The Lowdown on Smutting in Horses of Certain Colors

Smutting is a term used to describe dark or sooty patches in the coat of a palomino, dun, or buckskin horse. For horses that carry the smutting gene, there are certain feeds that might exacerbate the occurrence of this color change, according to some horsemen. The most common of these feeds are molasses, linseed, copra, sunflower seeds, and lucerne (alfalfa). A common belief is that high-protein and high-fat diets as well as excessive trace minerals (copper, iron, and selenium) and vitamin A increase the occurrence of smutting.

Owners of palomino show horses are particularly concerned about smutting, as it is viewed negatively in the show ring. Thus, palomino owners will often feed a modified diet to avoid these smutting triggers. These diets are termed “white diets” or “white feeds” and contain feedstuffs such as cereal hays and chaffs (wheaten and oaten), grass or meadow hay, and white grains (oats, barley, mill run), while avoiding protein meal, lucerne (alfalfa), molasses, copra, fat sources, and trace minerals. Pelleted feeds are favored over muesli feeds as they tend to contain less molasses.

It is important to remember that all horses need a balanced diet containing essential protein, energy, minerals, and vitamins, so if you have a palomino, we recommend having your diet analyzed by a nutritionist to make sure you are not missing anything essential! This is especially important in young growing horses, broodmares, or horses with poor hoof or coat condition, as they will require specific amounts of protein, minerals, and vitamins. After all, it is more important to have a healthy, well-performing individual with a few dark patches, than a perfectly golden coat but compromised health.