How to help your horse during the shedding period
It's shedding time! Now that the season is in full swing, there are several things you can do to help your horse during this period. Some horses may be a little out of shape when they shed their winter coat, as well as have more sensitive skin. Listen to what your horse tells you – if he looks tired, lighten the work load.
There are several things you can do to help your horse shed its coat a little faster. If the weather is good enough you can turn your horse out without a rug. It is important to brush the coat more intensively during this period to remove loose hairs as quickly as possible, as these can be itchy and cause the horse to bite its skin during training. A grooming stone is very effective at removing loose hair. A simple rubber round brush will both help to loosen the old coat as well as provide a comfortable massage that the horse will appreciate when it is itching so much. During the worst shedding period you may want to pay more attention to hygiene. Keep a separate grooming brush for each horse, as skin problems such as fungal infections and the like can easily occur during the shedding period.
If you can, give your horse a proper shampooing as well. This will effectively remove old hair and also moisturize the skin. If your horse has skin issues such as dandruff or dry, itchy skin, feed supplements with extra omega 3 fatty acids can help. Flaxseed oil, for example, contains a lot of omega 3.
Growing a new coat is a very energy-consuming process for horses, and it is recommended that they be given extra vitamin B during this period. If your horse is late in shedding, vitamin B supplements can help initiate the process. If your horse struggles a lot during the shedding period, you can double the dose of vitamin B for a period of 6-8 weeks without worry, as long as you use a product containing only B vitamins.
Horses that are shaved will also experience a shedding period where the winter coat is replaced with a summer coat. It is not recommended to clip or shave the horse during the shedding period, as this can have an impact on the natural process.
If you have done all of this, but still feel that your horse has poor coat quality or is having a hard time during shedding, you may want to check for worms or parasites by taking a stool sample. Spring is a good time to check anyway, as you will be able to provide treatment before the horse is put to pasture.
OUR SHEDDING FAVOURITES
