Rescue my horse's coat

[AllEars]

Hi all,

First of all, no I am not abusing my horse. :lol:

I am leasing a bit of a klutzy gelding who has, as long as anyone can remember, come in from the paddock with what we’ve come to call his “battle scars.” These are not deep cuts or anything, just hairless lines. This horse could be in a padded cell and he’d still get them. Normally they aren’t really noticeable and the hair grows back quickly. The problem is, this year he has gotten exceptionally sun bleached. Due to a barn change, it wasn’t possible to keep him in all day until recently. He has a shaded run-in area in his paddock, but of course he doesn’t choose to use it. It seems to me that the scratches are so noticeable now because the hair grows back his normal dark bay while the rest of his coat is a horrible bleached color.

We have some events coming up at this point I just want him to look better than this. Suggestions? I’m posting in the H/J forums to avoid recommendations of products that will lead to positive tests.

A mid summer body clip perhaps? I know a lot of barns body clip year round. We’re in Arizona, so it certainly couldn’t hurt. He’d stay a bit cooler. But do you think it would help to even him out a bit?

Help!

[Kat]

I would body clip and then give him a mayo bath

[PonyPenny]

Clip him and then dye him back to his original color with human hair color.

[AllEars]

Thanks guys. Anything specific I need to know about clipping summer coats? I know plenty of show barns clip in the summer, but I’ve never paid attention to how. Not that I’m going to do it myself, but is there a specific blade one should use? Some way to avoid making him look like he’s being prepped for surgery? :lol:

[PonyPenny]

Andis T-84 is my go to blade for clipping.

[Dewey]

There’s a thread in the archives called “Dyeing a Show Horse’s Coat” that will interest you.

[whatsinaname]

Horse’s coats

I have had really good luck with paprika. Start now because it works best when the horses are growing coats and even though it is 110 the days are getting shorter and they are going to start losing their summer coats.

Do a TBLS of paprika once a day along with some stabilized rice bran. The rice bran gives the coats a great shine and it is a “cold” feed, it won’t increase their energy. You should be OK with a scoop of it as long as he’s not obese because it does contain fat calories.

The paprika generally works really well. It is what is in Black as Knight supplement which keeps the horses from getting sunbleached.

You may end up having to body clip before the October shows but if you do the paprika and rice bran, you’ll have a beautiful coat underneath if you do have to clip.

The paprika does test at the shows so you will have to pull it about a week before you show just to be on the safe side.

It worked wonderfully on a liver chestnut that we had as well as an almost black pony.

If you are going to clip, then do it a week or two prior to the show. If you do it now, there is a good chance depending on your horse that you will need to clip again in October. The shows in October are still really hot so if your horse has any coat at all and they sweat (which they will) it looks really bad.

The less you body clip, the better your horses coat will be. It also will not change the color of the hair that has already grown in so you will still see the lines from cuts etc that he has.

[AllEars]

[QUOTE=whatsinaname;7131685]
I have had really good luck with paprika. Start now because it works best when the horses are growing coats and even though it is 110 the days are getting shorter and they are going to start losing their summer coats.

Do a TBLS of paprika once a day along with some stabilized rice bran. The rice bran gives the coats a great shine and it is a “cold” feed, it won’t increase their energy. You should be OK with a scoop of it as long as he’s not obese because it does contain fat calories.

The paprika generally works really well. It is what is in Black as Knight supplement which keeps the horses from getting sunbleached.

You may end up having to body clip before the October shows but if you do the paprika and rice bran, you’ll have a beautiful coat underneath if you do have to clip.

The paprika does test at the shows so you will have to pull it about a week before you show just to be on the safe side.

It worked wonderfully on a liver chestnut that we had as well as an almost black pony.

If you are going to clip, then do it a week or two prior to the show. If you do it now, there is a good chance depending on your horse that you will need to clip again in October. The shows in October are still really hot so if your horse has any coat at all and they sweat (which they will) it looks really bad.

