Sunburn in horses; how can you prevent this?

Horses, like humans, can suffer from sunburn. Especially in the summer period, horses with light skin are susceptible to this, but sensitive horses can also suffer from this in the winter. Fortunately, there are several good ways to prevent sunburn. Read in this article what you can do to prevent and possibly treat sunburn.

UV radiation is the cause

Direct exposure to UV radiation (sunlight) can cause sunburn in horses. Horses with little pigment are particularly susceptible to this. Sunburn usually occurs on the nose, lips, and lower legs. These parts are hairless/thin-haired and therefore less protected against the sun.

The color of the coat is not so important for the sensitivity to sunburn, but the skin color is. A grey horse has a white coat, but often a dark skin, making it less susceptible to sunburn. Pink and white skin is very vulnerable. A cremello colored horse is often sensitive to sunburn all over the body and should be extra protected.

How to prevent sunburn?

Does your horse have light skin on the nose, lips, and/or pasterns? Then apply sunscreen to these areas (specifically for horses or for sensitive skin of people). Just like with humans, it is advisable to apply sunscreen several times a day. Start applying sunscreen in time, in spring the sun can be much stronger and the pastures are often moist in the morning. The wet grass can act as a magnifying glass, causing the nose to burn even faster.

For horses with sensitive skin all over the body, it is recommended to use a good UV-resistant (fly) blanket in the summer period.

There are also special head masks with a long nose flap for sale. These are often UV resistant and have a double function: fly repellent and protection against sunburn. For the sensitive pasterns, there are leg protectors available that the horse can wear in the field, protecting the sensitive skin in the pasterns.

How to recognize sunburn in horses?

Sunburn can occur in different degrees, from a red colored skin to severe burns with blisters and scabs. With a light burn, the skin will be red and feel warm. With a severe burn, blisters will also be visible that will form scabs after a few days. Healing of such a spot can take months.

Still burned?

It may happen that your horse suddenly suffers from sunburn. It is important to immediately remove these horses from the sun so that no further burning occurs. These horses may be helped by staying indoors during the day (for a few hours) and then going outside in the cool nights.

Depending on the severity of the burn, it may be sufficient to keep the horse out of the sun and apply sunscreen or zinc ointment to the affected areas. In cases of severe burns, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian. Covering these wounds can cause them to become infected and inflamed. The veterinarian may disinfect the wounds and treat them with a healing ointment. In severe cases, pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs may also be necessary. It may take weeks to months for the sunburn to heal!

Conclusion:

Do you want to prevent your horse from suffering painful sunburn? Then start protecting your horse in time by applying sunscreen or using masks/blankets. Especially horses with pink skin and thin hair are vulnerable. Special sunscreen for horses can be safely applied to the nose and other body parts. But there are also special UV-resistant head masks and leg protectors.

Source: www.paardenarts.nl