[Crimson Vision]

They do make UV sheets; you just have to look for them to specifically say they are UV protective.

I tried everything with Max last year; sunscreens, paprika, all of it. He still belached like crazy. I think on the paprika you have to start feeding it before they shed out their winter coat (cause it didn't help last year).

This year I'm using Cheval's Black as Knight ( http://www.chevalinternational.com/ ) as well as Omega Horseshine ( http://www.smartpakequine.com/Produc...uctClassId=182 ) which has flax in it to try and help him stay black. He is also on night turnout now.

I haven't noticed much change with using the black enhancing shampoos. I even tried some Black horse henna ( http://www.chevalinternational.com/page5.html ) and that didn't work either.

[horsesR4life]

google: black coat enhancer, its a 'supplement' for horses and it makes your horses go jet black, it costs a bomb though. Im going to use their black henna shampoo, cheap and it lasts for months. is paprika harmful to horses? any side effects????

[Crimson Vision]

Originally Posted by horsesR4life

google: black coat enhancer, its a 'supplement' for horses and it makes your horses go jet black, it costs a bomb though. Im going to use their black henna shampoo, cheap and it lasts for months. is paprika harmful to horses? any side effects????

FYI, I used the black horse henna and it didn't work for me at all. *points to post above yours* I followed the directions exactly and the only thing it dyed black was where it got on my thumb.

The suppliment you are talking about is Black as Knight; both it and the Black Horse Henna are by Cheval: http://www.chevalinternational.com/

It is expensive but if you want to try it you can order thru SmartPak: http://www.smartpakequine.com/Produc...ductClassId=62 With SmartPak you get a month supply at a time; much easier to afford!

Max is on BaK; a double dose. It also has paprika in it. I haven't seen any ill effects on either of the horses I've fed paprika.

[Cara]

I've got a fading black horse as well, here are your options:

-keep in a stall in the daytime and turn out at night
-keep in a stall 24/7 (except for riding) - I don't reccomend this
-have her wear a fly sheet that also protects against UV rays
-black as knight (works for some, not for others)
-paprika (works for some, not for others)
-there are some coat sunscreens that prevent fading, but I've never tried them

I've tried all the black enhancing shampoos, and they havent done anything for me...

[cleveland13]

A lot of places will sell the UV fly sheets. If you can find one, get it, because it will definately help. I've never used the Black as Knight supplement, but I've heard that it works pretty well. Also, Rio Vista makes a shampoo for dark horses. The shampoos tend to add shine to your horse more than making them blacker, but if you wash you horse with it a few times the week before a show, they do help some.

[reiner girl]

some blakening shampoos do work and some don't but the uv sheet will work the best or just leave her stalled (don't recomend that but)
GOOD LUCK!

[cherazam]

we give our horses flaxseed

[JBandRio]

Since keeping him turned out as much as possible will be healthier for him, your options are full coverage fly sheets, sunscreen sprays, and paprika. Paprika itself isn't illegal, it's the capsaicin in it that can test positive. If you withold the paprika for 7 days before showing, that should solve that problem. If you show often though, then you just might as well not give it.

Paprika doesn't work for every horse - didn't for me, even in conjunction with fly sheets. What has worked the best so far, by a lot, is supplementing with copper. Copper is necessary to maintain pigment levels, darker horses needing more than lighter ones. Copper (and magnesium) is showing, in studies, to be deficient in more horses than previously thought. Not deficient enough to be unhealthy, but enough to be less than optimally healthy. Btw, copper is also essential for a healthy immune system.

Maybe you'll be lucky and your horse is a non-fading black

[haunani]

Yes, the paprika has to be started before the sun has a chance to damage their summer coat. Typically, it's started before shedding their winter coat. I've mostly read that 2Tbsp for black horses/day is best. It, along with the kelp, is the main ingredient in BaK. The other ingredients are simply coat conditioners and vit/min supplement. I just feed the paprika and source to my grey to bring out his dark points and it works wonderfully.

[twhlvr]

Thanks everyone...I'm going to give the paprika a try. She just started shedding out, so I'll start her on it right away...I'm also gonna do some reading on supplementing copper.