Do you know if sunblock is ok to put on a horse?

Do you know if sunblock is ok to put on a horse?“Hi Stacy! I have a overo paint with a really white face and last summer he got burnt pretty bad. Do you know if sunblock is ok to put on a horse? I put a fly mask but that only covers half his face. What would you recommend?”-Amy S.

He is very cute and I can see how that nose could be at risk. Years ago I had a horse in training that had a history of burning his nose. The vet recommend sunblock. I can’t remember what brand we used because the owner brought some with him. They basically said that if it was safe for kids it was safe for horses.
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I bet there are many other people out there who have horses who have faced this same challenge. If you have ever dealt with this before please leave a comment telling us how you prevented burns. Have you used sunblock on your horse? What type?
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Is there anything else you would recommend?

88 Comments

  1. bobbiejo81 on March 20, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    My daughters Medicine Hat gelding always burnt really bad(he passed this December) but I would cover his muzzle and above his eyes(be careful not to get too close of course) .. I used the pink bottle of Waterbabies Waterproof formula.. I think it was SPF 50 or 80.. But I would also take a thick eyeliner in black and I would give him the football players non glare strips with that.. My vet told me that it would help reflect the sun in a way so that his eyelids didn’t burn since I couldn’t get the sunscreen that close and he hated a flymask.. You can also use aloe if he does get burnt.. I have aloe plants and would break a stem off but you can buy the gel in almost any store

  2. Andrea on March 19, 2015 at 1:40 am

    I use My Pony Sun Block on my Drum Horse.. http://www.myponysunblock.com/ Good for all types of white-haired, pink unpigmented skin!

    Uses pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and is fragrance and chemical free!

    Safe for all animals, it is made with all natural non-irritating minerals, which have a natural affinity to the skin.

    Daily application of minerals gives instant chemical free protection that will last all day!

  3. mychon on March 18, 2015 at 10:10 pm

    I find that zinc oxide works way better than sun block. It’s not greasy and dosent attract dirt, lasts longer and blocks better. I did have a horse react to a cheap brand of sun block but she was fine with the zinc.

  4. Heather on March 18, 2015 at 8:30 pm

    Sun & Bug – 2 problems – 1 solution! 🙂

  5. Darlene on March 18, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    We bought some of this at an expo one year and love it.
    Our horses like it better than trying to smear cream on them, no odor and stays on well.
    http://www.myponysunblock.com/

  6. Emilee on March 18, 2015 at 2:56 pm

    I’ve got two paints, ones a tobiano and the other is an overo. My overo gal burns really bad in the summer, so now she has a new summer time solution. Sunscreen that safe for kids and a fly mask that has the nose piece as well. Also, if you can do night turn out that’s the best thing to do 🙂

  7. marti on March 18, 2015 at 2:45 pm

    Please look up My Pony Sunblock. Its Amazing and it makes the white areas white and wont collect dirt!!! LOVE LOVE this stuff. It lasts several days well worth the price.

  8. Sandy on March 18, 2015 at 2:22 pm

    A full face fly mask works and does double duty!

  9. hawaiihorses on March 18, 2015 at 1:57 pm

    Check with the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Every year they rate sun protective products. Many children’s products aren’t safe for adults, must less children. I would err on the side of less toxicity especially with my horses.

  10. Leilani on March 18, 2015 at 1:50 pm

    Check with the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Every year they rate the sunblocks. Just because it’s for children, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe for them or the environment.

  11. CJM on March 18, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    Used Coppertone kids sunblock, but also used an old T-Shirt to tie a triangle shaped hankie to the nose of her halter. Cut the long side of the triangle in strips like the fleece tied blankets people do and tied the strips to the nose of the halter. Cotton was cool and soft on what was an already chapped nose, and she could graze around it. It healed well and she only ran into that for a couple summers as a youngster.

  12. sojourner16 on March 18, 2015 at 11:54 am

    I have used zinc oxide- it’s the stuff that’s in baby diaper rash cream. As well as kids sunscreen. Both do the job and are safe for the “ponies”

  13. Susan Hite on March 18, 2015 at 11:53 am

    I use a full face Cashel fly mask. It goes down and cover my horses nose.

  14. sojourner16 on March 18, 2015 at 11:53 am

    Zinc oxide is good too- it’s the stuff that is in baby rash ointment. I have used both- just straight sink oxide and just plain old sunblock for kids.

