Let Your Horse Shine

Nutrition, Grooming Habits, Environment and Overall Horse Health Contribute

Horse owners and caretakers take great pride in maintaining a horse’s healthy, shiny coat, along with its beautiful mane and tail. The effort goes beyond aesthetics; the horse’s exterior is also seen as a reflection of its overall health and well-being. Regular grooming is part of preserving a lustrous coat, but true brilliance requires more. So, what’s the secret to making your horse shine like a diamond under the sun?

Understanding Your Horse’s Skin and Hair

The skin and coat are more than just superficial features; they serve as a protective barrier against environmental elements and play a key role in temperature regulation. Each component of the skin and coat has a specific and important function.

Steps to Achieving a Glossy Coat

Achieving a glistening coat and healthy skin for your horse requires attention to several key factors. By addressing these, you can help your horse truly shine, inside and out.

1. Nourish for Radiance

Proper nutrition is the cornerstone. Hair follicles rely on the nutrients delivered through the bloodstream. Skin and coat health rank lower in nutrient priority to a horse’s vital organs — the heart, liver and kidneys — meaning that the skin and coat often reflect the horse’s nutritional resources revealing dietary deficiencies.

A balanced diet that meets all nutritional needs will enhance coat appearance, improve skin health and help combat other health issues. Establishing a balanced diet starts with a forage- first approach, minimizing the use of concentrates. Quality forage should form the bulk of the diet, containing essential fibers that support good gut health and function, while being a source of energy, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids. However, forage alone may not meet all nutrient needs, and additional supplementation to fill in any dietary gaps is often necessary.

Several key nutrients promote healthy hair growth, texture and shine, while also preventing skin dryness and irritation.

• Amino Acids

  Hair is largely made of keratin, a crucial structural protein that needs continual replenishment. Inadequate quality protein intake can lead to poor coat condition, slow hair growth and even hair loss. The quality of a protein is determined by the building blocks of amino acids it contains. The higher the quantity of specific important or essential amino acids, such as lysine, methionine and threonine, the higher quality that protein is. Lysine, methionine, cysteine and arginine are amino acids important for hair structure, growth and repair. Essential amino acids, methionine and lysine are needed to produce all proteins in the body, including keratin. They are also needed for collagen formation, which supports skin structure. Cystine, a non-essential amino acid (the body can produce it), plays a role in keratin formation and helps prevent hair from becoming brittle. The amino acid arginine is important in nitric oxide production, which helps improve blood flow throughout the body, helping deliver nutrients to the skin and hair follicles. A high-quality protein source, such as alfalfa, can be added to enhance your horse’s protein profile in its forage, as well as a supplement containing a full profile of amino acids, can all be a part of supporting a high-quality protein diet for hair and skin vitality.

• Fatty Acids

  Omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids are necessary for maintaining and improving skin elasticity, moisture retention and a shiny coat. They support the production of skin oils from the sebaceous gland, helping create a moisture barrier for skin cells and hair shafts. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids must come from the diet, as the body cannot produce them, and they need to be maintained in the proper balance. A higher omega-3-to-omega-6 ratio is recommended, as omega-3s — found in flaxseed oil, fish oil and grasses — support non-inflammatory pathways, while omega-6s — found in grains and vegetable oils like sunflower, canola or corn — can promote inflammation. A constant level of inflammation can lead to or worsen skin issues. Horses rarely lack for omega-6s in their diet. Omega-3s, on the other hand, break down quickly in forages, leading to a relative deficiency. Adding a small amount of flaxseed oil, such as 1/8 cup, can help improve coat quality by adding more omega-3s to the diet without adding a significant number of calories.

• Vitamins and Minerals

  Several vitamins and minerals help improve skin and coat appearance and vitality. Vitamins E, A and C are antioxidants that protect against oxidative stress, an imbalance of the free radical-to-antioxidant ratio in the body that can cause cell damage, impairing skin and coat appearance and function.

  Vitamin E, paired with the mineral selenium, act as a dynamic antioxidant duo — selenium protects the cell interior, while vitamin E shields the exterior — supporting healthy hair follicles and skin cells. Too much selenium, however, is known to replace the sulfur in amino acids found in keratin, leading to a serious condition called Alkali disease, which will cause hair, mane and tail loss and other health and hoof issues. It is important to know your horse’s selenium status and avoid over-supplementation.

