The best horse shampoo for sensitive skin are often made with natural ingredients and include calming elements, such as lavender or aloe vera. For horses with sensitive skin and those prone to reactions from even the best horse shampoos, these gentle shampoos can make all the difference for horses with sensitive skin.
If you’re looking to improve coat quality, alongside bathing your horse you might want to consider adding a skin and coat supplement into your horse’s diet. But for now, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best horse shampoo and washes suitable for horse’s with sensitive skin.
Best horse shampoo and washes for sensitive skin
NAF Love the Skin He’s In Skin Wash
Sizes: 1l, 2l
Washes per bottle: 25 from 1l
RRP: £26.99 for 1l
H&H Rating: 10/10
This natural skin wash is a gentle unique blend of herbal ingredients, including teatree oil, and is designed to help support damaged or challenged skin affected by lumps, bumps, rashes or mild irritations. It can be used as a hot towel wash, as a cold wash or applied directly to the skin in a concentrated form to address specific areas requiring attention.
This skin wash was part of a group test carried out by Horse & Hound. It was thoroughly tested by busy yard owner and hunting enthusiast Harriet Rimmer. This NAF wash scored 10/10 in our independent testing scheme – read the full review.
Hy Equestrian Lavender Body Wash
Sizes: 500ml
Washes per bottle: 25
RRP: £10.99
This gentle lavender wash is ideal for using following exercise to help cool, calm and aid rapid recovery. It doesn’t need rinsing off and contains no hidden detergents or soaps.
Science Supplements Aloe Vera Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml
Washes per bottle: 20
RRP: £11.99
This shampoo is designed to provide optimal moisture balance and support a healthy, shiny coat. It is suitable for horses with sensitive skin, dry and damaged hair and has a calming effect on sensitive skin. Active ingredients include aloe vera, D-panthenol and wheat protein, which provide optimal moisture balance for coat quality.
It can be used as a warm water wash, hot towel wash for a deep clean, cold water wash for a refreshing cleanse or a concentrated wash for areas requiring specific attention.
WildWash Equine Gentle Natural Horse Shampoo
Sizes: 300ml, 1l, 5l
Washes per bottle: 10 from 300ml
RRP: £14.95 for 300ml
This shampoo is designed for horses with sensitive skin and foals. It contains no essential oils, and the aloe vera, marshmallow root and evening primrose oil have been carefully chosen to help soothe and revitalise the skin and coat while hydrating and maintaining the moisture balance.
Pro-Equine Peppermint Shampoo
Sizes: 250ml, 1l, 5l
Washes per bottle: 10–12 from 250ml
RRP: £7.50 for 250ml
Pro-Equine Peppermint Natural Shampoo is a 100% natural and biodegradable formula ideal for horses with sensitive skin. This concentrated blend of plant oils and extracts softens, conditions, and promotes a healthy shine.
Leovet 5-Star Biotin Body Wash
Sizes: 500ml
Washes per bottle: 10–14
RRP: £11.26
This silicone-free body wash contains biotin, which forms the protein keratin – this is the basic substance in hair growth so in turn strengthens the hair structure and hair roots. This fast-cleaning and refreshing wash leaves skin healthy and hair full of volume and shine.
Equine America Squeaky Clean Sensitive Skin Citrus Shampoo
Sizes: 1l
Washes per bottle: Unavailable
RRP: £16.99
This gentle and effective shampoo, specially formulated with naturally derived ingredients, cleanses the horse’s coat, leaving it feeling clean and fresh. Its mild formula is kind to the skin. It contains aloe vera and pro-vitamin B that adds moisture back into the skin and coat, and is paraben and sulphate free.
Carr & Day & Martin Medicated Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml
Washes per bottle: 10
RRP: £13.70
This high-specification formula is ideal for soothing and calming dry, flaky, itchy, scurfy, sore, damaged, and sensitive skin. Its pH-neutral formula contains natural oils that help soften and lift scabs and dandruff. It also provides exceptional conditioning, resulting in noticeably softer hair and a shiny coat.
Smart Grooming Lavender Shampoo
Sizes: 250ml, 500ml, 1l, 5l
Washes per bottle: 8–10 from 500ml
RRP: £7.95 for 250ml
This shampoo contains essential lavender oil, which helps to gently soothe, moisturise and condition sensitive skin, while removing dirt or grease, leaving the coat healthy, shiny and smelling great.
Wahl Aloe Soothe Shampoo
Sizes: 500ml, 5l
Washes per bottle: Unavailable
RRP: £9.99 for 500ml
Formulated to be extremely gentle on a horse’s coat, this shampoo gently removes dirt, grease, stains, and odours. The formula includes aloe vera gel, which is ideal for sensitive skin.
Barrier Lavender Wash
Sizes: 500ml, 1l, 5l
Washes per bottle: 20 from 500ml
RRP: From £9.75 for 500ml
This no-rinse body wash with lavender and coconut cleanses, conditions, and soothes skin, removing sweat and dirt. Its lavender fragrance relaxes horses, making it ideal for pre/post-exercise, competition, and clipping.
Best way to apply horse shampoo
Need assistance with applying shampoo to your horse? Explore this selection of tools designed to help you lather shampoo effectively, minimise waste, and ensure even coverage.
Can I use human shampoo on my horse?
Using an equine-specific shampoo is recommended for horses because their skin has a different pH balance to humans. These shampoos are formulated to match the pH of horse skin, which reduces the risk of irritation and preserves essential oils. Therefore, it’s best to avoid using shampoos designed for humans or other animals on your horse.
Do I need to patch test before using a new shampoo on my horse?
Before using any new shampoo, its always a good idea to carry out a patch test on a small area of your horse’s skin to ensure it doesn’t cause any adverse reactions.
You might also like:
20 shampoos that will get your horse sparkling – because he’s worth it!
14 medicated shampoos and washes to soothe the skin and clean the coat
14 dry shampoos and stain removers that will leave your horse gleaming
Skin and coat supplements: what’s on the market?
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