The best skin and coat supplements for horses provide additional nutritional to support healthy skin and promote a shiny coat. Keeping your horse’s skin healthy is important as it’s the body’s barrier to the harmful outside world – it protects your horse from his environment, including sunlight, insects, bacteria and bad weather.
Having a healthy skin is a great advantage especially if you bath your horse regularly, as this puts the skin at increased risk, or he is prone to itchy skin. Additionally, coat condition is a sign over overall health, so if you can get your horse looking shiny you know you’re at least headed in the right direction.
Skin and coat supplements for horses: what are your options?
Here is a selection of the best skin and coat supplements for horses that are currently available, including the manufacturers’ descriptions of their products…
NB: Cost per day has been calculated using the maintenance measure for a 500kg horse in light work (where there was variation) and the RRP of the smallest available tub. Some products require you to feed a loading dose, which will increase the cost per daily measure, while buying a larger tub will likely decrease it – these costs per day are a guide only.
NAF D-Itch
Form: Powder
Sizes: 780g, 2.4kg
RRP: £35.99 for 780g
Daily measure: 26g
Cost per day: £1.20
This supplement contains naturally sourced antioxidants to efficiently flush out the build up of free radicals associated with itchy irritated skin. It also includes herbs and nutrients to support strong healthy skin from within.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, equus.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or naylors.com
In the US? View now at amazon.com
Science Supplements Skin & Coat
Form: Powder
Sizes: 1.47kg
RRP: £44.99
Daily measure: 49g
Cost per day: £1.50
Containing 13 different essential nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, that promote both a shiny coat and healthy skin and have been shown to help with insect bite sensitivity. It also includes zinc, which can increase hair growth.
In the UK? View now at viovet.co.uk, equus.co.uk, amazon.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk
Omega ComfortSkin
Sizes: 1.8kg
RRP: £29.99
Daily feeding rate: 40g
Cost per day: £0.67
Omega Comfort Skin is a collection of natural ingredients formulated to support overall health and immunity, and soothing the skin itself, for an inside-out approach to skin care and health. Contains aloe vera, biotin, turmeric, seaweed, echinacea, rosehips, moringa leaf and tart cherry.
In the UK? View now at viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk
The Golden Paste Company TurmerItch
Form: Pellets
Sizes: 1.5kg
RRP: £44.99
Daily measure: 50g
Cost per day: £1.50
TurmerItch combines key ingredients, including neem, red bush tea and chamomile, to help provide relief from itching and soothe the skin by promoting a healthy skin and coat. It also contains turmeric and micronised linseed to help produce a high shine to the horse’s coat.
In the UK? View now at viovet.co.uk, equus.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or amazon.co.uk
EquiNutritive Revive ’N’ Shine
Form: Powder
Sizes: 750g, 1.5kg, 4.5kg, 20kg
RRP: £36.99 for 750g
Daily measure: 30g
Cost per day: £1.48
Revive ’N’ Shine supports and maintains healthy skin and coat condition throughout the year, promoting a glossy coat and a thicker mane. It also contains garlic to keep flies away.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk
Lincoln Herbs Quititch
Form: Powder
Sizes: 1kg
RRP: £30.99
Daily measure: 32g
Cost per day: £1
A herbal supplement formulated to utilise nature’s botanical properties to support the skin’s integrity and immunity, aiming to minimise itching and help prevent the associated skin damage.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk
Equine America Supreme Omega Oil
Form: Liquid
Sizes: 1l, 5l, 20l
RRP: £11.50 for 1l
Daily measure: 30ml
Cost per day: £0.35
This oil supports a healthy coat and skin, as well as overall wellbeing by providing omega-3 fatty acids, from cold pressed linseed (flaxseed) oil. It supports anti-inflammatory processes, coat condition and skin health, as well as providing support for the joints, hooves and immune system. It is naturally low in starch and sugar, and benefits can be seen at relatively low serve rates, which avoids adding significant additional calories to the diet for the good-doer.
In the UK? View now at equine-america.co.uk
Horse First Cuppra
Form: Liquid
Sizes: 1l, 2.5l
RRP: £16.45 for 1l
Daily measure: 30ml
Cost per day: £0.49
This supplement has a high copper availability for coat and conditioning. It is recommended that you give a course of Cuppra if you notice your horse’s coat is not looking as healthy as it should. It can also be added to drinking water of horses on grass.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk
Equine Products UK Linseed Oil
Form: Liquid
Sizes: 1l, 5l
RRP: £8.21 for 1l
Daily measure: 40–60ml
Cost per day: From £0.33
Linseed oil promotes a glossy coat and healthy skin. It also contains a high levels of the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6, which are essential for healthy cell membranes.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or equineproducts-ukltd.com
Baileys Outshine
Form: Powder
Sizes: 6.5kg, 20kg
RRP: £16.50 for 6.5kg
Daily measure: 450g
Cost per day: £1.15
This high-oil supplement provides a blend of linseed and soya oils to give a balance of omega-3 and -6 for supple skin and a soft shiny coat. It also contains supporting antioxidants to help the body utilise the oil more efficiently.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or naylors.com
Aloeride
Form: Powder
Sizes: Carton of 30 sachets
RRP: £55.20
Daily measure: One sachet
Cost per day: £1.84
This easy-to-feed, taste-free aloe vera supplement solution supports healthy skin and a glossy coat.
In the UK? View now at ebay.co.uk
TopSpec All-in-One
Sizes: 4kg, 9kg, 20kg
RRP: £40.25 for 4kg
Daily feeding rate: 100g
Cost per day: £1
This caramel flavoured broad-spectrum supplement contains biotin, vitamin A, copper, iodine, zinc, and certain amino acids that all contribute to a supple skin and shiny coat.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, equus.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk
How to choose the best skin and coat supplements for horses
Look out for skin and coat supplements that include the following ingredients:
- Omega-3 – which helps regulate the skin’s oil production and so prevents dry skin and dull coats
- Omega-6 – which helps the body respond appropriately to inflammation
- Biotin – which supports keratin production in the hair and skin
Consider the form the supplement takes – joint supplements can come in liquid, powder and pellet forms. Your horse may have a preference to one over another, which could make all the difference as if he won’t eat it, your horse won’t receive the benefit.
Cost is another consideration – we’ve calculated the daily cost of all the supplements featured in this guide to help you compare them easily. To make it as comparable as possible, we’ve used the smallest tubs available, but if you’re better off buying a larger volume of supplement if you can as the daily cost can become significantly lower.
If you compete with your horse then it is important you make sure any supplements you use do not contain any prohibited substances.
You might also be interested in:
7 rugs to help protect horses who are prone to sweet itch
11 medicated shampoos and washes to soothe the skin and clean the coat
Coat shine sprays worth adding to your grooming kit before show day
No foot, no horse – hoof supplements to help maintain healthy hooves
11 supplements to keep your horse on his feet
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