The less you body clip, the better your horses coat will be. It also will not change the color of the hair that has already grown in so you will still see the lines from cuts etc that he has.[/QUOTE]

Thanks!

I’m doing that AHJA Bernie Traurig clinic in a few weeks so I’m kind of desperate. I’d hate to take him to the clinic looking like he does now. He’s an amazing horse, but he sure knows how to beat himself up.

[M_O_Connor]

DYING? That’s pretty drastic…and uncalled for as well. Traditional methods, grounded in good horsemanship and nutrition will suffice, and yield great results without waiting forever.

At this point in the year, a horse is shedding his summer coat and beginning to grow a new one.

So for starters, spend time currying your horse at least daily, and maybe 2x daily, as part of his regular grooming routine.

Bathe him only as much as needed to keep him clean, and no more. Use a flyspray with sunscreen in it.

Invest in a good flysheet, one that covers him from ears to tail to keep the sun off his coat. (I know he’s leased–give it to him as a farewell gift to his owner when you’re finished with him, or keep it for your next horse, or even eBay it if you need recover some funds).

The most important point to look at is to be sure he’s getting good nutrition, including good hay, a grain fed at a rate sufficient to comprise a “complete” ration, or if he’s an easy keeper a ration balancer to ensure he has adequate intake of vitamins and minerals, and a hoof/coat supplement with maximum biotin. I have fed BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) for years, and when we put a new horse on them (about 8 oz-ie one cup- am/pm) we can see a difference in their skin and coat within a week.

If your horse isn’t already getting a hoof/coat supplement and/or BOSS, now is a great time to start supplementing as the new coat will have the full benefit of it.

Also, go out and examine your paddock, find out where your horse is rubbing (if he’s curried regularly he might not itch so much) himself and getting scratched up. A hotwire will keep him off the fencing, saving his coat, and the fence as well! Any other sharp protrusions should be eliminated. Being diligent about this is just good horsemanship, and will keep your horse safe from injury, no matter how slight.

[AllEars]

[QUOTE=M. O’Connor;7131906]
DYING? That’s pretty drastic…and uncalled for as well. Traditional methods, grounded in good horsemanship and nutrition will suffice, and yield great results without waiting forever.

At this point in the year, a horse is shedding his summer coat and beginning to grow a new one.

So for starters, spend time currying your horse at least daily, and maybe 2x daily, as part of his regular grooming routine.

Bathe him only as much as needed to keep him clean, and no more. Use a flyspray with sunscreen in it.

Invest in a good flysheet, one that covers him from ears to tail to keep the sun off his coat. (I know he’s leased–give it to him as a farewell gift to his owner when you’re finished with him, or keep it for your next horse, or even eBay it if you need recover some funds).

The most important point to look at is to be sure he’s getting good nutrition, including good hay, a grain fed at a rate sufficient to comprise a “complete” ration, or if he’s an easy keeper a ration balancer to ensure he has adequate intake of vitamins and minerals, and a hoof/coat supplement with maximum biotin. I have fed BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) for years, and when we put a new horse on them (about 8 oz-ie one cup- am/pm) we can see a difference in their skin and coat within a week.

If your horse isn’t already getting a hoof/coat supplement and/or BOSS, now is a great time to start supplementing as the new coat will have the full benefit of it.

Also, go out and examine your paddock, find out where your horse is rubbing (if he’s curried regularly he might not itch so much) himself and getting scratched up. A hotwire will keep him off the fencing, saving his coat, and the fence as well! Any other sharp protrusions should be eliminated. Being diligent about this is just good horsemanship, and will keep your horse safe from injury, no matter how slight.[/QUOTE]

All good points, but just to clarify, I am definitely not considering dyeing him. (no offense to anyone who does dye.)

My original post was just about what to do to clean him up as best I can prior to a last minute event we have coming up in a few weeks (e.g. whether clipping him would help to even him out, thus masking the unsightly black lines a bit, which is what I’m really concerned about.)

