Winter weather can wreak havoc on a horse's coat, leaving it dull, mud-matted, and susceptible to dryness and infection. From battling mud and snow to preventing chills, and thorough mindful care you can keep your horse healthy and comfortable when the mercury drops.

Choosing the correct grooming tools goes beyond curry combs, brushes, shedders, and hoof picks. Selecting the best product aids any grooming routine.

The following horse-owner guide provides tips and techniques to maintain horses’ health and keep their coats radiant year-round with Absorbine products.

To Clip or Not to Clip

Clipping a horse's coat in winter makes cooling out after work and grooming easier, as matted hair from sweat, dirt, or dust can pull on tender skin. Dirty coats can dull clipper blades.

ShowSheen® 2-In-1 Shampoo & Conditioner elevates your grooming routine at any time of the year and will give your horse the red carpet treatment for his coat, too.

• deep cleans, removing dirt, oil, and sweat;
• rejuvenates dull coats, nourishes skin, and strengthens manes and tails;
• allows clippers to glide through hair
• Taming Tails and Manes

ShowSheen® Miracle Groom® has been called a “bath in a bottle.” Indispensable for owners of gray or paint horses, the waterless shampoo is ready to spray directly on the coat. No soap, no water, no mess. When you need to clean your horse in winter or where warm water is scarce, ShowSheen® Miracle Groom®: 

• lifts dirt and dust from the coat, mane, and tail;
• removes stains and brightens coat color;
• cleans, conditions, and leaves your horse smelling like spring.  

Manage the Mud

If winter is wet and muddy, scratches may result when bacteria invade small openings in a horse’s skin. If left unchecked, a cascade of problems can follow, including infection, inflammation, oozing cuts, painful scabs, and even lameness.

Minimizing your horse's time in a muddy pasture or stall is the first step. Silver Honey® Rapid Skin Relief Vet Strength Scratches Spray is easy to use, portable, and treats multiple skin conditions. No more gloves and homemade remedies! Silver Honey ®Rapid Skin Relief Vet Strength Scratches Spray:

• eliminates 99.9 % of bacteria with first use
• provides long-lasting antibacterial and antifungal protection
• delivers immediate and soothing relief to the skin

Even Though its Winter, Enter the Comfort Zone

Whether your horse is in training, a seasoned athlete, or a senior companion, Absorbine Flex-Max® promotes joint lubrication, reduces inflammation, and supports cartilage health to encourage mobility, comfort, and optimal joint health.

 

Cold, damp weather can exacerbate arthritis pain and Bute-Less® Comfort & Recovery Supplement Pellets is a drug-free way to help ease aches and discomfort, especially in older horses. An alternative to traditional bute, Bute-Less® Comfort & Recovery Supplement Pellets is a longer-term solution that is administered in a horse's feed. It can take up to three to seven days to see positive change.

The joint cushioning features of Absorbine Flex-Max® and drug-free relief from Bute-Less® Comfort & Recovery Supplement Pellets are two products that

• are simple to administer in daily feed
• improve your horse's joint flexibility, mobility, and comfort
• are gentle on the stomach
• can be used together

Winter horse care doesn't have to give you the blues. Stocking your tack trunk ahead of time can ease the stress and keep your horse comfortable, healthy, gleaming, and happy no matter the weather.