Sun Bleached Black Horse?

night turn out, but I don't advise it unless the horse is also getting a vitamin D supplement. I've seen people use non-toxic black marker to help fill in stops of lighter hair (usually smaller spots).

since no one mentioned it they make Quik-screen by the quik-color shampoo people. It's a sunscreen spray specifically for dark horses. It did wonders for my liver chestnut who bleaches easily and it lasts up to a week at a time if applied right. You could give him a light extra spritz whenever he'll be in the sun a bit. It would however be an all summer thing. I really don't know if there's a shampoo that would actually darken him as it would have to dye or coat the hair with some colored product. Good luck

A good dietary supplement returned the color to my bay's bleached mane somewhat. He's currently on a cup of black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS), which is meant to keep a horse's color, and I believe it. He was definitely red-maned and bleachy. Still on 24/7 turnout and he's got gorgeous color. I also have him on an ounce of flax seed daily, which may or may not be contributing.

I had a single mare on SmartOmega 3 over the summer and she didn't sun bleach at all.

http://www.smartpakequine.com/smartomega-3-8294p.a...

There is a color shampoo, called Gallop, which is rumored to "replace" color in sun bleached horses as well. I don't know how true that is but it gets good reviews.

http://www.smartpakequine.com/gallop-color-enhanci...

Paprika in their diet helps keep the black color. However, you mentioned showing. Paprika has an ingredient that shows up in drug testing. Therefore that is not an option. Others posting may have an idea. I know there is some cover up products like a can of stuff like paint, but I have no desire to try something like that.

I will follow this post as well seeing I have a black horse as well. I do not do shows, tho, so paprika is not a problem in my case.

Some fly sprays have sunscreen in them, or you can get spray on sunscreen. Just spray the stuff on him when you turn him out and he shouldn't get bleached out.

Here's a spray on sunscreen:

http://www.kvsupply.com/KVVet/product_family.asp?f...

Not a dye, not a proscribed med, just a sunscreen that prevents the bleaching effect.

You actually still can use Black as Knight/Paprika to keep him from bleaching out - you just have to stop feeding it two weeks before he has to get his drug panels for your shows.

If you'd rather not, I'd go with fly leg wraps, a full-neck fly sheet and a full-face fly mask with ears - and don't pull the forelock through the slit in the front if your mask has one.

Fly Mask: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crusader-Long-Nose-Horse-F...

Fly Leg Wraps: https://www.google.com/search?q=horse+fly+leg+wrap...

I know a lot of people that will turn their horses out in the night and keep them in during the day (with fans if its hot)

There are a lot of color enhancing shampoos, I would chose this one because it has a major variety of coat types.

http://www.smartpakequine.com/shapleys-equitone-sh...

This does not affect his performance;why worry about it?