Are your furry ponies sweating like mad in the stable?

[HollyWoozle]

Our mini has EMS and appeared a little footsore on Friday when it was super cold and the ground was like rock. I clocked it and immediately put him in stable where he has been ever since - have not yet spoken with vet as he is moving much better off the ground, bright and chirpy, eating, drinking, pooing normally etc. He is generally well-managed and not hugely overweight, not lying down much, no typical lami stance, digital pulse seems normal for him (as much as one can gather through the fluff) but want to make sure he is 100% before he goes out (into a pretty bare paddock), especially since it was so frosty and everything melted recently. Since he is so small the stable is huge for him which is great. He has a companion in the next stable (who has access to paddock in front) and is not fretting, appears totally calm.

The issue is that after putting him in, he felt very damp all over and I thought it was the frost on him melting. As I'm sure happened for many of you, temperatures suddenly went from crazy minuses to plus 12C on Saturday and it's been quite mild ever since, 9C currently and warmer in the stables. As he is so small he doesn't really benefit from any air flowing through either, since he is below the door! Basically he now appears as if he is sweating a lot but I can't decide if:

a) he is genuinely sweating because it is so much warmer, he is indoors and he is SUPER furry
b) it is some weird condensation issue from being inside... this sounds mad but he feels damp on top of his mane but not underneath!
c) he is sweating because he is in a lot of pain or ill

I think I will call the vet to be sure but I can't decide if I am just overthinking it and he is simply very warm! I am not keen to clip since it is due to get cold again and he generally lives out (with shelter) but I don't want him to be uncomfortable and I can do it.

 

[humblepie]

I can remember years ago ringing the vet as my then retired horse was getting sweaty and he did say, perhaps it is just because it is hot for whatever winter month it was. The weather is very weird, it has gone from -8 to plus 14 with us in two days.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It has gone really mild but sweating can be a symptom of cushings as they can't regulate there temperature.

 

[Burnttoast]

My retired native would be sweating in recent temps if not for his clip.

 

[Carrottom]

Could it be that his thick coat isn't allowing any body heat out to make the moisture evaporate?
My tb was in for the farrier today, no rug on in the stable, tied up outside for the farrier and we had a brief downpour. He didn't get soaked, just wet on the top of his coat. Well over an hour later he was still wet as his flluff hadn't allowed his body heat out.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Could it be that his thick coat isn't allowing any body heat out to make the moisture evaporate?
My tb was in for the farrier today, no rug on in the stable, tied up outside for the farrier and we had a brief downpour. He didn't get soaked, just wet on the top of his coat. Well over an hour later he was still wet as his flluff hadn't allowed his body heat out.

I did wonder about this and at first assumed it was something odd happening as he felt wet/damp on top of his coat but not really underneath. I thought maybe he just couldn't dry out somehow, but he felt drier this morning and now feels more damp again, so it must be sweat since he hasn't been out.

 

[limestonelil]

Just for info, I had a similar problem with little furry pony. (Vet been out a couple of times in past years for this, but meds for Cushings made him a zombie even at lowest doses, so didn't continue with that.)
Now I clip a bib and belly strip, also top of legs. He can still go out comfortably unrugged, even in snow, and appears much happier and drier when stabled, and looks much less sweaty and embarrassingly scruffy, and is happy. Might be worth a try.

 

[HannahB]

My shetland is also super fluffy and she'd never been stabled or rugged before I bought her. I find she benefits from a good brush as that helps moving the hairs around to allow air movement

 

[Palindrome]

My shetland welshie cross (with a thick shetland coat) was getting sweaty being stabled just before the cold spell.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Yep my shetlands are in in the day and often sweat merrily away to themselves. They are often dry down at the root of the hair think pony floof is quick good at wicking ?

 

[SEL]

My Ardennes used to be soaking after a night in the stables but it was all on the outside of his coat not his armpits - so condensation I guess

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thank you for your replies, very comforting! It’s colder tonight and he was feeling a bit drier again. I’m not against clipping to make him comfy but am hoping he’ll be back out soon. Just wasn’t sure if I was being mad ?

He is totally unfazed of course and wonders why I’ve been studying his magnificent fluffage so much! I might put a thermometer in there at his level tomorrow just out of interest.

 

[Bobthecob15]

The condensation on Monday was unreal!!! We went from -12 on Friday to +14 on Monday! Our tack room was really damp, condensation on all the tack and saddle pads felt wet! So weird!

 

[motherof2beasts!]

Mine has also been wet and I discovered it was dripping from inside the roof (had obviously frozen then melted, then condensation!!)

 

[HappyHollyDays]

It’s been ridiculous. My skinny unclipped Connie was in a 200gm overnight in an attempt to stop him losing any more weight while we were in sub zero temperatures is now sweating buckets unrugged.