Dark Horse Grooming Tips
The plight of the gray horse owner is well known – grass stains, manure spots, general dirtiness that is so obvious on a gray or white horse.
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Dark horses can be just as tricky to shine up and keep clean.
- You might not see manure stains, but you will see sun bleaching and a dull coat. Some ideas for keeping your dark horse looking amazing:
- Follow the usual routine for a healthy coat – a balanced diet, lots of curry comb attention, keep the hair’s natural oils.
- Add in your other senses. It’s hard to see manure stains on a dark horse, but you can feel then sometimes, and they appear as dull areas on a horse. You may also smell them. Using a dry shampoo or spot cleaner after a thorough curry comb removes the stain.
- Deal with sweat appropriately. Sunshine and sweat can often lead to a bleached-out appearance on your horse. You don’t have to bathe every day, this might be totally drying out anyway, but take the time to remove sweat with a damp washrag, a light hosing, or a full-body rinse. Arrange things around so he dries in the shade if possible.
The ends of manes and tails can become reddish or bleached. You may want to trim the ends, just a tad.
- Keep the ends of the mane and tail trimmed. You don’t need to drastic haircut here, just keep the tattered and/or bleached ends cut away. And yes, you can cut the mane with scissors, or you may want to just use a man blade to trim off the ends. Tails can be banged for a tidy look if it’s appropriate for your horse’s discipline.
- Explore some UV protection options for your horse to combat bleaching and fading. Some sprays offer UV protection, and some hoods, fly sheets, bonnets, and fly masks may help as well. It really depends on how these clothing items fit into your horse’s lifestyle.
- Employ the “barrier method” for repelling dirt and bleaching. Fly sheets and blankets do wonders for keeping a horse’s hair coat nice. Not a technique for all horses or all situations, but a physical barrier between your horse and the earth might work. This is especially nice for the messy horse that sleeps in the soft and wet spots.
- Bust out the product. Many horses benefit from a little shine help in the form of a shine spray, but you also have the option of using a shampoo designed to deepen colors. Just as the purple shampoos work on gray horses, these colored shampoos can add a layer of color depth and shine to your horse’s coat.
Grooming products and fly gear can help prevent bleaching out of your horse’s dark color.
- I should add that these tips work equally well for the red-headed chestnut horses out there. For the paint and pinto owners who have both white and dark to deal with, well, I salute you. That is, perhaps, the biggest grooming challenge.
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Big Hoss - Outlaw Nutrition
Omega 3's plus gut health support in a delicious cold milled flax formula. It's delicious and it will turn your horse's coat into a mirror.
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SHAPLEY'S Medi-Care Med Shampoo W/Tea Tree & Lemon Grass, 32 oz
$21.29
The best shampoo for shine and soothing.
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Shapley s 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo - Whitening Formula
$23.91
For all colors - to add shine and help lift stains.
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Shapley's Equitone 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, GOLD
$23.92
Brighten duns, palominos, and golden colors.
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Shapley's 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, BLACK
$19.39
For dark bays, black points, and black horses
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Shapley's No.1 Light Oil
$19.42
This is my favorite horse care product for shine, conditioning, detangling, and stain protection.
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Shapley's Magic Sheen Hair Polish, 1-Quart
For a sleek and protective finish on your horse's coat, and Magic Sheen is also great for detangling manes and tails.
HANDSON Pet Grooming Gloves - Grooming, Bathing, Shedding
$16.99
These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.
