Keep Your Horse's Coat Healthy and Clean!

Keeping your horse's skin clean and healthy is important. Any horse lover wants their best friend to be happy, and simple maintenance and care can accomplish a healthy horse.

The skin of a horse is comprised of more than just a bunch of cells. Underneath you have blood vessels and nerves and they all have to work together to keep your horse's "coat" healthy.

Keeping a good diet, full of vitamins and minerals is essential! There is quite a selection of supplements available now, which are just like a multi-vitamin for your horse. The skin needs to produce oil to keep it "waterproof." Several people will feed small amounts of either vegetable oil or corn oil in a horse's grain. Flax seed is also a common, natural approach to help your horse's skin look it's best. A clean, dry environment is important as well, to help prevent infections such as rain rot.

Rain rot is the name for one of the most common infections in horses. Although not life threatening, it can cause severe misery for your horse.

It is a condition that can be multiplied by high humidity and dampness. It looks like large, crusty scabs that appear on your horse's body. If you pick off the scabs, you will find a pink, pussy skin underneath. Please use great care if you pick off scabs, it can be uncomfortable and painful if not done properly. Your veterinarian can give you proper handling care. As it is healing, the skin will turn a grayish color.

You can help prevent rain rot but keeping a clean stable, and not exposing your horse to other horses that might have it. This includes not sharing brushes or blankets. Consult your veterinarian for treatment specifically for your horse, as cases will vary and you'll want the best treatment!

Keeping worms out of your horse is essential. Worms will take away important nutrients out of your horse's diet, and can create small holes throughout your horse's digestive system. Keeping your horse on a regular, consistent worming cycle can help eliminate this hazard.

Plenty of regular exercise keeps blood flowing properly, and provides a good balance between your horse's physical and emotional health.

You've made an investment into your horse, and you don't want that to slide to the wayside. Your horse counts on you to provide him or her with a healthy lifestyle, so he or she can continue on to serve you well!