What can I use to get a nicer/sleeker summer coat?

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Stenners

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I have a 7yr old Cob X (Sec D x TB apparantly!) and I've seen photos from previous owners where he has a super sleek summer coat but this is coming into my second summer with him and it's still quite thick and coarse and stayed like this last summer (although good condition and shiny for a coloured). He's fed on Spillers Fibre Lite Molasses Free and Lite and Lean Balancer, Brewers yeast, Buck Off, Turmeric and Black salt.

I don't want to add anything that would add calories or fizz him up if in a feed but looking for suggestions just to make his skin and coat appear a bit smoother and nicer!
 
Any coat that becomes coarser over the years would prompt tests for me to make sure they have no issues such as cushings or ems.

As for coat, I gave up on Rigs about 3 weeks ago and clipped it all off. Looks stunning. No fluff on me when grooming.

He was naked all winter but has a lightweight overnight now, until summer coat arrives.
 
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Have you had him checked for Cushings? My cob was due her booster in June a few years ago when she was 8. The vet commented that she didn't seem to have lost her winter coat completely and suggested we blood test her. The vets suspicions were correct unfortunately and she's been on Prascend ever since. The huge plus is that she now gets a wonderful shiney summer coat. She also had a lovely sleek and shiney coat before I bought her and was regularly eventing.
 
outdoor girl said:
Have you had him checked for Cushings? My cob was due her booster in June a few years ago when she was 8. The vet commented that she didn't seem to have lost her winter coat completely and suggested we blood test her. The vets suspicions were correct unfortunately and she's been on Prascend ever since. The huge plus is that she now gets a wonderful shiney summer coat. She also had a lovely sleek and shiney coat before I bought her and was regularly eventing.
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No I haven't had him tested. I mean he's lost all his winter coat - he's been moulting like crazy - i wish i'd clipped him later (he had his last clip early Jan) and similar last year so not sure if this has anything to do with it as it's like he's got loads of guard hairs constantly!
 
Goldenstar said:
Try beautify oil just as a turnout solution.
As said above coat changes can be a sign of Cushing so it might be worth checking that out .
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I do have beautify oil which was my next option! I only ever use it fot hot clothing after clipping so I forget! Thinking about it a pont at the yard used to look a bit rough and ready and she's uses the oil and her pony is now so shiny!
 
Rugging helps even a sheet helps keep the coat flatter and stabling at night over winter my DWB has been living out this winter and whereas he would normally be pretty sleek he looks like a Yak at the moment.

Too late to clip now but maybe a later clip before the coat changes. Very hairy types will often be clipped throughout the summer.

I don’t find mind really get a proper summer coat until June/ July / August much later than you think.

Lots of elbow grease. Micronised linseed in feed. Ultra shine shampoos, shine products I used to like NAF Razzle Dazzle spray for showing now discontinued.

Unlikely to be Cushings at age 7.
 
Another who swears by rugging.

My horse isn’t fed anything special and is on pretty naff grass and hay - because she’s fat. However, she also wears a rug 24:7 (she has SI) - her coat gleams.

I would echo other posters though, if you’re putting good quality feed into an animal and their coat still looks dull - this sounds like a systemic issue.
 
I know they are still all losing their coats - soem of them at the yard look pretty ropey and soem look great already! Ok I'm thinking of maybe going down the Micronized Linseed route first - anyone have any recommendations of how much to feed purely for skin and coat and not weight gain? He's 15.2. Also what brand is best? I need it as low in sugar and starch as possible.

Ooh I may also head out for some Shine Shampoo this weekend too!
 
teddy_ said:
Another who swears by rugging.

My horse isn’t fed anything special and is on pretty naff grass and hay - because she’s fat. However, she also wears a rug 24:7 (she has SI) - her coat gleams.

I would echo other posters though, if you’re putting good quality feed into an animal and their coat still looks dull - this sounds like a systemic issue.
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I also have a Dartmoor who has SI and is in a rug all the time and even she was looking a bit dull until I bathed her last week and she's now looking well and shiny! She is on the same feed. He's not looking dull - he's quite shiny - maybe I just need to wait a bit longer for the summer coat to be through fully!

I'm also going to give him a bath this weekend and a good scrub. He's rugged all winter but in this weather at the moment mainly in just a sheet and unrugged in the day when its warmer.
 
Stenners said:
I know they are still all losing their coats - soem of them at the yard look pretty ropey and soem look great already! Ok I'm thinking of maybe going down the Micronized Linseed route first - anyone have any recommendations of how much to feed purely for skin and coat and not weight gain? He's 15.2. Also what brand is best? I need it as low in sugar and starch as possible.

Ooh I may also head out for some Shine Shampoo this weekend too!
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I mainly use Charnwood. It’s just micronised linseed and nothing else. I’d feed about a mugful a day just for coat shine.
 
