The Best Paths To Make Your Horses Coat Shine
Step 1: Nutrition
A beautiful coat starts with what is on the inside of your pony. No amount of grooming will make your pony look beautiful if he isn't getting the right nourishment. A diet loaded in Omega 3 and Omega 6 trans acids is the first step in achieving a good coat. There are numerous paths to accomplish this, and you must consult a vet before making any changes in your horse’s diet. Your pony should be fed a high quality kind of forage (sometimes either alfalfa or timothy hay), along with a concentrate (grain) that contains at least 7% fat and 14% protein. I would recommend a pellet with 9% fat if you can find one.
To this, you can add daily one cup of black oil sunflower seeds, one cup of brown flax seed, one-half to one entire cup of corn oil, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of paprika. (Warning: Paprika can cause a false positive on some drug tests, so utilise with caution.) Paprika serves the purpose of stopping your horse’s coat from fading in direct sunlight, so a pony that isn't turned out to pasture during the day may not need this supplement. As well as these, remember to provide your horse with a trace mineral block containing zinc and copper, each of which affect coat condition. If your horse is eating only timothy hay, it could be helpful to add a bit (about a half cup) of alfalfa pellets to your horse’s feed ration.
There are some generally available products that may do a similar thing as the above recipe. I personally am a massive fan of “Dac Oil” which is one of the best kept strategies of the halter industry. This stuff is absolutely amazing and I can’t say enough nice things about it! Nu-Image and Super 14 also work fine!
Step 2: De-Worming
No pony can have a shiny coat if his stomach if full of bugs leeching away his nutrient elements! It is vital that all horses be kept on an acceptable de-worming schedule. Your vet can assist you with developing a bug control programme appropriate to the area in which you live. Most top show barns either utilize a daily de-worming product in their horses ‘ feed, or a give their horses a de-worming paste each 4-6 weeks.
Step 3: Grooming
A healthy pony should flicker in the sun even though he never feels the touch of a brush, but daily grooming will seriously multiply your results! Top show horses get groomed as much as 2 hours a day. Fortunately , that isn’t strictly necessary. 15 to twenty minutes of daily brushing should be sufficient to remove dust and dirt from your horse’s coat and excite his oil glands to provide healthy, shiny oils. You should first curry your horse using a rubber curry brush. This is an exceedingly important step as it removes dead hair and mud. This also brings the oils in his coat to the surface. Follow this with a tough bristled brush used to remove all of the dust and hair you simply loosened. Afterwards, utilise a softer brush to get rid of any lingering traces of dust and “polish” your horse’s coat. Lastly, you can rub your horse’s complete body with a soft cloth/towel. This may spread all those oils around and make his coat super glossy and soft. If you have access to an equine grooming vacuum, this will also significantly enhance the appearance of his coat. The blower attachment of the vacuum helps remove all the dust particles and the suction of the vacuum will further excite his oil glands.
Step 4: Caring For The Coat
Now that you have got your dream coat, ensure you protect it vigilantly. For the ultimate coat, it's best to keep your horse inside between the hours of 9am and 5pm, as the bright, direct rays of the sun can bleach your horse’s coat awfully. If this is not possible keep your pony covered with either a light sheet (in cooler climates) or a mesh fly sheet (in warmer areas) to prevent sun damage. I suggest you spray him daily with an equine moisturising product which incorporates a sun lotion. Avoid using any silicone based “shine sprays” on your horse’s coat. These are satisfactory for occasional use at shows, but aren't counseled for daily utilization as they seal the hair follicle and prevent it from absorbing moisture. Keep soapy baths as low as possible (not more than once a month, or before shows), as these futilely strip oils from the coat. If your horse gets sweaty, feel free to hose him off with cleaner water (as this sweat can leaden the coat as well) but do not use shampoo or soap.
If you follow these simple instructions, your horse should be shining like a champion in almost no time. You can bet at your next show, competition, or trail ride all eyes will be on your gorgeous, lustrous horse and you will have everyone asking you how you succeeded in making him so. Lovely! Good luck and contented riding!
For more tips and tricks on horse handling visit KW Saddlery
