Can a Horse Get Sunburn?

[lenellenlen]

I saw a friend putting a baby formula sunscreen on her horse before a trail ride. I almost fell off laughing at her. But, then I got to thinking. Can a horse get sunburned?

[kandm]

Hi! Yes horses certainly can get sunburn, also skin cancer (as can any dog or cat and prob most mammals!). It is a very good idea to put the highest factor possible on any 'pink' skin that a horse has..... such as pink muzzles, scars etc. I put baby sun cream on 2 of mine, as they have pink noses! NAF do a sun cream for horses, but to be honest it is typically over priced and works no better than human stuff! :)

[whisperingpines367]

My horse got really bad sunburn on his nose last year! I've always put sun screen on his nose ever since.:cool:

[HooverH]

I don't know if I should put any on Hoover or not. He's a dark, almost black dun, but he does have a smallish white stripe on his nose. Thoughts?

[patdarb]

Wow! I had no idea. I'll have to break it out on trail rides no. What about general use daily? Any comments.

[lenellenlen]

I guess the laugh is on me for giving her a hard time! I can''t say that I've ever seen a burned horse's nose. I will be more careful now though.

[rhapsody]

I rode a cremello pony when I was younger (cream with pink skin and blue eyes) he was beautiful and always had to wear sunscreen otherwise he would burn.

BTW grey horses are never allowed for human consumption (never that I would eat a horse) for the fact that they can get skin cancer

[patdarb]

Only grey horses can get skin cancer? That seems very weird. Totally grossed out about the eating part!