Coat Care

The coat reflects our horses' state of health: if the coat is silky and shiny, the horse is of good health. A shaggy and dull coat, however, could be a sign that our four-legged friend is suffering from malnutrition, parasites or even an internal problem. If our horses are not well, we can detect this from the coat.

Moreover, the skin condition allows us to draw further conclusions about the wellbeing of our horses. With its very large surface, the skin is one of the horse's largest organs and is responsible for many important and vital functions. For one thing, the skin is a mechanical barrier and it is also responsible for many metabolic processes, e.g. body temperature regulation.

In o‍rder to meet the requirements of these different processes, the skin consists of various layers. We distinguish between

The epidermis is responsible for mechanical protection. The dermis with its tallow and sweat glands regulates the body temperature. The subcutaneous layer with its blood vessels and nerves makes the connection to the rest of the body. This interaction makes the skin the horse's most sensitive organ – which obviously requires particularly intensive care.

As the horse's skin is densely covered with hair it is called a coat. In the animal world we often also talk of fur or hair. Whether an animal is considered to have a coat, hair or fur depends on the number of hairs per cm².

The horse spends a lot of time outside, e.g. in an open stable or in a field and is exposed to the weather. This means the horse's skin and coat are permanently exposed to stress from the environment and has to adjust to a range of different requirements. In o‍rder to guarantee perfect horse care for skin and coat, Effol has gone a long way in developing a multitude of ideas in o‍rder to support every rider with a suitable product for their equine friends. Because: Friendship needs care!

Cleaning of the coat

In addition to daily grooming of the coat and the related massaging of the skin, we sometimes use shampoos for especially hard stains on the coat or when preparing for a horse show. As a matter of principle, great care is to be exercised in the use of shampoo on horses, it is to be accurately dosed and adjusted to the requirements of the horse's skin. Because the active cleansing substances of common shampoos - surfactants in short - attack the natural barrier and fat regulation system of the horse's skin and coat.

We advise against using shampoos for humans. Such shampoos tend to degrease the hair. The horse, however, needs a moisturising, mildly cleansing and preferably pH-neutral shampoo. Shampoo very often cannot be washed out of the horse's coat without leaving residues (unlike the human skin). Residues remain in the coat and on the skin which can cause itching.

Therefore all Effol shampoos like Effol Ocean-Star Spray-Shampoo or Effol White-Star Spray Shampoo are made of natural ingredients. They are pH neutral, dermatologically tested and declared to be "very good", and also have a moisturising effect. The special fortifying formula for short and long hair strengthens the hair structure. And if time is running or if it is too cold for washing you can easily use Effol White-Star Dry-Shampoo. Simply spray it onto the damp coat and rub it in and remove it with Effol Smooth-Orca or Effol Wonder Sponge.

Coat care

A healthy horse's coat shines. This natural shine is to be intensified by the coat care and formulated to protect the mane and tail from tangling and matting. With any kind of shine-spray, just like with shampoos, it is important to ensure it is skin-friendly. Products made of cheap raw materials (e.g. industrial lubricants) can damage the horse's hair structure and cause skin irritation. These raw materials are not very biodegradable.

Effol uses exclusively natural basic materials such as silk proteins. They support the natural hair structure and have a caring effect on skin and hair. Use Effol SuperStar-Shine for cares for a brilliant shine and the Effol Mane-Tail Volumizer strenghtens the hair and cares for greater fullness and volume for mane and tail. For application of the care products on the mane and tail it is recommended to apply onto damp hair. This makes the mane and tail easy to untangle and keeps it free of knots for a long time. However, it is advisable to spray onto dry shorthair in o‍rder to avoid adhesion.

Effol shine-sprays are dermatologically tested with the result "very good" and comply with medical standards. They condition the horse's hair and guarantee a silky mane with more body and greater volume.

Tip: If applied Effol SuperStar-Shine before clipping, the horse clippers can be moved more easily over the coat!

Skin desinfection

Fast action is important in the case of skin injuries because a simple, small scratch can easily become an inflammable wound. Viruses and bacteria can penetrate easily into an untreated wound and infest it. In other words, the wound becomes contaminated. Without effective wound care, a contaminated wound can become an infected wound within only 8 hours. Therefore it is of utmost importance to disinfect every small wound to make sure germs are killed off and the wound stays clean. To avoid any risk the wound should be protected from dirt and mud – preferably by applying a wound plaster like Effol Liquid Barrier or bandage.