Sussexbythesea said:
I mainly use Charnwood. It’s just micronised linseed and nothing else. I’d feed about a mugful a day just for coat shine.
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Sussexbythesea said:
I mainly use Charnwood. It’s just micronised linseed and nothing else. I’d feed about a mugful a day just for coat shine.
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Do you buy the 20kg bag? I really don't want to buy that much as worry I wouldn't get through it! a mugful wouldn't be enough to put on weight or heat him up?
 
Stenners said:
Do you buy the 20kg bag? I really don't want to buy that much as worry I wouldn't get through it! a mugful wouldn't be enough to put on weight or heat him up?
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Yes I buy the 20kg. You could just buy a small bag and try it maybe starting off with a small amount and seeing how he reacts to it. It’s difficult to say how your horse will react or how quickly he might gain weight as I don’t know your horse. It is oily therefore higher calorie feed. Sometimes I’ve split a bag with someone else. It does eventually go off.
 
Sussexbythesea said:
Yes I buy the 20kg. You could just buy a small bag and try it maybe starting off with a small amount and seeing how he reacts to it. It’s difficult to say how your horse will react or how quickly he might gain weight as I don’t know your horse. It is oily therefore higher calorie feed. Sometimes I’ve split a bag with someone else. It does eventually go off.
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Thanks I will have a look! I just dont need him to put on extra weight or get fizzy!
 
If you want to try micronised linseed, Horse Herbs do a smaller tub. It really does make a difference to mine’s coat. And doesn’t add fizz to him (he’s a rising 5 Welsh x Saddlebred).
 
Regular strapping will knock the dust out and bring blood flow to the skin, you can use a wisp or just your hands. Only do so over the larger muscles (hindquarters, shoulders, top of neck).
I try and strap mine a couple of times a month in the summer- weekly would be better but it's finding the time!
Linseed is a good shout, despite being calorific you shouldn't need to be feeding lots. You can buy kilo bags in some feed shops if you're only feeding a little.
 
outdoor girl said:
Have you had him checked for Cushings? My cob was due her booster in June a few years ago when she was 8. The vet commented that she didn't seem to have lost her winter coat completely and suggested we blood test her. The vets suspicions were correct unfortunately and she's been on Prascend ever since. The huge plus is that she now gets a wonderful shiney summer coat. She also had a lovely sleek and shiney coat before I bought her and was regularly eventing.
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I am so.glad that you posted this. I lost a 6 yr old Shire to what I now believe was Cushings. It was almost 30 yrs ago and if the condition was recognised, no-one ever mentioned a test for it. The vet did various blood tests which didn't point to any magic solution and after over 3 months of vet visits she had to be pts. It is sadly a fallacy that only older horses get Cushings.
 
My mare has mild SI so is rarely out of a rug. I get lots of comments on her coat. It is rather glorious. My gelding is an ex feral who never wears a rug and goes through an awkward shedding period in the spring where he looks pure rough. He’s stunning in summer but you don’t want to look at him until June.
 
KatieDM said:
If you want to try micronised linseed, Horse Herbs do a smaller tub. It really does make a difference to mine’s coat. And doesn’t add fizz to him (he’s a rising 5 Welsh x Saddlebred).
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Ah great I may try this. How much do you feed per day of it just for coat shine?
 
Caol Ila said:
My mare has mild SI so is rarely out of a rug. I get lots of comments on her coat. It is rather glorious. My gelding is an ex feral who never wears a rug and goes through an awkward shedding period in the spring where he looks pure rough. He’s stunning in summer but you don’t want to look at him until June.
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This is similar with my 2! The one with the rug is currently now shiny now she’s had a bath!
I think because my other is coloured and white a lot of white they don’t always looks as shiny but some of his brown patches are getting there slowly would just like a bit more!
 
Fly sheet on during the day and then a 0-50g rug on over the top at night. There is a reason you see all the eventers and showjumpers have Aussie all rounder rugs on.
 
Micronised Linseed and a good vigorous grooming at least twice weekly has done wonders for my 2 year old - he's still moulting but has a cracking shine on him - in comparison my retired 20 year old has maybe seen some grooming brushes a small handful of times (he hates being groomed and doesn't tolerate rugging well so it's a delicate balancing act for making sure he doesn't over heat and also making sure that he doesn't look abandoned!), is also moulting but his coat is looking rather patchy and crappy in places - this weekend's goal is to grab some new shedding blades and tackle that. So don't discount a good thorough grooming session to really bring the shine to the coat.

A thin fly sheet/ cotton sheet like an Aussie allrounder with the relevant turnout rug on top would also be a good option - all the top showjumpers and eventers swear by this x
 
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