IT is not uncommon at this time of year for a horse’s coat to lack lustre. There is a myriad of possible reasons why this may be the case. But the most important thing to keep in mind is that health and nutrition are the basis of a good coat. Your horse cannot grow a shiny coat if he’s missing essential nutrients or is suffering from some sort of health condition.

NUTRITION

A complete, well-balanced diet for the age and activity level of the horse is important for a quality coat. Having an accurate measure of your horse’s weight and body condition should be the first port of call. A weigh-bridge will give you the most accurate reading of your horse’s weight but weigh-tapes can also be used. A body condition score should also be carried out. Following this you need to consider your horse’s workload. The accompanying table offers helpful advice on determining workload.

Discuss your horse’s diet with a qualified equine nutritionist. Last year I was producing a young event horse for sale. I contacted an equine nutritionist from Baileys Horse Feed who was a great help. I was asked for all the quantifiable details mentioned above before being asked about the horse’s general appearance and health. Only after all these details had been submitted was I given a specific diet plan for my horse.

The horse thrived and I saw a huge improvement in the horse’s overall condition.

HEALTH

If your horse’s coat condition has changed, it may be due to problems with health.

The following conditions may require medical attention from your veterinarian.

  • Worms are a very common cause of dull coats. They steal vital nutrients from your horse and can cause serious internal damage leading to dull and dry coats, weight loss, poor performance, anaemia and colic.
  • Your horse may have a skin condition that is affecting his coat quality. Rain scald, ringworm and other types of fungal conditions are not uncommon in horses. Inspect your horse frequently as you are grooming for abnormal matting, patchiness, clumpy shedding, spots, bumps or other inexplicable marks.
  • Poor coat quality could be an indicator of an underlying disease or illness, such as Cushing’s disease or gastric ulcers. Cushing’s disease can affect any horse but is more common in older horses. You may notice that your horse is not shedding his winter coat, and the hair is wavy and coarse. In addition to poor coat quality, suspect gastric ulcers if your horse frequently colic’s or exhibits symptoms similar to colic, including loss of appetite and attitude changes.

    • GROOMING

  • Regular, thorough grooming stimulates oil production and blood circulation, as well as removing dead hair, sweat and dirt. A soft curry comb used in a circular motion produces a massaging effect, stimulating oil producing glands in the skin. Ensure your grooming equipment is clean and fit for purpose.
  • After exercise, remove any sweat by brushing or washing off. Salty sweat can dry and bleach the coat, affecting the coat’s health and can make the horse feel uncomfortable.
  • You can help a coat to shed out through grooming and exercise. As spring nears, encourage shedding by keeping the horse warm in the stable and through exercise.
  • Keep baths to a minimum. Lots of soapy baths will dry and dull your horse’s coat.
  • Clipped horses should be rugged appropriately, this will help the new coat come through and prevent the long cat hairs from growing, a sign of a cold horse.

    • SUPPLEMENTS

    Horses involved in strenuous activities may benefit from a dietary supplement.High-stress performance depletes some of the body’s nutrients and mineral stores more rapidly than the diet can replace them. Bluegrass Horse Feeds had some helpful advice to offer horse owners: “Generally, supplements used for improving the coat involve extra fat and/or extra vitamins and minerals.

    “For example stabilised rice bran is a popular additive to the horse’s diet. It has an elevated fat content and is a good source of essential fatty acids. Fatty acids are necessary for healthy skin and quality coat condition.”

    There are a wide variety of dietary supplements on the market, owners need to make sure that they are not causing an unnecessary imbalance in their horse’s diet. My advice would be not to make any dietary changes without consulting your equine nutritionist or vet first.