Different Types of Shampoo and Conditioner for Horses

There is a large market for equine beauty products, including various shampoos and conditioners, which claim to have all kinds of benefits for your horse's mane, tail and coat. It is important to keep in mind what the different types of horse hair care products are and what they should do for your horse.

  1. Basic Products

    • The most basic --- and least expensive --- horse shampoos and conditioners can be interchanged with human shampoos and conditioners. You can read the ingredient lists on horse shampoo and conditioner products and find that they have the same basic ingredients as regular shampoos and conditioners. Both horse and human shampoos and conditioners perform the basic functions of cleaning, conditioning and detangling the hair. Most of these products are sold claiming to enhance coat color, shininess or general smoothness, just like regular human shampoos.

    Anti-Fungal

    • Horses that live in warm, damp conditions where high temperature and high humidity are present have a tendency to develop a fungal skin infection commonly referred to as "rain rot," according to Equusite.com. There are a number of equine shampoo and conditioning products available that specifically target rain rot as well as treat other skin and fur fungi that can affect horses.

    Whitening

    • Many different horses have white spots, socks and blazes. Whitening shampoos and conditioners are designed to lift dirt, grass stains and general dinginess from white horse coats, manes and tails in order to restore the bright white color to the horses' hair.