How to Apply Coat Polishes to a Horse

If you are preparing for a show or competition and want to make sure that your horse is looking his best, you might want to consider using a polish to give his coat a healthy sheen. Coat polish should be a regular part of pre-competition grooming and a few tips can teach you how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Coat polish (and additional mane and tail polish if necessary)
• Saddle blanket
• Soft-bristled brush

1. Select from a wide array of coat polishes; however, try to find a product with all or mostly natural products. Just like your own hair, your horse's coat should be treated with care and harsh chemicals may do more harm than good. Test the product on a small patch of skin on the horse's underbelly and leave for at least 24 hours to ensure she will not have an allergic reaction before treating the entire coat. While allergic reactions are extremely rare, you are better safe than sorry.
2. Cover the saddle area of your horse with an old saddle blanket and take note of where your saddle cinches around the belly. It is important to avoid these areas while using these grooming products, as polishes will make the coat slippery and your saddle can slide.
3. Spray a light mist of coat polish onto the exposed areas, working one part at a time, and then work the polish into the coat with a soft-bristled brush. For instance, mist the horse's neck and chest, brush and then mist the back and legs, brush and continue until all parts have been covered.
4. Apply a mist of polish to the brush to add shine to the horse's face. Never spray the polish on or near the face as it can irritate their eyes.
5. Add shine to the tail and mane. Depending on your brand of polish, you can either use the same product or another type of polish or conditioner. Begin at the tips of the tail and mane, working your way up, massaging the product into the hair with your hands before grooming as usual.