By Jessica R. Morgan

Step 1: Nutrition
A beautiful coat starts with what is on the inside of your horse. No amount of grooming will make your horse look beautiful if he isn't getting the proper nutrition. A diet rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids is the first step in achieving a healthy coat. There are numerous ways to accomplish this, and you should consult a vet prior to making any changes in your horse's diet. Your horse should be fed a high quality form of forage (generally either alfalfa or timothy hay), along with a concentrate (grain) that contains at least 7 percent fat and 14 percent protein. I recommend a pellet with 9 percent fat if you can locate one.

To this, you can add daily one cup of black oil sunflower seeds, one cup of brown flax seed, one-half to one whole cup of corn oil, and one to two tablespoons of paprika. (Warning: Paprika can cause a false positive on some drug tests, so utilize with caution.) Paprika serves the purpose of preventing your horse's coat from fading in direct sunlight, so a horse that is not turned out to pasture during the day may not need this supplement. In addition to these, don't forget to provide your horse with a trace mineral block containing zinc and copper, both of which affect coat condition. If your horse is eating only timothy hay, it may be helpful to add a small amount (about a half cup) of alfalfa pellets to your horse's feed ration.

Step 2: De-Worming
No horse can have a shiny coat if his stomach if full of parasites leeching away his nutrients! It is critical that all horses be kept on an appropriate de-worming schedule. Your vet can assist you with developing a parasite control program appropriate to the region in which you live. Most top show barns either utilize a daily de-worming product in their horses' feed, or a give their horses a de-worming paste every four to six weeks.

Step 3: Grooming
A healthy horse should glimmer in the sun even if he never feels the touch of a brush, but daily grooming will greatly multiply your results! Top show horses get groomed as much as two hours a day. Thankfully, that isn't strictly necessary. Fifteen to twenty minutes of daily brushing should be sufficient to remove dirt and dust from your horse's coat and stimulate his oil glands to produce healthy, shiny oils. You should first curry your horse using a rubber curry brush. This is a very important step as it removes dead hair and dirt. This also brings the oils in his coat to the surface. Follow this with a hard bristled brush used to remove all the dirt and hair you just loosened. Afterward, use a softer brush to remove any lingering traces of dust and "polish" your horse's coat. Lastly, you can rub your horse's entire body with a soft cloth/towel. This will spread all those oils around and make his coat super shiny and soft. If you have access to an equine grooming vacuum, this will also greatly improve the appearance of his coat. The blower attachment of the vacuum helps remove all the dust particles and the suction of the vacuum will further stimulate his oil glands.

Step 4: Protect that coat
Now that you've got your dream coat, make sure you protect it vigilantly. For an ideal coat, it's best to keep your horse inside between the hours of 9am and 5pm, as the bright, direct rays of the sun can bleach your horse's coat terribly. If this isn't possible, keep your horse covered with either a light sheet (in cooler climates) or a mesh fly sheet (in warmer areas) to prevent sun damage. I suggest you spray him daily with an equine moisturizing product that contains a sunscreen. Avoid using any silicone based "shine sprays" on your horse's coat. These are acceptable for occasional use at shows, but are not recommended for daily use as they actually seal the hair follicle and prevent it from absorbing moisture. Keep soapy baths to a minimum (no more than once per month, or before shows), as these needlessly strip oils from the coat. If your horse gets sweaty, feel free to hose him off with clean water (as this sweat can dull the coat as well) but do not use shampoo or soap.

If you follow these simple instructions, your horse should be shining like a champion in no time. You can bet at your next show, competition, or trail ride all eyes will be on your gorgeous, lustrous horse and you will have everyone asking you how you managed to make him so beautiful! Good luck and happy riding!

About the Author
Jessica Morgan has been showing APHA and AQHA horses in various disciplines for 15 years, including show halter, western pleasure, horsemanship, barrel racing, and other speed events.

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