Coat-skin & grooming
Rain Rot on horses
There are a ton of “skin funk” issues out there, and rain rot is just one of them! Most of us are familiar with rain rot (or rain scald), and we easily recognize it by the small scabby bumps on our horse’s backs. It’s most common on the dorsal (top) side of your horse, and of course it usually likes to hang out under the saddle.
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Rain rot is caused by a bacteria, and can actually be spread from horse to horse by way of bugs and flies, or sharing grooming tools like brushes and blankets. It is still unknown by researchers if the rain rot bacteria is present in the soil. What we do know is that certain conditions come together to create an “outbreak” on the skin.
If you suspect rain rot, you will see the small scabby bumps combined with tufts of hair that seem to be somehow sprouting from the scabs. The hair often comes out, leaving a naked spot. More advanced cases will have open sores with visible pus. Luckily, it’s not itchy, which would only create more damage from rubbing. This can also help your Veterinarian diagnose a skin issue, so if you suspect rain rot, look for signs of rubbing or itchiness.
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Moist climates seem to be a factor in the development of rain rot as well, and rain rot happens year round. Some horses (the very lucky ones!) are not painful, and MAY even clear up on their own. However, it’s always best to call your Veterinarian and have him take a peek. If things go downhill and you see more scabby patches or the presence of pus, chances are your horse needs some serious medical intervention, including antibiotics.
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Season is not a factor, but in the winter a longer hair coat can help to trap moisture and set the stage for rain rot. Summer is prime time also, as humid climates and insects play a role.
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Talk to your Veterinarian about how to nip rain rot in the bud. Avoid sharing grooming tools, and inspect daily for signs of healing (or worsening). Use Original M-T-G or Original M-T-G Plus to help heal the skin and encourage healthy skin to grow. Don’t share blankets, and button up your insect control measures, as the infection can spread from horse to horse via flies and bugs. If you are at a boarding facility, be sure to give the heads up to fellow horse owners about your horse's rain rot so that they can step up their efforts, too.
Clipping tips for a shiny horse
If you clip your horse, be it a full body clip or some sort of modified trace clip, doesn’t have to be the long and hairy chore that we all seem to make it out to be. Ok, ok, it can have moments of horrible as the wind changes direction just as you are yawning and you end up choking on a huge hairball. But a few things to do before you clip and you will be good to go.
These tips will also help extend the life of your clipper blades, and also give your horse a much shorter time in the barber chair!
Gather these items and get ready to prep and clip:
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Shampoo (Hi Shine is great here - no need to use EquiTone as you will be clipping off most of the hair!)
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Hair clip to keep the mane out of your clipper path
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Clippers
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Super clean and sharp clipper blades
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Clipper oil
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Clipper coolant
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Post clipping conditioner - No. 1 Light Oil or No. 2 Heavy Oil both work well
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Post clipping blanket or sheet
Successful clipping starts with preparation - for both your horse and your clippers. Think hot knife through butter - the knife is your clipper blade - the butter is your horse. The oilier (or more buttery) your horse, the easier it is for the clipper blades to slide across your horse. When you shampoo your horse to get rid of stains, dirt, all the normal horse stuff, follow up with a conditioner to create slippery hair. No. 1 Light Oil spritzed on your horse as he dries creates the ultimate slick finish. You can also layer some Magic Sheen on that, as well.
Your clipper blades are totally important to the success (and speed) of a clip job. Sharp and clean blades reduce lines and increase speed. Have a clipper oil handy for lubricating the blades often, as well as a spray can of coolant. Alternatively, you can use an ice pack and two clipper blades as you work, one cools down on the ice as you switch to another blade.
After clipping, your horse’s hair will be definitely be shorter (awesome) and maybe also a different color (not always awesome). Bays can be mousy colored, chestnuts can be pumpkin-ish in color. The skin and hairs may also seem a bit dry. Use No. 1 Light Oil or No. 2 Heavy Oil as a post clipping conditioner - it's great to toss on a blanket or sheet and let the oil sink in! Spray on, leave in, rinse the next day if you like. You can also restore some color with Equi-Tone Shampoos. And there you have it - the easiest way to save time and create a shiny clipped horse!
How to prevent sun bleaching, and treat the horse with a sun bleached coat!
Many horses of all colors, and especially black horses, will show some signs of sun bleaching. The most common areas for this are where the sweat accumulates - such as the saddle area and around the face in an oh, so flattering outline of the bridle. The degree of bleaching is determined first by genetics. Then you can add in a multitude of other factors, such as diet, mineral supplementation, and exposure to the sun.
