Summer has arrived for many in the US, and that usually means fly season. As temperatures rise and fly populations increase, many horse owners shift their attention to fly sprays, masks, sheets, and other forms of protection. While these tools are an important part of summer horse care, there is another piece of the puzzle that often receives less attention: nutrition.

Your horse’s skin is their largest organ and serves as a critical barrier between their body and the environment. Throughout the summer months, that barrier is constantly challenged by insects, sun exposure, sweat, dust, and changing environmental conditions. Supporting skin health from the inside out can help horses maintain healthy skin and coat condition throughout the season, which ensures your horse can give you their best.

Why Summer Can Be Hard on Your Horse’s Skin

Fly season brings more than simple irritation. Biting insects can cause horses to rub, scratch, and become uncomfortable. Combined with heat, sweat, and environmental stressors, skin can quickly become one of the hardest-working systems in the body.

Healthy skin depends on several factors working together, including:

• Proper hydration
• Normal cell turnover
• Balanced nutrition
• Normal inflammatory responses
• Adequate essential fatty acids

When these needs are met, the skin is better equipped to maintain its natural protective functions.

The Connection Between Nutrition and Skin Health

The skin is constantly renewing itself. New skin cells are produced, old cells are shed, and the body works continuously to maintain a healthy barrier.

This process requires nutrients, including protein, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.

While grooming products can help support the outside of the horse, nutrition influences the skin from within. That is why many feeding programs focus on providing nutrients that contribute to overall skin and coat health year-round.

The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are naturally found in fresh pasture grasses, which are a traditional part of the horse’s diet. These essential fatty acids play important roles throughout the body, including supporting skin health and normal inflammatory balance.

Many horses consume less fresh pasture than their ancestors would have, and some horses have limited grazing access during portions of the year. As a result, horse owners often look for additional dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Flaxseed has become one of the most popular options because it provides a rich plant-based source of omega-3s while fitting naturally into forage-based feeding programs.

Why Skin Health Starts Before Problems Appear

One of the most common misconceptions about skin support is that it only matters when a horse begins showing signs of irritation.

In reality, healthy skin is built through consistent daily nutrition over time. Not to mention, the rest of the horse’s body will be stressed if it is spending more resources than normal on repairing the skin.

Just as muscle development doesn’t happen overnight, the body’s ability to maintain healthy skin relies on ongoing nutritional support. Providing key nutrients before peak fly season can help support the body’s natural ability to respond to seasonal challenges.

A Whole-Horse Approach to Fly Season

Managing summer skin health is rarely about a single product or solution. Instead, it often involves a combination of:

• Fly management strategies
• Clean living environments
• Proper grooming, addressing issues early
• Access to clean water
• Balanced nutrition

Each piece contributes to the horse’s overall comfort and well-being throughout the summer months.

Looking Beyond the Fly Spray

When horse owners think about fly season, external protection is often the first thing that comes to mind. But what goes into the feed tub can be just as important as what goes on the horse.

By supporting skin health from the inside out through balanced nutrition and consistent sources of essential fatty acids, horse owners can help their horses navigate the challenges of summer more comfortably. The reality is that no system is 100% perfect, and the horse’s body needs to be prepared to defend itself when the bugs get through. Omega Horseshine, Omega Horseshine Complete, and other Omega Fields supplements offer potent support for maintaining a healthy skin barrier with high quality, stabilized, ground whole flaxseed. Decades of customer feedback has shown that Horseshine is tremendously helpful for the horse’s skin & coat, as well as joint health, the immune system, and hoof growth.

Healthy skin doesn’t start at the surface, it starts from within.