A poor coat often reflects the horse’s health
A dull, lifeless coat is often a sign that something is not right. Poor coat quality usually indicates reduced overall condition. There can be many underlying causes, the most common being parasites, poor-quality or unsuitable/insufficient nutrition, an underlying or developing illness, metabolic disorders, digestive disturbances, stress, or other abnormal conditions combined with inadequate nutrition.
A poor coat is a warning sign to the owner or caretaker that something is wrong. The underlying cause should be identified so the situation can be corrected.
If disease can be ruled out, the next step is to review the horse’s feeding and nutrition. If these are also in order, the cause is often metabolic, which can be supported with metabolism-stimulating plants such as dandelion, yarrow, birch, parsley, nettle, ginger, and milk thistle seed.
For convalescent or undernourished horses, suitable plants are those that support digestion and contain high levels of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. Good options include nettle, rosehip, rowan berry, sea buckthorn, garlic, yarrow, and dandelion.
