Horse Illustrated Magazine

Q: I have a jet-black horse, and when he’s clean, his coat is the envy of the barn. But when he gets the tiniest bit of dust on him, it’s very visible on his dark coat. In the winter, dust seems to cling to his coat. No matter how much I brush, the dirt just comes back and makes him look dull and brown. How can I keep his winter coat shiny and dust-free for schooling shows and clinics?

A: If you’ve ever had a black car or truck, let alone a black horse, you know how difficult it can be to deal with dust. Use a hair polish such as ShowSheen on your horse’s entire coat. It really repels dust and dirt, and keeps working for several days. Simply give your horse a good grooming to remove as much dust and dirt as possible, then spray ShowSheen over the body (being careful to always skip the saddle area so it doesn’t get too slippery.) Wipe your horse down with a clean towel or your hands, rubbing in the direction of the hair. Now stand back and admire the shine! This will last for several days, so any dust and dirt that dares to land on your horse will brush or towel away easily. Personally, I find using ShowSheen once or twice a week is perfect for my black mare.

–Molly O’Brien

Molly O’Brien works in the marketing department at W. F. Young, Inc., the maker of Absorbine products. She is a lifelong horse owner, and currently owns two Morgan mares – a retired 26-year-old and a five-year-old, with whom she competes at Morgan shows in the New England area.

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