Posted 2007-01-09 4:47 PM (#53606) Subject: My horse dosn't have a winter coat!!!!
Member
Posts: 10
Location: East cost of USA
I have a 4 year old, half Thoroughbredand half Arabian mare. Last year she did grow a winter coat but for some reasons she won't this year. All the other horses at my barn have nice winter coats. I feed all my horses Reliance 10 and I DON'T put a blanket on any of them. Her feed hasn't changed at all since last year. Some mornings when it's cold out she will shiever every now and then when the other horses don't!!
Posted 2007-01-09 5:15 PM (#53608 - in reply to #53606) Subject: RE: My horse dosn't have a winter coat!!!!
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
It's probally the cooky weather. My unckle has three horses and only one grew a winter coat. The two shiver at night and the other is sweating during the day.
Posted 2007-01-09 5:46 PM (#53613 - in reply to #53606) Subject: RE: My horse dosn't have a winter coat!!!!
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
The coat is triggered by the optic nerve to the brain.Lights affect it more then weather,long/short days etc.Is there a light near her thats on? Even a security light? I've had appindex Qtrs and Anglo/Arabs that got a winter coat but not much of one. I've got a Dash for Cash x Easy Jet mare out on rented pasture that looks naked compared to the other five out with her.
Posted 2007-01-10 9:42 AM (#53647 - in reply to #53606) Subject: RE: My horse dosn't have a winter coat!!!!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301 Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland
I've got 7 horses. Several have pretty good winter coats. MY two Arabs don't. I believe it's this crazy weather too. I see that you live somewhere on the east coast. Well,,,,,,,,,,,,last nite here in MD. was the coldest we've had in month, much like most of the east coast. And this weekend its suppose to go back into the 50's, or even closer to 60.............poor horses think its spring, round my place...........
Posted 2007-01-10 1:56 PM (#53665 - in reply to #53606) Subject: RE: My horse dosn't have a winter coat!!!!
Veteran
Posts: 127 Location: PA
I think it is each individual horse's chemistry or genetics and the weather. Our weather here in NW Pennsylvania has been very mild so far this year, our ground is not even frozen!
My 3 horses all have nice winter coats and they are in the barn at night with a light on. I know there are theorys out there about the shorter daylight hours triggering a horse to grow a winter coat but I have not seen where that is the deciding factor. I believe the weather itself has much more to do with it....although the daylight hours does play a part.
Like I said...I have a light on in my barn 24/7 that is right across from the stalls and all my horses have winter coats and I have done this for 4 years and have had 2 other horses come and go since then, they all had winter coats....every year.
Also I think nutrition/balanced diet would play an important role in a horse's ability to not only grow a winter coat but to also shed it out in the Spring.
Maybe you should consider throwing a blanket on the horse that is having difficulty....might be better than having the horse shivering.
Posted 2007-01-10 5:49 PM (#53673 - in reply to #53606) Subject: RE: My horse dosn't have a winter coat!!!!
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Show folkes and some breeders leave the lights on for mares and studs if wanting Thanksgiving babys that they say foaled after the first of the year.I'm sure weather must play some part but articles I've read say length of day triggers hormones and hair growth.
Posted 2007-01-10 7:39 PM (#53679 - in reply to #53606) Subject: RE: My horse dosn't have a winter coat!!!!
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
You might want to consult your vet. Its always possible there is a medical problem. That being said, if you can provide some sort of shelter and continuous access to hay, I think your horse will be fine. I bought an arabian 3 yrs ago from AZ and I live in Mi. This was in Oct and things were getting chilly. he arrive slick as snot. I blanketed him in the evenings and left him bare butt during the day. He was fine even after I stopped the blanketing. This is the same horse that was shown at Nationals in Oct of 06..I had to body clip him before the show. When we got home, i turned him loose in the paddock without any blankets. Now it was rather mild but we did get a few days and nights that went below freezing...through it all he was ok.
My horse dosn't have a winter coat!!!!
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