I’m not too concerned about the sun bleaching. We’re in Arizona. To an extent it’s unavoidable. He’s on supplements, UV protectant fly sprays, etc., only bathed when necessary. I curry the living daylights out of him twice daily (I’ve always been obsessive about currying. I was raised in Pony Club back east with my own mom for a DC and she’s even more obsessive than I am. Pony club is all about the currying.) There is nothing unusual in his paddock. I check regularly. He’s probably just scratching himself up on the hard Phoenix ground. I’m used to the soft, rolling green hills of PA/NC where I grew up. This desert stuff is new to me.

Thanks again!

[Dewey]

My horse is a dark brown and sunbleaching is a problem. I have dyed her tail and forelock lots of times, but have never done her whole body and probably wouldn’t. I just thought it was interesting that some people have actually done it with good results.

I tried the paprika regimen. My horse didn’t like it. You might try mixing it with applesauce if your horse doesn’t want to eat it.

PS I’m a graduate Pony Clubber as well. It was a super preparation for my life with horses.

[whatsinaname]

@Dewey;7132022

I tried the paprika regimen. My horse didn’t like it. You might try mixing it with applesauce if your horse doesn’t want to eat it.

I’ve never had a horse not eat paprika when mixed with the stabilized rice bran and a little bit of water. They LOVE the rice bran!

[gottagrey]

I would not use paprika if you are planning to go to any rated shows as it could test positive for capsaisin. I would also use a fly sheet or one of those Kool Koats when he’s turned out…

[stolen_virtue]

Omega 3 from smartpak. Good health and lots of grooming works ! My old guy looks great as does his little brother.

[hunterrider23]

I would not use Paprika, since it’s got Capsaisin in it. Try an omega supplement and a fly sheet and sunflower suncoat spf sunscreen (I believe smartpak carries it).

[lauriep]

At this time of year, with the winter coat just beginning to emerge, if you clip using a T-84 or #10 blade, or big clippers, you should get a horse with a beautiful, natural color coat. You will be clipping off all of the sunbleached hair, and the new winter hair will be growing in quickly, and you don’t get the shaved look that you get in the winter when no new hair is growing. I clip a TON of foxhunters between now and Thanksgiving, and they look amazing. I am getting ready to clip one of my babies now, just before an important show in Warrenton, because she is sunbleached. And has really long hair.

I would NOT consider dying a whole horse, ever. As far as the little dings, shoe polish on brown ones, Magic Marker on the black works very well.

[CindyCRNA]

[QUOTE=whatsinaname;7131685]
I have had really good luck with paprika. Start now because it works best when the horses are growing coats and even though it is 110 the days are getting shorter and they are going to start losing their summer coats.

Do a TBLS of paprika once a day along with some stabilized rice bran. The rice bran gives the coats a great shine and it is a “cold” feed, it won’t increase their energy. You should be OK with a scoop of it as long as he’s not obese because it does contain fat calories.

The paprika generally works really well. It is what is in Black as Knight supplement which keeps the horses from getting sunbleached.

You may end up having to body clip before the October shows but if you do the paprika and rice bran, you’ll have a beautiful coat underneath if you do have to clip.

The paprika does test at the shows so you will have to pull it about a week before you show just to be on the safe side.

It worked wonderfully on a liver chestnut that we had as well as an almost black pony.

If you are going to clip, then do it a week or two prior to the show. If you do it now, there is a good chance depending on your horse that you will need to clip again in October. The shows in October are still really hot so if your horse has any coat at all and they sweat (which they will) it looks really bad.

The less you body clip, the better your horses coat will be. It also will not change the color of the hair that has already grown in so you will still see the lines from cuts etc that he has.[/QUOTE]

Just a note about the Cheval products. I put my chestnut gelding on their Red Divinity and he turned a beautiful dark red chestnut so I thought I would get some Black As Knight for my bay mare from the same company as she was bleaching out in the summer. 6 months and $400 later (I bought the big bucket) it did nothing. I was giving her a heaping 1/2 cup per day so way more than enough. I went on to do some searches and found it doesn’t work on all horses.