How to Make Your Horse's Coat Shine

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 References

A shiny coat is the sign of a healthy and happy horse. Dull horse coats can result from nutritional deficiencies in your horse's diet, from worms and parasites, and from a lack of regular grooming. Whether you have a show to prepare for or you just want your horse to have a healthy, beautiful coat every day, this can be assured with care and attention to your horse’s needs.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Washing and Grooming Your Horse

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Use clean tools. Before washing your horse, soak all brushes (including mane and tail brushes and combs) in warm water with a small amount of dishwashing detergent. Rinse well and let dry in the sun.^{[1]
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Groom your horse regularly. Salt from sweat may dull the coat's color and irritate skin if the horse is not groomed properly.^{[2]
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Research source} Brushing your horse removes dry skin and dead hairs while distributing oils throughout the coat.^{[3]
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- Use some elbow grease. Nothing replaces hard work. When you consistently care for your horse and tend to regular care, it shows.^{[4]
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3
Keep baths to a minimum. Frequent soapy baths can leave the coat dry and dull and strip the natural oils.^{[5]
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Research source} While there's no "rule" to bathing frequency, know that a rinse can be useful for washing off sweat or dirt. Consider a bath before a show or if your horse is covered in mud.
- Monitor dandruff as one way to gauge an appropriate bathing schedule. Dandruff can be an indicator that you are bathing your horse either too frequently or not frequently enough. Without frequent and thorough bathing, horses commonly develop dandruff buildup. Excessive bathing can strip the natural oils of the coat and also lead to dandruff. ^{[6]
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4
Rinse the coat thoroughly. When bathing your horse, rinse as many times as necessary until no soap runs off, as soap residue can lead to a dull coat. Any residue can affect the horse's skin or damage the naturally occurring oils.^{[7]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Addressing Adequate Nutrition

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Ensure that your horse eats a balanced diet. Good nutrition includes adequate protein and fatty acids, depending on your horse's activity level and medical needs. Grazing horses need appropriate nutrition as well. Talk to your equine nutritionist to provide you with professional advice.^{[8]
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Add supplements to your horse's diet. Supplementing can be a great way to add additional nutrition to your horse's diet when used as directed. Discuss any deficiencies with your veterinarian and create a supplement plan. Common ingredients in skin supplements include Vitamin A, B vitamins, Biotin, Methionine, Lysine, Zinc, Fatty acids, Vitamin E.^{[9]
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Add oils to your horse’s diet. A dull coat can stem from a deficiency in fatty acids such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 in your horse’s diet. Many people choose to add regular vegetable oil to the horse's diet. ^{[10]
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Research source} Use as directed.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Assessing Your Horse's Health

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Determine whether your horse needs worming. Worms can cause your horse to experience rough and dull coat, lethargy, extended belly, and slowed growth in young horses.^{[11]
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American Association of Equine Practitioners
National organization with a mission of improving the health and welfare of horses and providing resources to people who work with them.
Go to source} Pay attention to any of these symptoms and talk to your veterinarian to ward off parasites.
- Monitoring parasite eggs in the fecal count is the best way to detect parasites and worms. Your veterinarian can help you develop an effective deworming program to fit your horse's needs.^{[12]
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- Grazing horses experience less parasites than stabled horses due to less confined conditions. If you stable your horse, make sure clean conditions are maintained.^{[13]
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  American Association of Equine Practitioners
  National organization with a mission of improving the health and welfare of horses and providing resources to people who work with them.
  Go to source}
2
Assess for an underlying health condition. If your horse's coat condition has changed, it may be due to problems with health that may require medical attention from your veterinarian.
- A fungus infection may contribute to shedding matted or clumped hair. Some common symptoms of a fungus infection include weight loss, colic, diarrhea, and nasal drip.^{[14]
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- Some glandular conditions can cause the skin to become dry, resulting in a dull, brittle hair coat. Discuss any concerns you have with your veterinarian.^{[15]
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Address allergies. Allergies are unpleasant for the horse and can contribute to problems with the horse's coat. Talk to your veterinarian about ways to treat your horse's allergies.^{[16]
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Showing Your Horse

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Apply silicon after bathing. Silicon enhances the look of the horse's coat. Carefully spray silicon everywhere except the saddle area. Coating the legs and tail will ensure that dirt will not stick.^{[17]
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Research source} Additional products exist to enhance a coat's shine.
2
Use a dryer sheet to collect dust. A dryer sheet will collect any last-minute dust around the face. Carefully brush the dryer sheet throughout the face with your hand, being careful to not displace any hair. Do this right before entering the warm-up ring.^{[18]
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Apply baby powder or corn starch to the legs. Adding powder to the legs will help the legs stand out and can improve the overall appearance of the horse. Apply powder on show day.^{[19]
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Warnings

Use supplements as directed and do not overfeed supplements containing iodine or selenium as these can be toxic at high doses.

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Do not apply shine products near the saddle area or around reins as this causes them to become slippery.

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To avoid burning your horse, abstain from using oils near the eyes or muzzle on sunny days.

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