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WAHL Arco Horse Cordless Trimmer
Use code LIV for savings at wahlpro.com
- Cordless 5-in-1 clipper for precise finishing work on horses
- Adjustable blade (#9, #10, #15, #30, #40) for flexible trimming
- Lightweight design for easy control and less hand fatigue
- Dual batteries with quick swap for extended grooming time
- Quiet, low-vibration motor for sensitive horses
- Ideal for bridle path, face, ears, muzzle, and fetlocks
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WAHL Professional Animal Bravura 2 Trimmers
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- 2-speed motor (6000 & 8000 RPMs)
- 4-hour cordless runtime + corded option
- 5-in-1 Diamond Pro blade stays cool and sharp
- Textured housing for comfortable control
- Travel lock for safe transport
- LED screen with speed, battery, and maintenance info
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WAHL Professional Animal Motiva 2 Cordless Trimmers
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- Powerful motor glides through coats
- Textured grip for better control
- Up to 3 hours cordless + corded option
- Digital display with battery + maintenance alerts
- Travel lock for safe transport
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Wahl Professional Animal KMC+ 2-Speed Cordless Clippers
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- Upgraded brushless motor (3,700 & 4,500 RPMs)
- Textured housing for secure, comfortable grip
- Constant Speed Control powers through thick or matted coats
- Corded + cordless use with quick-charge battery
- Up to 2 hours cordless runtime
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WAHL Professional Animal KM10+ Corded Clippers
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- #10 Prime Series German high-carbon steel blade for durability
- LOCKGUARD tech prevents hinge closure for easy blade changes
- Lightweight, slip-resistant design for better control
- Constant Speed Control powers through all coat types
Wahl Stable Grip Clippers
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- Powerful, quiet motor with 7,200 SPM and reduced heat
- Adjustable cutting lengths (#30, #15, #10) for versatile clipping
- Lightweight design for controlled grooming and finish work
- Ideal for fetlocks, bridle path, face, ears, and detailing
- Includes adjustable blade, blade oil, and cleaning brush
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Wahl KM Supera Clipper with #10 Wide Blade
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- Includes #10 wide Prime blade
- LOCKGUARD technology for secure blade hold
- Two speeds (3,000 & 3,700 RPMs)
- Two lithium-ion batteries, up to 3 hours each
- Wide blade version of the KM Supera
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Wahl Velocity Corded Horse Clippers
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- Powers through all coat types with 3 high-speed settings
- #10 Prime Series German high-carbon steel blade for durability
- LOCKGUARD technology prevents hinge closure for easy blade changes
- Replaceable drive tip system for quick, simple maintenance
- Rubberized no-slip grip for comfort and full control
- Lightweight design built for all-day grooming use
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WAHL Professional Animal Pro Ion Equine Cordless Horse Clipper and Grooming Kit
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- Powerful motor up to 6,000 SPM with cool, quiet performance
- Up to 2 hours cordless runtime with Lithium Ion battery
- Quick-adjust blade (#10, #15, #30) for flexible cutting lengths
- 15-minute quick charge gives ~10 minutes of extra use
- Ergonomic design for comfort and control during grooming
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Lister Eclipse Cordless Clipper
$499.99
These wildly powerful shears are great for thick coats, and when I say thick, I mean it.
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WAHL Clipper Blade Oil
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- Keeps blades lubricated for cooler, smoother cutting
- Helps blades stay sharper for longer use
- Recommended after each use for best performance and longevity
WAHL Clini-Clip Blade Disinfectant and Cleaner Spray
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- 2-minute hospital-grade disinfectant for fast, effective cleaning
- Kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi on contact
- EPA-certified formula for trusted disinfection
- Safe for grooming tools and workstation surfaces
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We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
WAHL Prime Series Detachable Blades #7, #9, #10, #10W, #40
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Choose your favorite blade from a #7 to a #40 for body clippers like the Velocity, Supera, or KM Series.
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WAHL 5-in-1 Pro Adjustable Clipper Blade
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- Glide-through cutting for smooth, efficient clipping on all coat types
- Easy detachment and adjustment (#9, #10, #15, #30 & #43)
- Always cool-running blade set for consistent performance
- Ideal for bridle path, ears, muzzle, fetlocks, and finish work on horses
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WAHL Professional Animal Guide Comb Set for 5 - in - 1 Blades
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WAHL Professional Animal Comb for Detachable Blade - Choose Your Size
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Drive Tip Replacement for KM5 and KM10 Clipper
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