How to handle shedding season for your horse

Spring means everything is blooming! Although I don’t recognize this white fuzzy pollen- oh wait, that’s horse hair again. As many of us know all too well, spring is shedding season. Whether your horse sheds all in one day or in bits or pieces, in February or March, it’s time to shed.

Dreading the season? Fear not, there’s a few things you can do to help make shedding season a little easier for you and your horse. 

Why is grooming important?

Grooming encourages proper shedding and hair growth for your horse all year round. Regular grooming can prevent buildup of dead skin and hair which reduces discomfort and skin problems. Usually, you only groom your horse before and after you ride, but it’s never a bad way to spend some quality time with your horse. You’ll need to up that time in the winter to help them de-shed.

Step one: Blanket your horse in the winter

The first step in an easy de-shedding season actually starts with your horse’s winter blanket. Your horse’s winter fur is thicker and longer to keep them warm. It holds on to your horse for dear life through the whole winter. Blanketing your horse in the winter “tricks” their fur into thinking they’re already warm and it doesn’t grow in quite as strong.

Step two: Give them a bath

Another step in the right direction to get your horse ready for spring shedding season is to give them a bath. Obviously, they might not be thrilled about this plan if it’s still freezing cold outside, but when it starts warming up and their first few hairs start falling, a good path to helping them shed the first layer is to give them a thorough bath.

Step three: Groom with all your heart

The most important tool to de-shedding your horse is a lot of elbow grease. But thankfully, we live in a time where we have some great grooming tools to make it a little easier. 

First, a grooming glove or mitt is a budget-friendly way to get a better groom. You’ll get a wider surface area than your typical curry brush with tools like the HandsOn glove, which turns every finger into a comb. It gives your horse a massage and a groom at the same time. The scrubbing nodules on the fingers and palms provide a deep thorough clean and are the best de-shedders on the market today. Another added benefit is that hair does not stick to the HandsOn® Gloves.

If your horse has mats or layers, cut through the fur with a shedding blade. These stainless steel tools like the ones from Jacks MSG fit smoothly in your hand and have a smooth side or a side to use with teeth. As with most grooming products, some horses just aren’t a fan of a shedding blade. They’re designed for horses of all dispositions, but if your horse is sensitive, it’ll likely be sensitive to this. A word of advice would be to start off light-handed and avoid bony areas.

And of course, you can’t forget about the go-to tool to de-shed your horse year ’round aka the curry comb. The big nubs in a curry comb give a nice massage and get loose hairs out in the process. Just don’t forget the circular motion!

And if you’re feeling like getting a little creative during shedding season, feel free to rope in some of your day-to-day cleaning products. You can use a lint roller to catch loose hairs before your start the rest of your grooming routine. You can even call in the shop-vac if your horse isn’t skittish or to clean up the hair after.

Step four: Master the timing

Did you know that it’s not actually the change in temperatures but the change in lighting that tells your horse that it’s time to shed? It’s true according to Michigan State University! After hearing those studies, some people have been creating artificial light setups in their barn to keep their horses shed on the lighter side (pun intended). Your horse will need to be in about 16 hours of daylight (both real and artificial) for you to notice the change. If you add artificial lights, they must be at least 200 watts to get the correct effect. 

When’s the best time of day to do a little de-shedding? It’s helpful to do your grooming 10-20 minutes after a light activity so that your horse is warm but not sweaty. This isn’t a one-day project. Ten to fifteen minutes of grooming every day can make all the difference in getting them to shed their winter locks. It may take weeks if you live somewhere chilly, but your efforts will pay off when you get to avoid the furry flurries down the line. 

Ready to get started? Here’s how to de-shed your horse!

• Pick hooves
• Curry your horse’s body
• Curry your horse’s legs and face or use grooming gloves
• Loosen hair with a de-shedding tool
• Hard brush your horse
• Medium brush your horse
• Soft brush your horse
• Wipe the eyes and nose
• Brush the mane and tail

Bonus tips:

Proper nutrition is important to keeping your horse’s shed on track all year round. Ask your vet if your horse could benefit from a supplement like OTC Jug Electrolyte/Vitamin Paste to replenish vitamins, minerals and amino acids lost during excessive exercise or heat.

Once you get your horse all groomed, top it off with some hair oil. Hair oil applied with a mitt or washcloth provides long-lasting shine for short and long coats. This final step will lock in all your hard work.

We hope that this guide can help you spring into action to help you de-shed your horse this year. Plus, we’ve got a great selection of grooming products that you can grab online or in our stores. And stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram for more seasonal horse care tips.