What Absorbine does

Absorbine is a 5th-generation, family-owned equine and companion-animal care manufacturer founded in 1892 and headquartered in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, operating under the legal entity W.F. Young, Inc. The company develops, manufactures, and distributes a multi-category product portfolio under brand families including UltraShield (fly control), Silver Honey (wound and skin care), Hooflex and Magic Cushion (hoof care), Flex+Max and Bute-Less (joint and recovery supplements), Santa Fe and CoolDown (grooming), and Honest To Goodness (upcycled horse treats), alongside the legacy Absorbine Veterinary Liniment muscle-and-joint line. Formulations are differentiated by proprietary or licensed technology inputs such as MicroSilver BG antimicrobial silver, Manuka honey, RapidSorb microencapsulation, FlyShield multi-active insect disruption, UltraBond adhesion chemistry, and Longvida SD high-bioavailability curcumin, with products manufactured in the USA.

The company makes money primarily through unit-pricing direct-to-consumer sales on its Shopify-powered absorbine.com storefront (US shipping only) and through wholesale distribution to tack stores, feed stores, farm supply retailers, and veterinary clinics, supplemented by regional sub-brand sites including absorbine.ca, silverhoney.com, honest2goodness.com, and missinglinkproducts.com/.ca. A Subscribe-and-Save program offering 10-25% recurring-delivery discounts on consumables and the UltraShield Rewards loyalty program provide a recurring-revenue overlay. Primary customers are individual horse owners and equestrian professionals, with a secondary segment of dog and cat owners reached via the Silver Honey pet line, and a B2B tail of equine retailers and veterinary clinics. Marketing relies on content (Learning Center, blog articles), organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), email, the TackBox selector tool, sponsored-rider partnerships, and a Share Your Story community program.

Name

Absorbine

Legal name

W.F. Young, Inc.

Website

https://absorbine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Care Products

NAICS

Animal Food Manufacturing (3111), Food (Health) Supplement Retailers (456191), Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers (459910)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Equine Supplements & Additives (Vitamins/Minerals, Joint, Digestive, Electrolytes) (AFADAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Allergy & Anti-Inflammatory Supplements (HLAMALAL), Pet Treats & Chews (AFADAFAF), Medicated & Hypoallergenic Bath Treatments (HSANALAF), Skin & Coat Supplements (HLAMALAB)

Keywords

• Equine care products
• Fly control sprays
• Wound care products
• Horse joint supplements
• Hoof care products

Headquarters

HQ city

East Longmeadow

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Absorbine generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales of equine and pet care products via their e-commerce platform absorbine.com. Products include wound care (Silver Honey®), fly control (UltraShield®), supplements (Flex+Max®, Bute-Less®), hoof care (Hooflex®, Magic Cushion®), grooming, and horse treats. The company also offers subscription/recurring options through their UltraShield Rewards program.
2. Subscription Services: Absorbine offers subscription options through their 'Subscribe and Save' program, providing 10-25% discounts on recurring deliveries of products like Flex+Max supplements and Silver Honey medicated shampoo. This creates predictable recurring revenue and customer retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Absorbine manufactures and sells equine and pet care products across multiple categories: wound care (Silver Honey with MicroSilver BG and Manuka Honey), fly control (UltraShield Gold, EX, Red, Sport, Green), supplements (Flex+Max joint health, Bute-Less comfort and recovery), hoof care (Hooflex, Magic Cushion), grooming (Santa Fe coat conditioner, CoolDown rinse), and upcycled horse treats (Honest To Goodness). Products are sold direct-to-consumer through absorbine.com and through physical retail channels in the United States.

