Keeping a Show Coat During the Winter: Essential, Proven Tips For A Sleek, Show-Ready Horse
Keeping a show coat during the winter is not sorcery… it is schedule, light, layers, and shameless amounts of elbow grease. Fall and winter are coming, which means winter coats. Not the cute fashion kind… the fuzzy mammoth kind that makes your horse look like he is auditioning for a Yeti documentary. If you want your horse looking show-ring ready, the recipe is lights, sleazies, blankets, elbow grease, and a vacuum that sucks properly. Here is how I maintain my coats during the fall and winter so I can show year-round while keeping a show coat during the winter as the main goal.
Keeping a Show Coat During the Winter: The Exact Game Plan
It starts with lights, then layering, then a repeatable grooming routine. That is it. No glitter sprays, no prayers to the hair gods… just discipline and the right tools focused on keeping a show coat during the winter without drama.
Lights
Horses grow winter hair as the daylight hours begin getting shorter. I like to put my horses under lights by August 15 to prevent the winter hair from coming in. Your horse will need 16 hours of light per day to maintain a sleek, summer coat. This is the foundation for keeping a show coat during the winter before fuzz ever starts.
I use brooder clamp lights with timers and a 200 watt LED daylight bright bulb. The light needs to reach all four corners of wherever your horse is housed, whether it is a stall or a pen. You should be able to read a newspaper comfortably in all four corners of the stall. I attach timers to my lights and set them to come on at 6 AM and go off at 10 PM. Bright, even light is how we are keeping a show coat during the winter without clipping.
Sleazies
I am a sleazy whore. I love my sleazies and I prefer the heavy duty faceless sleazy from Schneiders. I layer this under sheets and blankets for added warmth, and I wash it once per month during the winter. It gets funky, but it keeps the coat nice. They are pricey, but well worth the investment. A good base layer is priceless for keeping a show coat during the winter smooth and tight.
UltraFlex Slickers Heavyweight… the base layer that keeps the coat tight.
UltraFlex Slickers Heavyweight: UltraFlex Slickers Heavyweight
Sheets and Blankets
Like sleezies, one can never have too many sheets and blankets. My horses go outside every day, so they have a sheet or blanket for every type of weather. I prefer Schneiders brand sheets and blankets. My necessities are a cutback wither stable sheet, a medium weight stable blanket, a medium weight turnout, and a heavyweight turnout with a detachable hood. Smart layering is how we are keeping a show coat during the winter even when the wind bites.
Grooming Products and Supplies
You can never have too many grooming products and supplies, but during the winter, I have a few go to items. My barn is not heated, and I do not have a hot water wash rack, so here is how you make do with what you have while keeping a show coat during the winter silky.
The Junior Curry from Schneiders
This is your bread and butter. You will go through a million of them. When the teeth get worn down, throw it out and get a new one. I go through a curry every two weeks if I am grooming daily. Remember, do not rub in circles. Slide your hand through, cup your hand, and groom in short, straight strokes. This knocks the dirt off, pulls dead hair and debris to the surface, and redistributes oils. Do not forget the legs. This curry is gentle enough for them and knocks the cannon crud off. Clean skin is non negotiable for keeping a show coat during the winter.
Vacuum
Armor All AA255 wet dry vac with plenty of pull. Here is my cheap and dirty secret. I use a small 2 HP shop vac, swap the hose for a Rapid Groom replacement hose, then add the Rapid Groom nozzle. You get a horse vacuum that sucks better than the overpriced ones. After currying, vacuum the whole horse and pull the dandruff and dust out, which is clutch for keeping a show coat during the winter smooth.
Rapid Groom Replacement Hose
Rapid Groom replacement hose for extra reach. Attach this to the shop vac.
Rapid Groom Nozzle
Rapid Groom nozzle… the business end. Attach this nozzle to the end of the rapid groom replacement hose, and you’re in business.
EquiFuse Rehydrinse Conditioner
Next, I use EquiFuse Rehydrinse all over the body to help keep the hair conditioned, prevent scurf, and keep the horse from getting itchy. Another trick is to mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray on the coat. This helps kill bacteria and keeps the horse from getting scurf, rain rot, and other dermatitis conditions while keeping a show coat during the winter shiny.
