Your Horse’s Dry Skin and Dull Coat
Well, there are many reasons a horse has dry skin and a dull coat. Sometimes it’s just winter! But there are many causes and many solutions.
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Reasons your horse is dull-looking
- Mud, rain, weather, wind, rolling, dry air. The elements create layers of dirt and gunk on your horse that will make him appear dull and dry.
- Nutrition plays a role. Diets missing key nutrients, especially fatty acids, will often be dry and brittle looking. Supplements can help replace Omega fatty acids in the diet, helping with skin and coat quality.
- Are you up to date on health issues (teeth, worming, etc?). Horses with worm infestations are depleted of nutrients and carry a physical blockage (the worms themselves) to good health. Teeth in need of care are unable to properly chew and start the digestion process. Bring your Veterinarian out for a visit to do a fecal egg count and check on those chompers.
Topical coat conditioners and grooming oils can help your horse be less dull looking.
For clipped and blanketed horses
- Did you clip your horse? Clipped hairs are not tapered at the ends like regular hairs, so a clipped coat won’t be as smooth. Using conditioners, grooming oils, and other grooming products in addition to elbow grease will help.
- If you use a grooming oil BEFORE you clip, your clippers will have some extra zoom as they glide through your horse’s coat.
- Blankets or fly sheets – While certainly necessary in some circumstances, blankets flatten hairs and can create rub marks. This can contribute to a duller appearance!
What you can do about poor skin and coat
Comet’s fuzzy winter hair makes him a bit dull-looking.
Start inside your horse
- You may consider adding some supplements to his diet or even adjusting his rations and hay intake. Our great friends at Kentucky Performance Products shared their knowledge, and this is what they say:
“Certain nutrients, such as omega fatty acids; the trace minerals zinc, copper and iodine; the essential amino acids lysine and methionine (found in high-quality proteins) and the B vitamin biotin, must be present in the correct amounts in a horse’s diet or skin, hooves, and hair will suffer. Getting the right balance is key, more is not always better. Take selenium for instance. This trace mineral must be properly balanced in the diet, too much selenium can cause toxicity which leads to hair loss in the mane and tail, among other symptoms.”
- Chat with your veterinarian or equine nutritionist to find what is right for your horse in supplements. Find one with great Omega 3’s.
- Do regular fecal egg counts to monitor the internal parasite load of your horse. There’s no need in boosting your horse’s diet if the parasites are going to steal all of it.
Now get ready with the elbow grease
- Mud and other dusty dirty winter (or summer) things dull a coat super fast. If you have a vacuum, this is a great tool to use. I like to use it after a very deep curry, seems to get more dirt out that way.
- Find a nice grooming spray that you like. Often, they work well if you spritz your rag or brush and then apply. I like this method in winter, otherwise, the longer hairs tend to soak in the spray and you end up with oily dots. You will keep your brushes nice, and your horse gets some sheen added.
- Make and use a wisp. This is totally “old school,” but what a party trick! These wisps are also “shine makers.” You can find directions to make one here.
- Oil buff your horse. Oil buffing is a handy way of working a conditioning grooming oil into your horse’s coat. This does three things – conditions the coat, adds shine, and helps with waterproofing your horse. Oil buffing is wildly easy to do with a bucket of water with oil, and cloths or a brush. You can oil buff any time of year, and there are many ways to do it.
For the complete guide to oil buffing your horse, read this gem
Oil buffing info
Tips for oil buffing your horse
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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.
These SilverSox are great for protecting the legs from rubs, help with scratches and mud fever, and provide some compression, too.
I can't stress this enough - this magic stick has prevented so many rubs from worsening, and is great for breaking in a new pair of riding boots or shoes.
The best shampoo for shine and soothing.
Super aloe vera gel at a fantastic price.
The best shampoo for shine and soothing.
For all colors - to add shine and help lift stains.
Brighten duns, palominos, and golden colors.
For dark bays, black points, and black horses
This is my favorite horse care product for shine, conditioning, detangling, and stain protection.
For a sleek and protective finish on your horse's coat, and Magic Sheen is also great for detangling manes and tails.
These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.
This spot-on product kills and repels ticks and helps with mosquito control.
Fair warning - this spray has an odd aroma - but it works for some types of flies!
Sweet itch is best battled by not letting those annoying midges bite your horse.
For horses with sweet itch and other insect allergies, more coverage is better.
LeMieux has more colors than the paint section of a hardware store. I promise they have one you like!
These fly masks are fantastic for protecting ears and eyes, and do great under halters and grazing muzzles to stop rubs and hairless patches.
Use code 15PROEQUINE for a sitewide discount on muzzles, halters, accessories, and slow feeders.
These are like the popular Shoo Fly leggings.
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- 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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- 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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- 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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- 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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- #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
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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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- 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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- 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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- 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
These wildly powerful shears are great for thick coats, and when I say thick, I mean it.
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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
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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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Choose your favorite blade from a #7 to a #40 for body clippers like the Velocity, Supera, or KM Series.
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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
Use code LIV for savings at wahlpro.com!
Use code LIV for savings at wahlpro.com
Use code LIV to save at wahlpro.com
Thank you!