Skin oil important for horses

Do your hands also have a white/grey layer after you've cuddled your horse? That is the skin oil that is on and between the fur. Especially in periods when the temperature drops or during shedding, there is extra skin oil. Many owners then recognize the dust on the horse that brushes off when grooming. Sometimes it is thought that the horse has dandruff, but it is actually very important skin oil. In certain periods, horses can even have a dull appearance due to all this skin oil.

Skin oil is extremely important for horses and you can find it all over their body. Skin oil ensures that the horse is "waterproof" and therefore resistant to rain and cold. Without this skin oil, the rain will reach the skin, causing the horse to get cold and soaked. Skin oil creates a greasy layer around the hair, allowing water to flow off and keep the skin dry. Extremely important for horses, especially in the winter period! Even more so for horses that do not wear a blanket!

Care products affect skin oil

Many horse owners love to pamper their horses and make sure they look tip-top. This is where detangler products and shine sprays come in. These products often contain degreasing ingredients and/or silicones. These ingredients make the fur super smooth, making the tail and mane easy to brush. These products also give a beautiful shine to the horse. But did you know that by doing this, you remove the skin oil and its protective function? These products remove the skin oil from the body. This allows water to reach the skin, leaving the horse unprotected against rain, wind, and cold.

Horses without a blanket? Do not use detangler and shine sprays!

Does your horse not wear a blanket in the winter and stand outside in all weather conditions? Be cautious when using these products. For horses without a blanket, skin oil is extremely important, as it is their only protection against weather conditions. Do you still want to use it? Check the weather apps to see if it will remain dry for a few days. This way, the product can wear off before the rain comes. Also, avoid applying the shine spray to the entire body, but only use it for the mane and the lower part of the tail.

It is also important to limit the use of these coat sprays on horses with a blanket to avoid disturbing the natural balance of the coat.

For horses without a blanket, the rule actually is: the dirtier/less groomed the coat, tail, and mane look, the better protected they are against weather conditions. 😊