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Coat, Mane, and Dandruff Advice

4K views 18 replies 8 participants last post by  Inga 
#1 ·
I have an eight year old QH that I've been owning for about four months now. He's got the saddest little mane I've ever seen, not even two inches long and very scraggly, but has a very healthy and long tail. He'd been left in pasture a few years before I got him and was sun bleached. He's just starting to get his coloring back, but has developed very bad dandruff in his mane, and a milder dandruff on his neck. It doesn't seem to bother him very much. His coat is also rather dull. He was just wormed and updated on his shots last week, for the first time in I don't know how long.

This is my first horse, so I'm not sure on a few things. How often should I be bathing him? So far he's been washed down with Mane and Tail every month. It gets really hot where I live, and I've been getting him back into shape, so he's getting rinsed off every time he breaks a sweat. (He's in absolutely fantastic condition muscle wise now.) He also gets a nice twenty minute brushing every day. He isn't getting any supplements or vitamins, just regular hay and grass in the pasture, and a generic grain twice a day. Should I be giving him something else? I'm willing to buy whatever is needed. Also, I've been trying to avoid messing with his mane in hopes that it will grow back, though I've noticed no growth since I've gotten him. Should I just roach it off and let it grow back in, or try to salvage it?

Sorry for the very long post, and thank you in advance for any help. :lol:
 
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#6 ·
I'n not sure about the mane situation... But what we've done on coats that's worked on all of our horses is give them a handful of grain/oats every day, just enough to get supplements in if they need any, but anyways give a handful and put a little bit of vegetable oil on the grain, it'll bring the coat right out for ya :)
 
#15 ·
I personally use a coat conditioner like Healthy Hair Care, it's pretty inexpensive for how long it does last. I use it all over their bodies EVERY TIME I groom. It brightens their coats and keeps them soft. As for their manes and tails I never brush them out except after a good bath and use ShowSheen most every time I groom.

As for bathing, I worked at a big show barn for years and they always told me that you can bathe everyday IF you put back what you take out. Bathing takes out a lot of the natural oils and stuff in their skin and coat and so if you use a good coat conditioner all is somewhat balanced. All the horses at the barn were bathed a lot but they all looked good and healthy. Me, personally, I only bathe a few times a summer
 
#16 ·
Thank you all for the advice! I managed to get a hold of a few photos, hopefully I uploaded them correctly. The first few were when I first got him, and looking back, I think I forgot how bad he looked. He's definitely gotten over being sun bleached, and whatever else that was going on with his coat. I think he's developed a nice muscle tone as well, though we still have a little ways to go. A nice improvement, I must say. :D
 

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#17 ·
When I am trying to grow a mane and tail and add general condition to a horses coat, I feed seaweed meal. I got dry kelp meal on Ebay for half the price of Source and it is the same stuff. I feed about a tablespoon once a day and I have had great luck with it every time I have needed it. It is fantastic for hooves, too.

The oil is also a great idea because it sounds like he has dry skin. The TB I just got has that same dander in his mane. I have a bottle of hair oil that someone gave me, but I don't like the smell of. LOL I have been massaging that into the base of his mane when I groom him and that seems to be making a difference. I did wash his mane out really well one good time, I used a mild moisturizing body wash and mixed baking soda in since that will help take care of any possible infections or fungus that might be contributing to it. Just make sure you rinse it out really well.
 
#18 ·
I rubbed a good amount of baby oil into his mane about a week ago. I didn't really notice much of a difference. I was thinking of using head and shoulders next time, though I may add the baking soda also as a precaution. Poor baby is seriously dry, though. Even with vigorous brushing everyday he has little flakes everywhere.
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#19 ·
As his hair is already damaged, you want to keep the shampooing to a minimum. Good nutrition is the biggest help but also, vacuuming the area to remove dead skin ie. dandruff. A mix of 50% Baby oil and 50% regular listerine applied weekly and rubbed into the base of the mane will help too. Try to not to brush it too much, give it a chance to grow without pulling it out. If it gets too gunky, then you can wash but use a horse shampoo, and go easy on the rubbing. Rather gently scrunch the mane with the soappy water to wash and gently rinse. Use a good mane and tail conditioner after washing.
 
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