  Vitamin C can be produced naturally in the horse’s body by microbes in the GI tract, but age, stress and a weakened immune system can increase a horse’s need for this antioxidant. It supports collagen production, a protein needed to maintain skin and hair follicle cell integrity and structure.

  Vitamin A supports the health of epithelial cells on the skin by being an antioxidant source but also by assisting in cell turnover. It also helps regulate the production of sebum for skin and hair hydration and sheen, which can also have a positive impact on the shedding process and the growth of new hair

  The B vitamins have a role in making proteins in the horse’s body, such as collagen. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is particularly important for hair health. It enhances strength and growth by supporting the function of keratin in hair follicles. Bacteria in a horse’s gut can synthesize B vitamins, which is one reason why a healthy gut environment is important and central to a horse’s outer appearance.

  Copper and zinc work closely together and are necessary for keratin production. These minerals play a role in epithelial cell turnover, collagen integrity and aid in the production of melanin. Copper, in particular, is involved in the tyrosinase enzyme that regulates melanin production. Iron helps in the formation of red blood cells and ensures proper oxygenation of tissues, including the skin and hair follicles. A proper balance between iron, copper and zinc is integral to a healthy coat. When the ratios of these minerals are off in the diet, absorption of one can be limited by the abundance of another, leading to a deficiency.

• Water

  Water, which makes up roughly 70% of an adult horse’s body weight, is an important component for skin and hair health. Though not a nutrient, proper hydration helps maintain skin moisture, preventing dryness, flakiness and irritation. Dehydration can cause brittle hair and flaky skin, so access to clean, fresh water is essential, especially during hot weather or after exercise when a horse loses fluids through sweat.

3. Guard Against Parasites

External parasites — flies, ticks, mites and lice — are not only irritating but can cause skin infections, hair loss and general discomfort brought on by constant itching and scratching. Scratches and parasite bites can create openings in the skin, leaving the horse vulnerable to secondary infections, including bacterial and fungal. Internal parasites can impede nutrient absorption, resulting in poor coat quality and even hair loss. Keeping your horse free from both internal and external parasites will help ensure a shiny, healthy coat. Regular parasite control methods, such as deworming, topical treatments and fly-management strategies should be implemented.

Platinum Products That Support a Healthy Coat

4. Create a Happy Space

A horse’s environment can significantly impact skin and coat condition. Care needs will change depending on the climate. When the weather is hot, horses are at risk of sunburn, dehydration and heat stress, all of which affect skin and coat. Providing shade, plenty of fresh water and access to cool, dry areas helps prevent these issues. Some horses may require sunscreen or a UV-protective fly sheet to shield them from harmful rays. Factoring into this are unique breed-specific coat and skin requirements. For example, breeds with fine coats, like Thoroughbreds, or those with pale skin, like Paints, are more susceptible to sunburn. Shires or Clydesdales, with their heavy feathering and large size, may need extra care to prevent skin issues like dermatitis and scratches. During winter months, horses grow thicker coats, and exposure to cold, wet conditions can lead to rain rot and fungal infections. Providing proper shelter to keep horses dry and warm during colder months is essential for skin protection. Blankets can keep a horse warm, but don’t be too quick to cover a healthy horse with its thick, winter coat. Hair follicles can pull hair upright to provide an insulating effect, and blankets that flatten the haircoat can reduce this ability. Over-blanketing also causes overheating and sweating associated with chills and other skin issues.

5. Monitor Health

Coat and skin issues are sometimes a result of underlying health conditions. Allergies — to provided feed, forage or environmental factors — can cause skin irritation, hives and hair loss. Skin infection, both bacterial or fungal, such as rain rot or ringworm, can result in hair loss, scabbing and discomfort. Horses with endocrine disorders like Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism often experience changes in their coat. A horse with Cushing’s commonly hangs onto its shaggy coat long after the winter months. Hormonal fluctuations can also affect coat quality, causing dullness, hair loss or uneven shedding. Poor digestive health can hinder nutrient absorption and weaken the immune system, leading to a lackluster coat and irritated skin. If your horse shows signs of abnormal coat or skin issues, consult a veterinarian to rule out serious health problems. Regular checkups can help catch potential health concerns early, ensuring your horse maintains a healthy, radiant coat.