KEEP THE SHINE

Hey Friends!

It's summer and that means our horses are more than likely getting bathed or rinsed off and then left to dry, almost every day. While your horse is getting clean, have you noticed their coat lacking that natural shine or that (especially for chestnuts/bay/sorrels) they are almost looking sun-bleached?

I've got the secret answer for you...

Race horses are super sleek and shiny, right? First of all, they live in a bed of straw and in a box stall 24/7.

BUT-- they also don't dry off in the sun!

That's it. That's where your problem lies. Your horse's coat is being damaged by the sun. When we wash them off and then squeegee the excess water off, they are left with this wet, shiny, pretty look that is reflecting the sun causing the little hairs to heat up and burn. The result being that it makes your horse's coat look fried AND can also cause your horse to over-heat from the trapped water in their coat heating up.

The solution? Wash your horse off and then immediately move them to some sort of shade... whether it be under a tree, tied in a covered stall, or ....just under any sort of shade.

This was something an old race tracker once taught me and I will never forget it because it was such an "ah-ha!" moment for me. Ever since then, I've always tried my hardest to find shade to put my horses under when drying off.

PS - You can prevent most horses from rolling when they get put back in their pen (after being beautified) by letting them roll before the bath! That way, they've already gotten all those sweaty itchy spots scratched. Also, further damage from the sun can be warded off by keeping a UVA protected fly sheet or day sheet on them.

FUN TIP: Lastly, you can make their bath more of a treat by adding a dash of liniment to your suds bucket for an aromatic and stress relieving clean.

Do you have any helpful grooming tips?! Leave a comment below.