Horse Skin Care: Gentle Wash Plus Barrier Balm
Healthy skin starts with a gentle wash, not harsh scrubbing. Ferro's Repair Cream is a protective barrier balm for intact skin that's prone to rubbing — girth areas, clipped patches — while Revive Shampoo cleans the coat without stripping the skin underneath it. Repair Cream is for unbroken skin only. Open wounds or active lesions need a vet, not a balm.
Why skin health starts with what you wash with
A harsh detergent shampoo strips the skin's natural oils and leaves it dry, more reactive to rubbing, sweat, and tack contact. Revive Shampoo is built for everyday full-body washing with plant oils and magnesium, so it cleans the coat gently without stripping the skin underneath — a reasonable habit for skin that's already healthy. That matters most in summer, when sweat and friction under tack are hardest on the skin.
Where a barrier balm helps
- Girth and cinch areas that take repeated friction between rides.
- Clipped patches right after a body clip, once skin is clean and dry.
- Any intact skin that regularly rubs against tack, rugs, or boots.
- Dry, weathered skin on the legs or muzzle that isn't broken or inflamed.
Apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin — just enough to leave a light barrier, not a thick coat. Skip any area with existing hair loss, scabbing, or heat, since those need a vet's assessment first. For tack-rub prevention, read girth galls and tack rubs; for post-clip skin care, see clipping aftercare; and if your horse reacts to grooming products, check sensitive skin and product reactions.
A simple skin-first routine looks like this: wash with Revive Shampoo after work, let the skin dry fully, then apply Repair Cream to the spots that take the most friction — girth, saddle patch edges, boot rub — before you tack up next time.
Recommended products
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Repair Cream on an open wound?
No. It's a preventive barrier balm meant for intact, unbroken skin only. Open wounds, broken girth galls, or active lesions need veterinary care, not a grooming balm.
Will a gentle shampoo help with skin problems?
A gentle, non-stripping wash like Revive Shampoo supports healthy skin as part of a normal routine, but it won't treat or cure a genuine skin condition. See your vet for that.
Where should I apply the barrier balm?
On intact skin that takes repeated friction — the girth area, saddle patch edges, clipped patches — as prevention. Not on skin that's already broken or inflamed.
My horse has girth galls that have broken the skin — can I use Repair Cream?
No, not once the skin is broken. See girth galls and tack rubs and bring in your vet — Repair Cream is only for prevention on intact skin.