Here are a few tips to preventing sun bleaching:
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Check with your Equine Nutritionist and/or Veterinarian to be sure your horse’s diet is well balanced, especially with minerals linked to hair coat, like Copper.
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Your horse’s overall coat health includes omega fatty acids, the trace minerals of zinc, copper and iodine, essential fatty acids lysine and methionine, and biotin. Good quality pasture and forage are the basics of a good diet.
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Even still, you might notice that your horse starts to bleach out in the spring and summer. Try these things to keep your horse’s coat shiny and consistent.
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When you horse is sweaty, rinse the sweat and if possible, allow to totally dry before exposure to the sun.
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Use fly sheets! Even very thin and very inexpensive fly sheets can make a difference! Add a fly mask to keep your horse’s head nice and evenly colored.
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Add some products to your grooming routine. Shapley’s EquiTone shampoo for dark bay and black horses helps to restore color. Magic Sheen can help protect the hairs from damage, while creating a nice shine.
Brighten the chrome on your horse's legs!
Chrome on legs is so flashy!
And also so time consuming to maintain…
unless you have a plan!
The best way to maintain great chrome legs is to have a healthy horse with a super shiny, and naturally oily, coat. This starts with a healthy diet and elbow grease.
LOTS of elbow grease.
Then, we can do somethings that really make that chrome stand out.
The first thing you can do is clip the legs. This creates a super easy leg to clean, and will remove any existing stains on the hairs. Most show horses are clipped from the knees and hocks down, using a clipper blade that doesn’t clip too close to the delicate pink skin. Look at the number of the blade you are using - and just below it you will find how many mm of hair the blade leaves. Anything less than 1.5 mm is too short for pink skin. You could use a blade that leaves 2.8 mm. Fly boots are a good idea if you clip chrome - this protects from the sun and bugs. You don’t have to clip your horse’s lower legs, but many show horses are groomed that way.
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Now that you have clipped legs (or even if you skip this step), here are more tips on getting and keeping that chrome white.
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Use the fan setting on a spray nozzle to squeezee the dirt and shampoo from your horses legs in the wash rack.
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In between shampoo sessions, use Easy Out to remove stains and neutralize odors!
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Towel dry the legs, and even consider using a fan to speed up drying in the summer.
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Use a shine product or detangler to coat the leg hairs and help prevent stains. Magic Sheen creates a barrier between a clean horse and a stain. If your horse does get a stain, you can wipe it away.
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Keep your horse’s living quarters super clean. Scoop manure and urine spots from his bedding more often if needed.
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Use Show Touch-Ups to create blinding white before you enter the show ring.
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Only use super clean boots and wraps while you exercise your horse. There’s no need to put dirty boots on a clean horse. That’s the equivalent of using dirty brushes to clean your horse.
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Think marathon, not sprint. A healthy horse with a natural bloom doesn’t happen overnight!
Shedding Tips for Your Horse in the Spring!
When the fur starts to fly, you know it’s time for more elbow grease and staying out of the wind for a grooming session!You have many options on how to help your horse shed out to a more comfortable summer coat.
Curry all the time! Before and after a ride, first thing in the morning, last thing at night, maybe twice at lunch. You can never curry too much.
Pick your tools wisely. Hard curry combs and metal shedding blades are not appropriate for your horse’s legs or face or shoulders, hips, and other bony parts. Use softer curry combs and vary the pressure you apply to get best results.
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No. 1 Light Oil is wonderful for preparing a horse for clipping, and it’s also good as a shedding rub down. Spritz a few dollops on a cloth or towel, and wipe your horse down after a good grooming. Additional hair will be picked up on the cloth, and your horse will have some extra conditioning and shine.
Let your horse get his rolls in! If he has a favorite sandy patch to roll in, give him extra time outside to get the rolling done. Rolling on the ground is like using the earth as a giant curry comb, loosening a lot of the hair for you!
You can also bathe your horse when the weather is cooperating. It’s a wet curry comb session, but the bonus is that the hose washes away all of the loose hair instead of hair flying into your nose and sticking all over the place.
Your choice of shampoo will also help - Equitone Shampoo comes in several shades from Gold to Chestnut to Black which all help the shedding horse not look so blotchy.
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Consider clipping. Remember that a healthy horse’s coat will always even out. You would do a partial or full clip in the spring during shedding season to make your horse comfortable. This has a lot to do with climate, your horse’s exercise routine, and how much he sweats. A clipped horse will still shed, the hairs will just be shorter.
Have a great spring!