, grey and palomino coats, manes and tails.
Our showing editor tested this shampoo and described it as smelling “divine”. She particularly liked the no-mess pump and that it was natural. Although it’s at the upper end of the market, it was very effective, which increased the value. Read her full Wild Wash Whitening Shampoo review.
Lincoln Hint Of A Tint White Horse Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml
Suggested washes per bottle: up to 50
RRP: £9.50
Features a gentle whitener and brightener in the formula, which is highly concentrated to ensure a clean coat and sheen.
Hy Equestrian Thelwell Grooming Academy Shine Bright Shampoo
Sizes: 400ml
Suggested washes per bottle: up to 40
RRP: £6.99
A fast-acting shampoo that combats yellow staining with avocado and wheat germ extracts. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Equine Products UK Pro Whitening Horse Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml, 2.5l
Suggested washes per bottle: Not available
RRP: £12.65 for 500ml
Specially formulated to enhance white coats. Tropical scent and formulated with a deep-cleansing silk protein conditioner.
Veredus Blue Snow Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml
Suggested washes per bottle: Not available
RRP: £21
H&H Rating: 8/10
This product has been specifically designed for grey and white coats. It removes dirt and stable stains while helping to restore your horse’s natural colour to his coat.
Read H&H’s review of the Veredus Blue Snow shampoo.
Hy Equestrian Magic Dazzle Whitening Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml, 5l
Suggested washes per bottle: 25 from 500ml
RRP: £9.50 for 500ml
This shampoo is described as fast-acting with a whitening formula to combat yellowing hair. It contains avocado, lavender and wheat germ extracts to protect and repair the coat from damage.
Shapley’s Equitone Whitening Shampoo
Sizes: 32oz
Suggested washes per bottle: Unavailable
RRP: £21.99
This whitening shampoo removes stains from grey coats and adds an optical brightness to all coat colours.
Science Supplements Bright White Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml
Suggested washes per bottle: 20
RRP: £11.99
This colour-enhancing, mild and gentle wash is suitable for horses with sensitive skin. The balanced formula – that can also be used on coloured coats – cleans without bleaching and is rich in keratin, which has a calming and moisturising effect on sensitive skin.
Cavalor Bianco Wash
Sizes: 500ml
Suggested washes per bottle: 20–30
RRP: £23.50
This pH balanced shampoo removes stains rather than mask them.
Leovet Shiny White Stain Eraser Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml
Suggested washes per bottle: 10–14
RRP: £12.20
This natural shampoo gently cleanses and has a natural whitening effect that helps to prevent yellow discolourations and vanish stains. It contains natural protein from the African moringa tree that prevents new stains for up to two days, while lipid regulators ensure the moisture balance in the skin and leave the hair white, healthy and glossy. It also contains anti-static agents that work as a detangler, making hair easier to comb.
Equine America Squeaky Clean Whitening Shampoo
Sizes: 1l
Suggested washes per bottle: Not available
RRP: £15.99
This natural whitening and colour-enhancing shampoo contains aloe vera, Pro-Vitamin B5 that naturally highlight the coat whatever the colour. Free from bleaching agents, parabens and sulphates.
In the UK? Buy direct at equine-america.co.uk
Wahl Showman Diamond White Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml, 5l
Suggested washes per bottle: Unavailable
RRP: £7.99 for 500ml
Designed to enhance white, grey and coats with light tones. Excellent for removing dirt and grease stains, the shampoo features white enhancers to revitalise and boost the natural pigmentation of the coat for a dazzling finish. Formula includes extracts of cucumber, passionflower, lemon, and lime.
Omega Equine Shampoo Perfect
Sizes: 1l
Suggested washes per bottle: At least 10
RRP: £11.99
Combines lavender oil with cleansing agents that leave a lustrous sheen and a soft mane and tail.
Cowboy Magic Shine In Yellowout
Sizes: 16oz, 32oz
Washes per bottle: Not available
RRP: £12 for 16oz
This stain-removing shampoo neutralises yellow stains and brightens hair of all colours. It doesn’t contain any bleaches or peroxides but instead uses optical brighteners.
Does purple shampoo work on horses?
It’s not recommended that you use human purple shampoo on your horse, but there are plenty of purple horse shampoos to choose from. As well as smelling delightful, the best whitening shampoos for horses are often a lustrous purple colour. But this is no coincidence – the violet pigments in the product help to neutralise the yellow staining that is often characteristic of the coats and tails of grey and coloured horse, or on those with white markings.
You might also like:
7 anti-rub vests to increase comfort and prevent bald patches
15 dry shampoos and stain removers that will leave your horse gleaming
20 shampoos that will get your horse sparkling – because he’s worth it!
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Subscribe today and enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus unlimited website access and digital versions of the magazine dating back to September 2012.
