Healthy, Natural Shine

Six natural ways to give your horse's coat a vibrant shine
by R. Matthews

You’ve seen them. You’ve admired them. You’ve wished your horse looked like one of them. Them being the slick, shiny horses you see paraded on TV in numerous horse shows, on the covers of glossy magazines, in dressage rings, and out in green-laden pastures under bright, sun-filled blue skies.

It isn't magic. You can get that gleaming look with minimal trouble. Here are six simple tips to get that super horse shine through natural, healthy means. Choose one or combine a few to give your horse the gleam that you know is in him.

Vegetable Oils
Most people know that vegetable oil is the number one way to bring out the shine in a horse. Half a cup of oil in your horse's daily feed will make that coat shine with the best of them. Black oil sunflower seeds, corn oil and rice bran oil are all as effective as vegetable oil. A word of warning: oil is high in fat. If your horse doesn’t need the extra calories or packs on unneeded weight, you might consider one of the other options.

Brushing
Brushing your horse is a great way to spend some quality time together while you bring out the natural oils in his coat. A good deep brushing that utilizes a curry comb (or its equivalent: a stiff-bristled brush and a soft-bristled brush) will bring up the hidden dirt, dry skin, and old hair. It will also stimulate and release the natural oils in your horse’s coat. This is a great way to relax with your horse after a long day.

Keep Him Covered
Sunlight bleaches; it is a fact of life. Your hair lightens in the summer, and so does your horse’s hair. When that Northwest sun is shining, consider keeping him in during the height of the day and turning him out in the late afternoon and evening. If this is not an option, try a lightweight blanket.

Winter weather can also take its toll on your horse, and a durable blanket can protect the fragile hair. When spring comes around, invest in a good shedding blade to remove extra hair and promote new growth.

Use Your Natural Oils
Another great option, especially if you are short on time, is to hand brush your horse. That's just what it sounds like: brush your hands over your horse's coat, smoothing the hair with your palms and fingers. This is a quick, efficient way to transfer the natural oils from your hands directly onto your horse’s coat.

Towel to Brush
This is another quick fix when short on time. It is also an easy, effective way to finish off a serious grooming session. Take a soft towel or rag and wipe down your horse. This will remove excess dirt and smooth out the hair. Do not wash the rag; it will start to collect the natural oils from your horse’s coat and bring out the shine.

Don’t Over-wash
If your horse’s coat is starting to look dull, even with all the grooming and extra care, you might take a look at how often you are washing him. A quick spray-down with the hose to cool him off on the hot days of summer won’t do any harm, but a deep-cleaning wash too often with shampoos will strip the natural oils from his coat and leave him looking dull.

Instead, consider giving him a bath with a little cider vinegar and a squirt of baby oil in a bucket half full of water. Don’t overdo the baby oil, though. It can clog the pores, blocking the release of natural oils. Sponge it on and squeegee it off. It will leave your horse silky and bright.

All it takes is a little time and attention to give your horse a natural healthy shine. None of these methods are expensive, and most are a great way to spend some quality time with your horse.

About the Author
R. Matthews is a freelance writer living in southern Idaho where she breeds, raises and sometimes shows American Quarter Horses. She has written for equestrian magazines such as EQUUS and enjoys mindless rambling on ranch life at her blog: http://forloveofahorse.wordpress.com.