Keeping a black horse black?!

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kit279

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Does anyone have a good way of stopping the sun bleaching a black horse slightly gingery? I've been putting a fly sheet on my black horse when the sun is really strong but if it rains suddenly, it gets soaked and makes him cold and damp so I don't like to leave it on all the time.

Does anyone know of a way to stop his nice shiny black coat bleaching to an unattractive gingery colour?!
 
I know a lady who shows a black pony. It is rugged from muzzle to tail 24hrs a day. The only air it gets is when bathed for a show and at a show in the ring. It is also stabled 24hrs a day every day.
She told us it is what show people need to do with dark horses.
Our black show pony showed with highlights:D
 
I have the same problem with my black appearing (but technically brown ;)) horse.

I think it's a sweat issue as it is always especially bad where the saddle goes despite always washing her down after riding.
 
Google Peasridge Black Shampoo

DOUBLE K - Emerald Black - 3.8 litres
Product code: 7299

A natural based shampoo expressly for the black or dark coated animals.

Thick, rich and creamy, made from natural products, with a delicate and pleasing fragrance this is a quality professional shampoo developed and made in the USA with an excellent concentration rate of 32 - 1.

Emerald Black shampoo is ideal for deep cleaning of black or dark coats, and helps to eliminate any reddish tones, brassiness or sun fading. Animals washed with this product retain a long lasting effect long after the initial wash, the coat not only looking fantastic but feeling and smelling great also.

The humectant and emolliently rich formula enriches the animal's skin and is also easy going on your own hands. Recommended strongly for use on all show animals for stunning results. Ideal for cattle, horses, alpacas, cats and dogs as well as domestic pet.

A 3.8 litre container will dilute to produce around 33 gallons of usable shampoo at the recommeded strength.


Price: £28.51 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)
 
I've heard feeding black sunflower seeds can help deepen colour. Personally, I kept my last black horse black by using a Boett (but he had allergies, keeping him dark was just a nice extra!).
 
Seaweed and BOSS, in during the day and out at night with a sheet on if poss., then wash in a black-enhancing shampoo and get out the black make-up if he's a proper ginge!
 
My black mare is pitch black at the minute, I think it is due to the fact that she has a fly rug that has a reflective material within it, so reflects the sun; keeps her cool, and keeps her black! If it's going to rain, and going to be cold, I just chuck on her light weight rug over the top!
 
My black show mare is in a Rambo sweetitch hoody 24/7 from April til Oct, she hates the heat and is hyper allergic to midges and flies plus now wasps. Bonus of the rug is obviously that she is black as black can be and as shiny as a conker all the time! I always wash over any sweaty bits as well after riding as the sweat does stain the coat ginger. If she gets wet then in these temperatures she is dry again shortly after, the rug is slighty waterproof anyway so it needs a good downpour to soak thru to be honest.
 
I think that if they are out unrugged then some fading will occur (just like show dogs are keep indoors to prevent fading) but thorough washing after exercise will help as the salt in sweat quickens bleaching. A rug like the rambo protector or similar doesn't cling when wet and has uv protection. Yuo can get supplements which will jelp such as black as night etc. These are quike popular in America. The active ingredient is paprika afaik. Think feeding that on its own can help but WARNING this will show on a dope test.
 
You can get waterproof liners to put under a fly rug. The one I had was an Amigo one. Its still in the pack though as I never used it.
 
A Weatherbeeta Kool Koat, not the new airstream one (though they may be good too) the 100% cotton one with neck. My horse is technically classed as coloured but is mainly very, very dark brown with the odd splodge. He used to get really fed up with the heat as would sweat up grazing in the field and he hates flies, and I hated the fact he went ginger! Got a Kool Koat on a friends recommendation and was only £22, has lasted two years so far and keeps him from sweating, keeps the flies off and stops him beaing bleached by the sun - my cheapest rug and my absolute favourite. Also doubles as a show sheet on the way to shows etc as as also has neck which keeps him dust free ears to toe - would gighly recommend!
 
I have a dark brown horse, but this year due to the cold weather he had his last clip at the beginning of May instead of mid February and he's now black, with bronzed legs and dapples on his bottom!
 
For washing out sweat after exercise I use Barrier Mint Wash ( it comes in lavender too) It cleans the coat and is good for sponging down on a hot day. I also make up a plant spray bottle of this to cool down hairy cob while at shows which he really loves.
 
you can get allsorts of shampoos specailly for black horses i think NAF and Wahl do one and im sure there are lots more :)
 
I had a coloured horse that I used to show so I used Red Rum shampoo for grey horses, and it brought the black up beautifully and then gave it a bluey tinge not browny! Got to be worth a try.
 
mine has a rambo sweetitch hoody that i've washed in nikwax so its shower proof...he stay out in it most of the time unless its going to be really wet...he has ginger highlights in his tail but i quite like them...i suppose you could dye the ginger tips black if you didnt like them :)
 
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