Posted by Jennifer Serot, Wed, Feb 22, 2017
There is nothing like a stunning horse with a beautiful shiny coat—not only because it looks amazing, but because it indicates a healthy horse. Did you know that a dull, lackluster coat could be a sign of nutritional deficiencies? To achieve that shiny beautiful coat, it takes a diligent grooming schedule as well as attention to your horse’s nutrition.
Tips for a shiny coat!
- Curry your horse every day! We all love a good arm workout! Bringing up dirt and oils to the surface is key, especially after a long winter and when shedding begins in the spring. Currying is akin to massaging, and it will stimulate the release of natural oils. This takes a ton of elbow grease, but it is well worth it and your horse will likely enjoy the rubdown, as they may be quite itchy when their coat sheds out.
- Brushing Like currying your horse, brushing your horse with a dandy brush and hard brush will break up and remove dirt, debris, and dry skin on the coat. Brushing will also spread the coat’s natural oils that have been brought to the surface by currying.
- Vitamins If your horse’s coat is lackluster, supplements can be a great way to add shine. A dull coat can be an indication of vitamin deficiencies. Adding a multivitamin supplement, such as Sho-Glo® Complete Vitamin & Mineral Supplement, that is rich in vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B, biotin, zinc, antioxidants and fatty acids can help support your horse’s overall condition from the inside out.
- Shampoo Your Horse Since our horses love to get dirty, roll around and cake themselves in mud, it is super important to get the dirt out of the coat, as sometimes currying is not enough to remove mud. Corona® Concentrated Shampoo is an excellent option for your horse! The award-winning formula cleans, conditions, and leaves your horse’s coat soft and lustrous. Plus, it is pH balanced and gentle enough for everyday use.
- Clean brushes Do you clean your brushes? If not, you could be reintroducing old dirt, bacteria and fungus. Gross! Try to wash your brushes seasonally, if not once a month. Using dirty brushes could be counterproductive. First, soak your brushes in warm water with dishwashing detergent. After the detergent soak, transfer them to a bucket of disinfectant. One part bleach mixed with 10 parts water will work just fine! Be sure to rinse them thoroughly and lay them in the sun to dry. This isn’t a project for a rainy day!
