It's that time of year when our horse's coats can feel a bit neglected, and we may all be a little guilty of simply changing rugs and brushing off the worst of the mud to enable a quick ride, which is often more important!
Alongside ad-lib forage where possible and a suitable feed balancer, a bit of elbow grease is also required to keep their skin and coat in good condition.
Skin and Coat
- Regular grooming is an opportunity to keep an eye out for skin irritation
- Grooming helps to lift scurf, and distributes the natural oils along the hair follicles which is beneficial for insulation
- If your horse is unclipped, use brushes with longer, stiffer bristles to reach through the winter coat, removing mud, but without stripping natural oils which they might need to protect them from the weather
- Use a rubber or plastic curry comb carefully to loosen dirt, mud, and shedding hair PLUS it helps improve circulation too
- Always remember to keep your brushes clean by washing them regularly
Hooves
- Check and clean hooves daily to remove mud, stones, twigs and packed snow
- Feed a balancer with added hoof supplement, and apply external applications if needed
Manes and Tails
- Plaiting the mane and tail loosely can help maintain the hairs integrity, undo regularly and re-plait
- Avoid excessive washing; instead, use detangler and finger-comb knots
- Trim the tail to prevent it from dragging through the mud
Clipping and trimming
- Keeping your horse neatly trimmed will make brushing easier
- Make sure to clip/trim suitable for workload and daily management
Washing/Bathing
- Use warm water and dry thoroughly
- Spot wash to remove small areas of dirt rather than a full body wash
-
A full body wash in winter can cause your horse to get a chill
It's important to look for a balancer with good levels of vitamins and minerals:
Grooming is a great time to assess body condition, especially when thick coats can hide weight loss. Make sure to feel right to the skin when checking health.
-
Vitamin A and E - from fresh, green grass and newly cut hay, these vitamins must be supplemented in the winter as levels in both grass and hay decline when forage is stored
- Biotin - to support hoof and hair growth, signs of biotin deficiency can include a dull, lacklustre coat and brittle hooves
- Zinc - an essential antioxidant
- Copper - another essential antioxidant that works with zinc to neutralize free radicals
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids - help to promote improvement in skin condition and coat shine
- Electrolytes - helps to encourage horses to drink, especially important in cold weather
Any questions regarding feed balancers? Please, do get in contact with us. All of our balancers contain all of the vitamins, minerals and the omegas. But if you need help choosing one, please do get in contact with us.
@bluechipfeed Winter grooming tip! ❄️ A splash of diluted Dettol can help keep your horse fres, but ALWAYS do a patch test first! Other options include diluted hibiscrub or apple cider vinegar. ✨ A good diet is just as important, our feed balancers are packed with omega oils, vitamins, and minerals to support a healthy, shiny coat from the inside out! ✨ #WinterHorseCare #GroomingTips #ShinyCoat #HappyHorses #fedonbluechip #bluechipfeed #horsefeed #horsewinter #horsefeedingroutine #horsefeedingtips #ponies #fyp ♬ original sound - bluechipfeed
We are always here to help, call us, email or chat on social.