Product overview

Absorbine is a family-owned (5th generation, since 1892) equine care company offering a comprehensive portfolio of products organized into distinct sub-brands and categories. The core product lines include: Muscle & Joint care (Absorbine Veterinary Liniment in liquid and gel forms); Fly Control (UltraShield family with Gold, EX, Red, Sport, and Green variants, plus UltraShield Fly Masks with various configurations); Wound Care (Silver Honey line featuring Manuka Honey and MicroSilver BG technology for Rapid Skin Relief and Rapid Wound Repair products); Skin & Coat Care (Silver Honey medicated shampoo and conditioner, Santa Fe Coat Conditioner & Sunscreen, CoolDown After Workout Rinse); Hoof Care (Silver Honey Rapid Hoof Care Thrush Foam, Hooflex All Natural Dressing and Conditioner); Supplements (Flex+Max Joint Health, Bute-Less Performance and Comfort lines); and Horse Treats (Honest To Goodness Upcycled Horse Treats in Apple and Banana flavors). Products are made in the USA with domestic manufacturing for quality control and traceability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Silver Honey®: Wound care and skin relief product line featuring Manuka honey and MicroSilver BG technology for horses and pets.
• UltraShield®
• Santa Fe™
• Hooflex®
• Magic Cushion®
• Flex+Max®
• Bute-Less®
• Honest To Goodness®
• CoolDown®
• Fungasol®
• UltraShield® Red
• UltraShield® Sport
• UltraShield® Green
• UltraShield® Gold

Products and services

• Silver Honey® Rapid Skin Relief Medicated Shampoo A gentle medicated shampoo that provides light lather to soothe itchy, irritated skin while treating fungal and bacterial conditions. Contains Manuka Honey and MicroSilver BG. Sold in 16 fl oz bottles for horses and companion animals (dogs and cats).
• Silver Honey® Rapid Skin Relief Soothing Conditioner An equine conditioner powered by Manuka Honey and MicroSilver BG that delivers targeted hydration and natural antimicrobial support to soothe irritated, sensitive skin. Sold in 16 fl oz bottles; usable as leave-in or rinse-out.
• Silver Honey® Rapid Skin Relief Vet Strength Scratches Spray A targeted spray for pastern dermatitis (Scratches, Mud Fever, Dew Poisoning, Cracked Heels) using RapidSorb technology to penetrate thickened skin and scabs. Sold in 6 oz spray bottles.
• Silver Honey® Rapid Wound Repair Ointment A wound care ointment that pairs Manuka honey with MicroSilver BG to clear bacteria and support rapid natural wound healing in horses and companion animals.
• Silver Honey® Rapid Wound Repair Spray Gel A spray gel wound care product combining Manuka honey and MicroSilver BG for rapid wound healing across horses, dogs, cats, and other animals.
• Silver Honey® Rapid Hoof Care Thrush Foam A hoof care product for treating thrush in horses, part of the Silver Honey wound care line.
• Santa Fe™ Coat Conditioner & Sunscreen A spray-on coat conditioner and sunscreen enriched with silk proteins, vitamin E, and panthenol that delivers deep conditioning, dust and dirt repellency, and sun fade protection. Sold in 32 oz spray bottles.
• CoolDown® After Workout Rinse Concentrate An after-workout rinse concentrate for horses designed to cool and soothe after exercise.
• UltraShield® Gold Insecticide & Repellent Absorbine's premium fly protection formula with FlyShield technology that disrupts insects' homing systems. Kills and repels over 100 insect species with up to 17 days of repellency. Sold in 32 oz and 128 oz sizes.
• UltraShield® EX Insecticide & Repellent Known as "The Fly Spray in the Black Bottle," this formula uses UltraBond Technology for up to 17 days of effectiveness. Kills and repels more than 70 insect species and can be used as a premise spray.
• UltraShield® Red Insecticide & Repellent A broad-spectrum fly spray with five active ingredients providing repellency and protection for up to seven days. Economical choice for hot, dry conditions. Works on horses, ponies, llamas, alpacas, mules, and donkeys.
• UltraShield® Sport Insecticide & Repellent A sweat- and weather-resistant fly spray designed for heavy workouts in hot, humid conditions. Water-based formula that resists sweat and won't attract dust, offering up to 14 days of protection.
• UltraShield® Green Natural Insect Repellent A natural insect repellent using seven essential oils (thyme, cedarwood, lemongrass, rosemary, citronella, clove, geraniol). Eco-safe, water-based formula safe for horses, ponies, dogs, and the whole family. Repels ticks, biting flies, mosquitoes, and gnats. Sold in 32 oz and 1 gallon sizes.
• UltraShield® Fly Mask A fly mask with diamond-knit fabric technology originally developed for human performance apparel. Features UV protection blocking 80% of harmful rays, moisture-wicking properties, and comes in Cob, Horse, and Warmblood sizes with or without ear coverage.
• UltraShield® Fly Mask with Removable Nose A fly mask with UV protection and removable nose section. Features two-way controlled stretch fabric and double-locking hook-and-loop closure for a secure fit.
• Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment Liquid A muscle and joint care liniment in liquid form for veterinary use on horses, addressing soreness and stiffness.
• Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment Gel A muscle and joint care liniment in gel form for veterinary use on horses, addressing soreness and stiffness.
• Flex+Max® Joint Health Supplement Pellets An advanced equine joint health supplement delivering 10,000mg Glucosamine, 1,200mg Chondroitin, 5,000mg MSM, Boswellia, plus Omega 3s from Flaxseed and Rice Bran. Filler-free formula available in 5 lb (30-day) and 10 lb (60-day) sizes.
• Bute-Less® Performance Comfort & Recovery Supplement Pellets

