Probios and shine?

[lesgarcons]

My barn manager has her two OTTB geldings on Probios. The one shone like glass all summer and fall. She got the second gelding this fall, he had been pasture boarded and was skinny and dull-coated. We body clipped him and he was still skinny and dull-coated. Fast forward to now, and his summer coat is coming in and now it, too, shines like glass. He’s possibly even shinier than the two warmblood mares we have who are just very, very thrifty and shine year-round.

I’ve never heard of Probios being recommended for shiny coats, and I’ve read that horses shouldn’t be on probiotics for extended periods of time. But I want all of my horses to be that ridiculously shiny, and it’s pretty cheap. Anyone have any experience with Probios and shine?

[kelsey97]

It’s very interesting that you bring this up. My old man, 30 years young retired OTTB, gets probios intermittently and his coat looks like a wet seal during warmer months. I had a boarder come in last summer with an older horse in good weight, but dull coat and crappy feet. The mare was eating manure and dirt in the pasture, so we put her on probios. Her owner commented that she’d never seen her so shiny. We figured it was getting better quality feed, hay, worming, etc. But, maybe it was probios?

[Palm_Beach]

Probios are in my commercially processed feed and my horses shine like crazy. Or maybe it’s a good feed.

[nu2u]

Would make sense if the horse is digesting and absorbing nutrients better they would have a healthier coat and feet but probios without good food would not make them shine…also typically the type of owner who would give probios would also give the horse good groomings and just overall attentive care on every level that makes the horse glow from the inside out… not saying those horses that do not shine are not cared for or all horses that are cared for shine jist that there are probably more factors than the probios

[lesgarcons]

Our feeding program is fairly standardized, all of our regular keepers get Strategy (we are in the Midwest so not much else available), great quality brome and great quality alfalfa. Everyone is pretty shiny, but this girl’s horses GLOW. Interestingly, her newer guy has been on stall rest for a bruised eye and hasn’t been getting groomed particularly often. The only difference I can think of is the Probios.