UV protection for horses: How to protect your horse from UV rays

Science shows that Britain is becoming sunnier (yes, its true!). This means that we are now exposed to the sun and its harmful UVB rays for longer periods and with greater intensity throughout the year. Proper sun protection is therefore important not only for us riders, but also for our horses, who are exposed to the sun for most of the day in summer.

Is UV protection really necessary for horses?

Isn’t the coat sufficient protection from the sun? Horses that spend most of the day out in the field or paddock are constantly exposed to the damaging UV-B rays of sunlight. Generally speaking, horses need sunlight to produce both vitamin D and serotonin, which are essential for their well-being. Nevertheless, caution is advised, as it is not only humans who are affected by the sunburn-inducing UV rays.

Horses with little or no pigmentation in their skin (cremellos) and areas of the body with little hair – and therefore unprotected – such as the nostrils, eyes and white markings are at risk of getting sunburn. Short-wave UV radiation is very high in energy and damages the outer layer of the skin, causing it to become inflamed – resulting in sunburn. And repeated sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer.

Another phenomenon is black horses that lighten in colour during the summer and develop light brown patches. If they have been exposed to sunlight for too long, the melanin in their hair is damaged and the colour is lost. However, this may also be due to a deficiency in zinc and copper, which normally support melanin production.

As you can see, despite their coats, not all horses are equally well protected from UV radiation. Additional UV protection for horses is required, which can be provided using sun cream, fly rugs, fly masks and nose protectors.

UV protection for horses: How to protect your horse from UV radiation

Natural UV protection: trees, bushes, shelters

Staying out of the sun – that’s the best sun protection, even for horses. The less a horse is exposed to direct sunlight, the better. Natural and artificial shaded areas have been shown to reduce UV radiation by up to 30%. Incidentally, shade also provides excellent protection against insects, as flies and horseflies are less likely to be found in the shade than in direct sunlight. Horses that have a choice often seek out shelters and trees of their own accord when the midday heat sets in. And if management allows it, horses can remain in the stable during the peak midday heat between 11 am and 3 pm.

Sun cream for horses

As riders who spend a lot of time outdoors, we use sun cream to prevent sunburn and skin cancer. Horses with pale, lightly pigmented skin are also prone to sunburn around the nostrils and eyes. Sun cream for horses can help prevent this. Important: Use sun cream such as SHOWMASTER Sun Protection with SPF 50, which is formulated to match the pH level of horses. Horses should not come into contact with sun lotion intended for humans, as these often contain fragrances and leaves a greasy residue.

Textile sun protection: Fly rugs and fly masks

Not every fly rug or fly mask automatically comes with built-in UV protection. It is the specific properties of the material that make this possible. These include the mesh size, the type of material and the (chemical) treatment of the material.

We have had our fly masks tested to ensure that we can offer your horses the best possible protection against UV radiation. Our masks are made from sturdy, dense ripstop mesh, which blocks up to 65% of UV radiation, while the stretchy Lycra material with a very fine mesh blocks up to 97%. Please bear in mind that the fly masks are not made entirely from a single fabric – the material of the eye panels differs from that of the rest of the mask. Therefore, it is not possible to attribute a uniform level of UV protection to the entire mask.

When hacking, you can attach a nose protector to the bridle to prevent your horse’s nose from getting burnt.

The Felix Bühler Gibson collection includes sweet itch rugs, as well as walker rugs and zebra patterned fly rugs. They are made with a very tight weave to protect horses from insect bites. The material’s tight mesh provides UPF50+ protection, blocking up to 97% of UV radiation. This means your horse can spend the day out in the field during summer without being plagued by insects or getting sunburnt.

Special circumstances: equine goggles

Horses with eye conditions require special protection for their eyes against harmful sunlight. Special goggles for horses are available for this purpose, offering 100% UV protection and serving as a supplement to veterinary treatment.

My horse has sunburn – what should I do?

Horses with light-coloured markings and thin, unpigmented skin around the nostrils are particularly at risk of getting sunburn. These areas should be treated primarily with a sun cream designed for horses, such as SHOWMASTER Sun Protection with SPF 50.

If your horse has been in the sun for too long without protection, it will become sunburnt, which will manifest as redness, itching, and blisters that form scabs. There are three degrees of sunburn in horses, ranging from mild redness to dangerous burns where the skin peels off and the horse develops a fever, requiring urgent veterinary treatment.

Always keep an eye on your horse’s sun-exposed areas, such as the withers, the base of the tail and the spine, as sunburn can develop more easily in these areas, too.

You can cool sunburnt areas by rinsing them with clean, running water. Make sure the horse drinks plenty of water, as it needs more fluids when it is sunburnt. If the horse is in pain when drinking from a pressure drinker due to its burnt nose, provide it with a bucket of water instead.

Afterwards, you should treat the affected areas with suitable creams. Avoid using oily products, as these do not allow heat to dissipate or let the skin breathe. Instead, opt for panthenol-based skincare products such as Propolis Balm or Regenerating Ointment from SHOWMASTER moisturise the damaged areas and support the skin’s natural protective function.