Still got that dark new summer coat?

If you haven’t - look to your mineral balance.  Before you reach for that cover to stop your horses coat fading, check you have the correct balance of minerals.  A mineral deficiency or imbalance directly impacts your horses coat health, or lack of.

Copper & Zinc

Tyrosinase is an enzyme dependant on copper which produces melanin - a pigment. Sufficient copper is needed to produce this pigment. Pigments act as a shield against light.  Fading is caused by ultraviolet light oxidising the pigments.  If there isn’t enough pigment, the hair will be prone to bleaching (any time of year).  This is why a horses new coat will appear darker but then lighten over time if the horse doesn’t have the copper and zinc to make enough pigments to support healthy hair.

It’s not enough to simply ensure sufficient levels of copper and zinc in the diet; the balance between the two must also be considered.  

Too much zinc in the diet interferes with copper uptake.

Too much copper in the diet impacts zinc uptake.

Too much manganese in the diet interferes with iron & phosphorus uptake.

Too much iron in the diet interferes with zinc uptake.  

Confused yet? Some people add copper sulfate to a feed; this is not a good practice without taking into account the copper and zinc intake for the whole diet alongside iron and manganese levels. The ideal ratio for Copper to Zinc is 1:3 and Iron to Copper 4:1.  You can learn more about these important ratios here and what you can do to address them.

Other nutrients

There are other nutrients needed for coat longevity other than Copper and Zinc.  Protein, fats and other minerals contribute to part of a balanced diet. 

If your horses coat is lacking, its highly likely the hooves are too!

Top tip

Remember “more is not better.” Supplementing an individual mineral or nutrient blindly without consideration for others is a recipe for trouble.  

We have taken this all into consideration and taken the guess work away for you with our Everyday Horse Supplements, together with our supportive feeding.