Black horse is getting bleached?

Question

I've kept my black horse under a fly sheet since before summer started.. but the one day he got turned out without a fly sheet, i find that there's no stopping his color fading.

are there any supplements or dyes out there that can turn him back to his winter black?

p.s quick black, does NOT work. </3

Answer 1

Sun bleaching of coats in horses is a classic sign of mineral deficiency. Copper and/or zinc is needed for the production of pigment in the hair shaft. A copper and/or zinc deficiency will impact on pigment production as well as hoof quality, immune response and all the other zillion reactions in the body that requires copper and zinc.

Copper is required to produce the pigment in buckskins and chestnuts and both copper and zinc are needed for black/brown/grey coats. The purpose of the pigment is to act as a shield against light. The fading is caused by ultraviolet light oxidising the pigments. If there are less than optimal levels, the hair will be more prone to bleaching but will look normal until enough pigment has been damaged to cause the colour change.

Sweat does not cause fading of coats. Keeping horses indoors or rugged is a poor substitute for providing a more than adequate nutrient and mineral balanced diet.

More information on my website: http://www.balancedequine.com.au

Carol Layton