"Bleaching" in the sun *pics added*

[StarFell]

My fell pony is black, but during the summer he always seems to bleach in the sun, especially in his mane. Most other fells in the classes I enter have really black manes; is there anyway to stop them going ginger, other than rugging and keeping them in when it's sunny?

Black (please excuse the grumpy expression, it had been a long day!):

Ginger:

 

[ester]

well I like his highlights, we end up with a two tone palo as where cally wears her fly rug without a hood her neck gets lighter.

 

[junglediva]

baby oil normally brings the shine out and makes it look black.

 

[StarFell]

Thanks cilsanestud, I didn't know that, I'll try it

Ester; I quite like them too but they look a bit scruffy in the show ring next to shiny black ponies

 

[dieseldog]

You are doing quite well keeping him balck, it could be a lot worse

Black

Blonde

 

[StarFell]

That doesn't even look like the same horse!

 

[xmariax]

my black cob looks just like diesel dogs at the mo lol....i cant rug him when hes out he would get too hot so i just put up with him lookin like he has a hint of ginge!!!

 

[somethingorother]

Do some of the fly rugs not filter the UV too? Although i know some horses still overheat in them, but i've never had a black so that's the most useful i'm going to get- sorry!

 

[cundlegreen]

I've had blacks with the same problem for some time.I've found that it seems to be a mineral imbalance thing, and when I've had a special supplement made up the coat has come right within 10 days. Theres a very interesting book called Natural Horse Care by Pat Coleby in which I read that blacks and liver chestnuts have a much higher requirement for copper sulphate, and if they are deficient the first sign is in the coat. I had this about 3 months ago with a yearling, and put him on to seaweed meal and he now has a lovely black coat again even though he doesn't wear any rugs and is out in very open sunny pasture.

 

[mainpower]

I've heard that Black Knight products are good for this.

 

[peanut]

My brown horse turns chestnutty in the summer with a red streaked tail. She looks most odd

 

[Digger123]

keep them in during the day and chuck out at night - my friend shows natives and this is how she keeps them black

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Totally off topic - but where have you been?!

I'm sure I've not seen you posting for months!

Sorry for being a stalker

 

[jumptoit]

My (very) dark bay mare looks exactly like diesel dog's pics!

 

[StarFell]

LOL DarcyLu, I moved in with my boyfriend in May and I've been internet-less since then, its been killing me! Back now though

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Just as long as your back now

Hope your boys been having a good summer!

 

[StarFell]

Oh he has, a bit too good, he's like a hippo

I am working on it though

Hope Darcy is ok x

 

[welshied]

you can buy a spray from derby house which you spray in there mane over the bleached parts an it dyes it back black