Advice on an older horse

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soloequestrian

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I have had my mare for 15 years and she is now 18. The past two years I've noticed that she isn't getting the same quality of summer coat as she used to. Her winter coat comes out very slowly, and the replacement coat isn't as short and silky as I'd expect. I had her tested for Cushings last year and all her hormone levels were normal, and she doesn't have any of the other signs of the disease (I don't think her coat is really Cushings-ish as she does definitely shed and grow a new one). I have two geldings, both about 14, who are a similar type and kept under exactly the same management as the mare and they both have beautiful silky summer coats. Is this just something that normally happens in an older horse or does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks
 
Yes I think it does happen as they get older. I have a 25 year old and an 18 year old, both geldings.

The 25yr old takes longer each year to get his summer coat and in the last couple of years it has not been quite as short and silky as it used to be when he was younger.

The 18yr old took a bit longer to shed his winter coat this year too but his summer one is now fully through and just as it has always been, but I fully expect him to be like the older horse as the years go by!

Hope this helps.
 
My veteran TB x still has part of his winter coat (yes I am aware this is not quite right!) and my 20 year old gelding has started growing his winter coat back (but he does have cushings... )
 
This is very interesting as my 18yo took a while to grow out his winter coat too! I thought it was because he's been anaemic over winter but maybe this has something to do with it...
 
All mine took longer than usual to lose their winter coats this year. Other people have said the same so maybe the weather affected them. Old boy (27) is still shedding winter coat.
 
I have a 28 year old tb who I have had for 15 years and over the last 5 years i have had to clip him all year round, every 6 weeks, because he does not seem to loose his coat fast enough and if i am riding him he sweats up
 
We've been having this debate this year about our 24yr old pony who we've had for 12yrs. We suspected she had cushings as she didn't shed her winter coat very quickly and her summer coat isn't it's usual quality. I've decided against having her tested for now and am just monitoring and being careful about lami. It's reassuring to hear so many people are having this problem and maybe it isn't cushings. I wouldn't stress either way, just manage weight carefully and they should be fine. I think the weather this year has confused them all.
 
Thanks for all of this! I put the same post on Yahoo answers and have got similar replies there too - a lot of older horses seem to have slightly courser summer coats. I did wonder if it was the weather effect last year - we had really hot weather and then a cold snap which might have confused things, but I thought that this years weather was a bit less variable. Will hope for a warm spring next year and monitor again!
 
My 17yo is only just losing his last bit of winter coat. However, he did grow a very thick winter coat and it was his first winter out 24/7 so I'm guessing this may be why plus he is getting older.

Friend's vet told her they have had loads of calls regarding Cushings this year but saying not to worry, most have just grown extra thick coats.
 
snap! I've got a 19 yr old mare that I've had for 15 yrs and i've experienced exactly the same situation with her coat over the last 2 yrs. YO says it's probably down to the changes in the weather that we've had - late cold snap in Jan/Feb and cool spells in spring (and now
frown.gif
) and age. other than her coat she's looking and working fabulously, better than she did sometimes when she was younger
 
I have been reassured by reading all the comments on the older horse not shedding their coats! My Welsh Section C Gelding is 22yrs and for the second summer has not yet shed all of his coat! (Last year I put it down to our chilly and wet summer)! My 13yr old mare already has her summer coat!
I'm in Sussex where we've so far had a lovely warm summer. He lost loads of winter coat in April which I really enjoyed brushing out of him! But its now middle June and his coat is looking dull and there's plenty more that could come out. He normally has the most gorgeous liver chestnut fine summer coat - so its both disappointing not to see that, but also because the extra layer of coat is making him warm and sweaty patches! But the farrier said his feet are good (no signs of laminitis), 4 months ago the Vet gave him the once over and said he was in good shape. So that's all positive.
I'm reluctant to get him tested for Cushings (somehow it feels like I'm tempting fate, when he has no other symptoms other than the coat problem)! I'l just keep an even closer eye on him and observe.
But its certainly been useful and reassuring to read that we're not alone in experiencing this problem.
 
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