Helping Your Horse Shed: Our Top Tips

Oh, the first day of spring! Here come the longer, sunnier days, warmer nights and the sweet smell of spring flowers. But, as all equestrians know too well, Spring is also when many of us walk out of the stable looking like an English Sheepdog. To help you help your horse shed its winter coat, we have put together our top tips, plus our must-have grooming tools!

Sometimes things need a bit of elbow grease, and unfortunately, you can’t buy this in any store. But let’s look at it this way, it is a great arm workout! Grab the curry comb (we like the rubber ones!) and start by grooming your horse in a circular motion all over its’ body. You will need to de-shed the curry comb every so often by taking out the hair so that it can work its magic. The curry combs we have found work best are those with longer teeth so that it can get into the coat and help it become loose.

Other available tools on the market claim to be the best de-shedding tools, but in our experience, all you need is time, elbow grease and a good curry comb!

A grooming mitt is essentially a glove with a brush on it. Sometimes these can be more comfortable for the horse owner, as the de-shedding process can take some time and be hard on the hands. So, a mitt is often an easy and effective tool. However, the teeth are generally not as long as a curry comb, so for horses that have a thick coat (think shetlands), it may not work as effectively as a curry comb.

For thick winter coats or horses that find shedding difficult, a late-season body clip may be required to help remove any excess hair. If you choose this method, make sure to rug your horse and ensure that it is warm. Remember, spring nights can be just as cold as winter ones!

A good quality coat oil will help loosen any hairs and condition the coat and skin. It will also help in catching any stray hairs, making sure you don’t look like a poodle once you have finished grooming. Put some oil onto a cloth and wipe it over your horse. It can be done before or after your deshed, whichever you prefer, but before will help loosen hairs and keep them from going everywhere!

Now that the weather is warming up break out those joddies and go for a ride! Exercise helps with circulation and will also help with coat health. You will have a glossier horse coat in no time!

We know that a horse will shed its coat due to the number of light hours. Help your horse with the process by turning them out into the paddock as much as possible. The light will trigger your horse to shed, and dare I say it, but rolling will help loosen hairs and aid in the de-shedding process!

Nutrition is key when it comes to a glossy, rich and healthy coat. If your horse’s diet is of good quality and is balanced, then your horse will shine from the inside out. There is no tool out there that will make your horse as shiny and as glossy as receiving a well-balanced diet. 

As always, we are here to help! If you have any questions about products that can assist you in helping your horse deshed, please visit us in-store or drop us a message. We have a range of grooming tools and products in store, and we can help you choose the tools you need. We also deliver within the Perth metro area, as well as to some country areas. Enquire today!