| Step 1: Nutrition | | | | will greatly multiply your results! Top show horses get |
| A beautiful coat starts with what is on the inside of | | | | groomed as much as two hours a day. Thankfully, |
| your horse. No amount of grooming will make your | | | | that isn't strictly necessary. Fifteen to twenty |
| horse look beautiful if he isn't getting the proper | | | | minutes of daily brushing should be sufficient to |
| nutrition. A diet rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty | | | | remove dirt and dust from your horse's coat and |
| acids is the first step in achieving a healthy coat. | | | | stimulate his oil glands to produce healthy, shiny oils. |
| There are numerous ways to accomplish this, and | | | | You should first curry your horse using a rubber curry |
| you should consult a vet prior to making any changes | | | | brush. This is a very important step as it removes |
| in your horse's diet. Your horse should be fed a high | | | | dead hair and dirt. This also brings the oils in his coat |
| quality form of forage (generally either alfalfa or | | | | to the surface. Follow this with a hard bristled brush |
| timothy hay), along with a concentrate (grain) that | | | | used to remove all the dirt and hair you just |
| contains at least 7% fat and 14% protein. I | | | | loosened. Afterward, use a softer brush to remove |
| recommend a pellet with 9% fat if you can locate | | | | any lingering traces of dust and "polish" your horse's |
| one. | | | | coat. Lastly, you can rub your horse's entire body |
| To this, you can add daily one cup of black oil | | | | with a soft cloth/towel. This will spread all those oils |
| sunflower seeds, one cup of brown flax seed, | | | | around and make his coat super shiny and soft. If |
| one-half to one whole cup of corn oil, and one to | | | | you have access to an equine grooming vacuum, this |
| two tablespoons of paprika. (Warning: Paprika can | | | | will also greatly improve the appearance of his coat. |
| cause a false positive on some drug tests, so utilize | | | | The blower attachment of the vacuum helps remove |
| with caution.) Paprika serves the purpose of | | | | all the dust particles and the suction of the vacuum |
| preventing your horse's coat from fading in direct | | | | will further stimulate his oil glands. |
| sunlight, so a horse that is not turned out to pasture | | | | Step 4: Protect that coat |
| during the day may not need this supplement. In | | | | Now that you've got your dream coat, make sure |
| addition to these, don't forget to provide your horse | | | | you protect it vigilantly. For an ideal coat, it's best to |
| with a trace mineral block containing zinc and copper, | | | | keep your horse inside between the hours of 9am |
| both of which affect coat condition. If your horse is | | | | and 5pm, as the bright, direct rays of the sun can |
| eating only timothy hay, it may be helpful to add a | | | | bleach your horse's coat terribly. If this isn't possible, |
| small amount (about a half cup) of alfalfa pellets to | | | | keep your horse covered with either a light sheet (in |
| your horse's feed ration. | | | | cooler climates) or a mesh fly sheet (in warmer |
| There are also some commercially available products | | | | areas) to prevent sun damage. I suggest you spray |
| that can do the same thing as the above recipe. I | | | | him daily with an equine moisturizing product that |
| personally am a huge fan of "Dac Oil" which is one of | | | | contains a sunscreen. Avoid using any silicone based |
| the best kept secrets of the halter industry. This | | | | "shine sprays" on your horse's coat. These are |
| stuff is absolutely amazing and I can't say enough | | | | acceptable for occasional use at shows, but are not |
| nice things about it!. Nu-Image and Super 14 also | | | | recommended for daily use as they actually seal the |
| work well! | | | | hair follicle and prevent it from absorbing moisture. |
| Step 2: De-Worming | | | | Keep soapy baths to a minimum (no more than once |
| No horse can have a shiny coat if his stomach if full | | | | per month, or before shows), as these needlessly |
| of parasites leeching away his nutrients! It is critical | | | | strip oils from the coat. If your horse gets sweaty, |
| that all horses be kept on an appropriate de-worming | | | | feel free to hose him off with clean water (as this |
| schedule. Your vet can assist you with developing a | | | | sweat can dull the coat as well) but do not use |
| parasite control program appropriate to the region in | | | | shampoo or soap. |
| which you live. Most top show barns either utilize a | | | | If you follow these simple instructions, your horse |
| daily de-worming product in their horses' feed, or a | | | | should be shining like a champion in no time. You can |
| give their horses a de-worming paste every 4-6 | | | | bet at your next show, competition, or trail ride all |
| weeks. | | | | eyes will be on your gorgeous, lustrous horse and |
| Step 3: Grooming | | | | you will have everyone asking you how you |
| A healthy horse should glimmer in the sun even if he | | | | managed to make him so beautiful! Good luck and |
| never feels the touch of a brush, but daily grooming | | | | happy riding! |