  15. Joe Law on March 18, 2015 at 11:45 am

    I use 30SPF all the time on my few spot Appaloosa.

  16. Virginia Rasmussen on March 18, 2015 at 11:42 am

    My mare, Sugar who passed away at the end of January, was a cremello paint. When I got her, her face was pretty much bald from sunburn. I used an spf 50 on her daily. The hair and whiskers grew back after about a month and with keeping the sunblock on her and her flymask, she never burned again.

  17. Tina on March 18, 2015 at 11:20 am

    I have an overo paint with the same issue. For years, I put sunblock on his face multiple times a day. He was NOT a fan of it, but he tolerated my intrusions! Haha. Now, however, I have found a full face fly mask with a long nose that protects him from sunburns. No more sunblock unless I’m out riding or something! I got it for around $20 on horse.com. I highly recommend it – so much easier on all of us 🙂

  18. Lori White on March 18, 2015 at 11:02 am

    I have used numerous brands of water proof sun block on my paint for years without any issues.

  19. Donna Fitzgerald on March 18, 2015 at 10:44 am

    I have a chestnut gelding with a wide blaze that goes down his nose, causing him to get sunburned there. I use the children’s Coppertone Cream with a high sunblock, around 50, I think. He doesn’t like the smell of it, as he’s a big baby, but it works…no more sunburn!

    • Donna Fitzgerald on March 18, 2015 at 10:48 am

      I also have a flymask with a nose piece that helps a lot, protects against flies and sunburn!

  20. Darcy on March 18, 2015 at 7:48 am

    Desitin, helps heal any current burn and zinc oxide helps prevent new burn!

  21. tcorms on March 18, 2015 at 6:54 am

    Hi all! I have the same issue with my overo paint. I used to put sunblock on him every day multiple times a day (reapplying is key if they are out all day). Now, I have an long nosed fly mask that is actually a little longer than his face, and it works amazingly well, and I don’t have to put chemicals on him every day. Look for the masks on horse.com, for example. Good luck. 🙂

  22. Karen Alija on March 18, 2015 at 6:33 am

    Filter bac – best thing ever for my ” gunner ” paint with bald face 😉

  23. Liseanne Roy on March 18, 2015 at 6:15 am

    I use baby sunblock for sensitive skin. My horse hates the smell and feel of it, but it gets the job done. Just a little tricky to get on.

    I have also found that fly masks that cover the whole nose are way better than sunblock. Especially if you don’t see your horse every day, or if it rains etc.

    Here is an example, but there are a few companies out there that make them. A light colour is always better than a dark one, because light colour don’t attract sun light.

    http://www.pleasantridge.ca/index.php/horsewear/fly-sheets-masks/fly-mask-with-nose-cover.html

  24. Rosie on March 18, 2015 at 5:53 am

    white zinc cream is really good for noses, it is waterproof and good for healing

  25. Charlesanna on March 18, 2015 at 5:49 am

    No-Ad PABA free lotion, available at Wal-mart, and zinc oxide is good too.

  26. Jennifer Arnold on March 18, 2015 at 3:10 am

    I use Equate brand waterproof 50 spf on my horses’ pink noses and on heel bulbs for white socks to prevent blistering. Every two or three days they get a glob rubbed in, keeps the burn away and so far I haven’t seen any negative reactions.

  27. Myojung Yang on March 18, 2015 at 12:45 am

    Sunblock is fine for horses; we use it for the sensitive ones all the time at the ranch where i work, and we pretty much lather it on. If your horse has a bad burn, aloe is great for soothing him while he recovers.

  28. Kitty on March 18, 2015 at 12:12 am

    I’ve used My Pony sunblock. It’s very safe and effective.

  29. Nikki Schleppe on March 18, 2015 at 12:02 am

    My mom has a few that need sunblock, zinc based ones are the best. We use the one I get from melaleuca. Even zinc cream from the drugstore will help.

  30. Claire Smith on March 17, 2015 at 11:59 pm

    Zinc oxide powder works a charm! You put about one teaspoon into their food each day and it prevents burning, also saves you putting sunblock on twice a day and because its in their system in stays in there for a few days so if you are away you don’t have to worry about your horse getting burnt 🙂

  31. Heather on March 17, 2015 at 11:44 pm

    Walmart brand maximum strength zinc oxide….cheaper than Desatin and exactly the same thing.

  32. Tina on March 17, 2015 at 11:03 pm

    Baby diaper rash has zinc oxide and it sticks when they try to rub it off.

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