Paprika for Horses?

[rodriguezpoultry]

I was told recently by a judge to keep Max locked up during the day and let out at night.

He's not one of the stalls, but will do if necessary to keep his coat nice and dark this year.

She later told me that paprika can also help darken up the coat.

Is this true? I've been reading around and some people have had success while others are concerned about testing positive on drug tests. None of the shows I go to are rated, so I'm not worried about that.

Supposedly, paprika can be given a few months before the spring coat starts growing and the hair will be dark for the entire summer, even with exposure to the outside sun.

Anyone know if this is true? I'm hesitant to put him out with a fly sheet/UVB sheet because he's out with other horses that might run him around or tear it to shreds.

 

[patandchickens]

I was told recently by a judge to keep Max locked up during the day and let out at night.

It does make a difference in coat color. Somewhat.

OTOH horses are really much happier and healthier with the most turnout you can provide him. So if stalling him during the sunny part of the day would mean less turnout, I really really have to question whether the exact color of his fur is worth keeping him cooped up and not moving around :/

Even if he is normally stalled half the time anyhow (although this is not ideal for hardly any horses, sometimes it is unavoidable if you have to board the horse), make sure you have thought thru what it will be like for him -- most horses do poorly when turned out while everyone else is in the barn or stalled when everyone else is out; in some areas, mosquitos make life extremely miserable at night; and in some [few] places, theft at night is a realistic concern.

Anyone know if this is true? I'm hesitant to put him out with a fly sheet/UVB sheet because he's out with other horses that might run him around or tear it to shreds.

That is still a lot better for him than being stalled more than he currently is. Personally I would for SURE at least TRY a fly sheet (with or without neck cover). Don't get one of the mosquito-weight ones, get one of the super heavy duty coarsely-woven ones, the name of the material is escaping me but it is what the original Kensingtons were made of, you know? They are by far the most durable. Put it on him and SEE whether any problems develop (in terms of interactions with other horses, rubs, sweat bleaching, etc).

But honestly, I would really urge you to put his overall health, happiness and welfare ABOVE some arbitrary showring hangup about exact color of coat. You do not ride the horse's COLOR

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[michickenwrangler]

The 2 paints and nearly all the black TWHs at the barn I board at are in during the day and out at night in the summer to save color for showing. However, these horses are worked regularly to break up the monotony of the day.

Coming in the in the late morning, most of the horses are sacked out, snoring and enjoying their time out of the heat. Even my horse who is on 24/7 turnout comes in and dozes in the cross-ties in the summer heat.

You're in Texas so it must be even hotter there.

I will say that the black and white paint and the black TWHs have sleek, blue-black coats without the reddish bleaching out on manes and tails. I will also remind people that these are NWHA TWHs, not the "big lick" with built up shoes and set tails. The MI shows do not allow that, you have to show them more natural.

RoPo, you board then? I would talk to the barn manager about what you can do?

As Pat said, most horses are happiest on 24/7 turnout, but most can also be happy with 1/2 time turnout.

Never heard of the paprika though. I would try a color enhancing shampoo though

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I wouldn't say it's boarding per se, but I have a pasture lease for him. If I want, I can change the lease and board him in the stall.

 

[goodhors]

We keep our horses in part of the day, year around. Summers they get night turnout to avoid the heat and flies pestering them. Winters they come in for the night, out in days.

We have kept horses like this for MANY years, never had any issues. Horses are waiting at the gates to come inside either way, they like the routine. None are sore or stiff, coming out of the barn. We have had elderly horses with no stiffness issues from stalling, and some are older now now, though still used. Older does not ALWAYS mean "stoved up" or having damage issues.

I think it is more cruel to leave them outside with no heat relief, insects chasing them constantly, or leaving swollen bite marks, than to barn for half a day in the darker shade, fairly fly-free stalls. Ours also snooze, zone out for that time. They are handy if we want to work them, go for a ride, shoe them, never have any "can't catch him" issues! Being handled twice a day, you catch any problems that might have happened, bites, shoe off, a kick wound, so nothing goes bad before finding it. I know lots of older horses who get fed daily, but never checked or groomed under winter blankets, rainsheets or get any other attention in their pasture-with-shed, situations. Blankets get wet, never changed in cold weather. Horse gets hot on warm days, sweaty even, blankets are not removed. Not what I think is very good care even if blanket did cost $150.

From our experience, looking at other folks horses, those heavy fly sheets hold in a LOT of heat. Horses get sweaty under them, even if they are full of holes. Sunshine does bleach the hair, and if you show, that counts against you badly. If showing is what you enjoy with your horse, and winning DOES matter, you should plan to stall during most daylight hours in summer. Your entry fees are wasted if you can't present a shiny, non-sunburned horse to the Judge. You have the horse to enjoy your chosen activity, barning half the day is not injurious to his health, mental or physical. Might keep him from foundering with over eating on pasture 24 hours a day!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I've been feeding him the paprika for about a month now. You can tell a HUGE difference. He was a very pale color and now is more red and definitely more gold.

He LOVES the flavors and I have taken a bite of it to make sure that it is not hot/spicy. It seems that you have to heat it up to get a spicy flavor from it. I mix it with molasses and he goes gaga over it. It doesn't seem to be making him any hotter, so I guess he's not going to react to it in that form?