Quantifiable outcome

• Kills and repels over 100 insect species (UltraShield Gold)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Zoetis: Zoetis is the largest pure-play animal health company globally, with significant equine and companion animal pharmaceutical and biologic portfolios. It overlaps with Absorbine in equine wound care and joint health adjacencies through veterinary channels, though its focus is pharmaceuticals rather than OTC topical/nutritional care.
• Merck Animal Health (MSD Animal Health): Merck Animal Health is a broad incumbent in equine and companion animal health, offering vaccines, parasiticides, and pharmaceuticals sold through veterinary clinics. It overlaps with Absorbine at the upper end of wound care and recovery support, distributed through some of the same equine veterinary practices.

Direct peers

• Platinum Performance: Platinum Performance is a direct peer in premium equine supplements and nutrition, marketing veterinarian-formulated formulas for joint, digestive, and hoof health. It competes with Absorbine's Flex+Max and Bute-Less lines for the same performance-horse and high-end recreational owner customer.
• Nutramax Laboratories (Cosequin): Nutramax Laboratories is a direct peer in animal joint health supplements, best known for Cosequin and Dasuquin. Its equine and pet joint supplement lines compete directly with Absorbine's Flex+Max, and the brand shares a science-backed, veterinarian-recommended positioning.
• SmartPak Equine: SmartPak is a direct peer in equine supplements and daily care products, best known for its custom daily-dose SmartPaks and branded supplements (SmartFlex, SmartOmega). It competes directly with Flex+Max and Bute-Less in the equine joint and recovery supplement market and shares Absorbine's DTC + retail hybrid model.
• Farnam (Central Garden & Pet): Farnam is one of Absorbine's most direct competitors in the equine care category, offering fly control, hoof care, wound care, grooming, and supplements under brands like Endure, Tri-Tec, and Horseshoer's Secret. It is owned by Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ: CENT) and competes head-to-head with Absorbine on shelf space in tack and feed stores.
• Vetericyn: Vetericyn is a direct peer in animal wound and skin care, offering antimicrobial sprays, gels, and cleansers for horses, dogs, and cats. Its Silver Honey-adjacent positioning and cross-species distribution make it one of the closest direct competitors to Absorbine's Silver Honey line.
• Kentucky Performance Products: Kentucky Performance Products (KPP) is a direct peer in equine supplements, offering targeted formulas for joints, ulcers, hooves, and calming. Its product positioning, equine-only focus, and DTC + retailer distribution closely mirror Absorbine's supplement business.
• Manna Pro: Manna Pro is a direct peer in equine nutrition and care, producing treats, supplements, dewormers, and grooming products. Its horse treat line competes with Honest To Goodness, and its supplement portfolio overlaps with Flex+Max and Bute-Less in the same retail channels.

Emerging players

• KineticVet: KineticVet is an emerging player in equine topical care and wound management, focusing on veterinarian-developed formulations. It competes with Silver Honey and Hooflex in the specialty wound/hoof care niche, primarily through veterinary and tack-store channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@absorbine
• Facebookfacebook.com/Absorbine
• Instagraminstagram.com/absorbine
• Xx.com/absorbine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2227573

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Absorbine