Manage your horse's sun-related skin problems

The sun often has harmful effects on certain areas of the horse's coat, especially when they are light colors like the nostrils .... But it is above all, the thinness of the skin linked to these areas and their contact more frequent with the environment (herbs, morning dew ...) which are the reasons for some sunburn.

1- Preventing horses from sunburn

Skin hydration: the key of everything!

DRY SKIN

Dry or poorly hydrated skin will more easily allow UV rays to penetrate the horse's epidermis. On fragile areas such as the nostrils, the thinness of the skin and the small amount of hair considerably increases the risks.

Conversely, hydrated skin is supple and considerably limits the ravages of UV rays. This hydration is normally natural and internal. But as in humans, certain environmental or dietary factors can dry out the skin.

It is therefore imperative before any application of sunscreen on your horse to first apply a moisturizing balm, the day before preferably in the evening.

Sun filters: The final touch

Once the skin is hydrated (preferably the night before), it is time to add sun filters to it to limit the risk of sunburn. Of course, it is preferable to use powerful filters, without nanoparticles (for more safety for the organism) and which last a long time to avoid overloading the skin.

2 - In case of sunburn or crusts already appeared

There is no point in putting on sunscreen if the damage has already been done. The objective is then to repair the skin. But it is obvious that it must still be protected from the sun.

Solution 1 : 
Repair the skin without exposing it to the sun for 2 or 3 days. But that means to leave the horse in the box, which is not always an ethological solution, we recommend it only in extreme cases ....

Solution 2 : 
Repair the skin in the evening by leaving it to act at night and apply sun filters before putting in the meadow.

The information provided does not in any circumstances replace the advice of your veterinarian. It is the fruit of over 12 years’ experience and analysis of equine skin problems.