I brush that through the coat with my favorite rice root or soft dandy brush, and finish it with my Tiger’s Tongue to pick up stray hairs and dirt. I leave manes and tails alone until I wash them. A clean surface is everything for keeping a show coat during the winter.
Monthly Mane and Tail Routine
During the winter I wash my manes and tails once per month, temperature permitting, with warm water. I follow the following steps. This routine is key for keeping a show coat during the winter and saving that long hair from breakage.
- Wet mane and tail thoroughly. Take a little bit of EquiFuse Concentrate Shampoo and work it into the mane. Get your fingertips into the crest of the mane and scrub. Rinse the mane. Then shampoo one more time. Rinse thoroughly, then apply EquiFuse conditioner and leave it while you finish washing the horse. Repeat the exact same process for the tail, scrubbing the tail bone thoroughly. Rinse, then wash again, rinse, and apply conditioner, working it into the tail bone, especially the tip.
- Rinse mane, tail, and body thoroughly. Do not leave any conditioner in the mane and tail. It will weigh hair down and attract more dirt.
- Gently squeeze excess water out of mane and tail. Sweat scrape excess water off the horse.
- Mix 1 oz of EquiRehydrinse Conditioner with water in a spray bottle. Spray mixture on mane and tail and work it into the crest and tail bone with your fingers. Let it air dry a few minutes.
- Saturate mane and tail with Mane ’n Tail Detangler. Let air dry a few minutes.
- Blow dry mane and tail with a pet dryer. Do not comb wet hair. Dry thoroughly, ensuring the crest and tail bone are dry.
- Once dry, comb through with a wide toothed comb. Start at the ends and work up. Use your fingers for knots.
- Braid the mane. Start loose at the crest and tighten as you go. Braid halfway down and secure with electrical tape.
- Braid the tail. Start loose at the base of the tail bone and tighten as you go. Secure with tape.
- Bag the tail in a lycra tail bag.
- Place a Sazzy Tailz canvas bag over the lycra tail bag.
Detangler for keeping show manes and tails during the winter
Wide-Toothed Comb
Lycra Tail Bag
Sazzy Tailz Tail Bag
Mane ’n Tail detangler… foreplay for your comb.
Wide toothed comb… ends first, then up.
Lycra tail bag under the canvas tail bag cover keeps hair protected.
Sazzy Tailz canvas over bag for turnout. This layers nicely with the lycra tail bags for added protection.
Pet Dryer with Heat and Speed Control
My secret weapon. Dry fully before you ever touch a comb.
Temperature-Based Blanketing
I blanket according to temperature. Use your judgement because humidity and dew point affect the real feel of the temperature. Managed correctly, blanketing is huge for keeping a show coat during the winter flat and glossy.
- 20°F and below … Heavyweight sleazy, medium stable blanket, heavyweight turnout and hood.
- 20 to 40°F … Heavyweight sleazy and heavyweight turnout and hood.
- 45 to 55°F … Heavyweight sleazy and medium stable blanket.
- 55 to 64°F … Heavyweight sleazy and stable sheet or lightweight turnout sheet.
Gear Quick Links
These are the exact tools I use for keeping a show coat during the winter. Click through or click the links above the images.
- ArmorFlex Challenger II Adjusta Fit Turnout
- Schneiders ARMORFlex Pro Adjusta Fit Turnout
- Adjusta Fit Dura Nylon V Free Medium Stable Blanket
- Adjusta Fit Dura Nylon Stable Sheets
- UltraFlex Slickers Heavyweight
- Rapid Groom Hose and Rapid Groom Nozzle
- Armor All AA255 2.5 gallon 2 HP wet dry vac
- Schneiders Junior Curry
- EquiFuse Rehydrinse and Concentrate Shampoo
- Mane ’n Tail Detangler
- Wide toothed comb
- Lycra tail bag and Sazzy Tailz canvas bag
- High output pet dryer
- Lighting kit: clamp lights, LED bulbs, timers
Related: for year round shine, see my full program… Volturi’s 12 Step Horse Hair Maintenance Routine.
Final Thoughts
Keeping a show coat during the winter is not rocket science… it is consistency, the right gear, and a willingness to smell vaguely like vinegar for half the season. Stick to this routine and your horse will roll into the ring sleek and smug while the woolly mammoths look on in envy. It is work… but so is shaving your legs in January and sometimes we still commit. Keep the outfit sharp and your horse will turn heads all winter long.
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