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Horse owners want to make their equine companions look and feel as good as possible, and one way to do this is through regular, thorough grooming. Some go above and beyond to ensure their horses are spotless and shiny at all times, and this might include frequent bathing. Is there a point when excessive washing and rinsing becomes problematic for horses?

There is no rigid guideline regarding how often to bathe a horse, but a general rule of thumb is to do so only when necessary to remove deep dirt and grime that won’t budge through vigorous currying and brushing. Before reaching for the hose and shampoo, horse owners should consider the natural oils in horse’s skin that maintain hair condition. Sebaceous glands secrete sebum, an oily substance that provides shine and helps the hair lay flat. Overuse of shampoos can strip the natural oils in the skin and can lead to a buildup of residue if not rinsed thoroughly.

The combination of moisture and warm temperatures can lead to skin problems such as dermatophilosis, also called rain rot or rain scald, which is caused by bacterial proliferation in a dirty, moist environment.

Farriers also express concern about washing horses too much because it exposes hooves to water and potential hoof softening. If your horse requires daily rinsing, use of a hoof-hardening product can be helpful to dry the outer hoof horn. Consultation with a farrier can help ensure hooves stay strong and sound.

Keep in mind that bathing isn’t the only option for maintaining a squeaky-clean horse. Other options include sponging, hot-toweling, and using horse-grooming wipes to target problem areas. Another method to maintain a clean horse is to simply prevent dirt, insect irritation, or sun-bleaching by blanketing during cooler weather or using fly sheets on warmer days.

From a nutritional standpoint, feeding a balanced diet is the first step to achieving a healthy coat. As many horsemen know, dapples are a telltale sign of health and vigor.

As the base of the diet, forage should be available as fresh grass or good-quality hay. Providing vitamins and minerals from a fortified feed, ration balancer, micronutrient supplement, or a combination of these products will safeguard against nutritional shortages. Well-formulated vitamin and mineral supplements from Kentucky Equine Research (KER) include Micro-Max, available in the U.S., and Gold PelletNutrequin, or Perform, available in Australia.

If nutrient requirements are being met, additional supplementation for coat health can be offered.  Most commonly used are fat sources like vegetable oil or rice bran that supply fatty acids to enhance coat shine. Hoof and coat supplements such as Bio-Bloom PS (Bio-Bloom HF in Australia) contain ingredients like full-fat soybean meal and key nutrients for hoof and hair health, including biotin, methionine, zinc, and iodine.

Omega-3 fatty acids such as flax and fish oil are other ways to provide a boost in coat quality. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to help with skin and coat hypersensitivity associated with insect bites and other allergic reactions. High-quality deodorized fish oil, such as EO-3, can provide coat benefits along with many other body-wide advantages.

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