Dappled horses in the summer

[Michen]

Bit of a pointless post but these photos are less than a week apart, clipped my boy out as he’s getting hot and is a very itchy pony with a surprisingly hairy coat and underneath were these lovely dapples! All over his bum too. Is there a more sciencey reason for them other than the old wives tale of good health?

Strange that they are only visible under the clipped coat and not at all in his actual summer coat?

 

[JennBags]

No idea, but he looks amazing, what a great job you've done with him, he's come a long way from that scrawny little thing you bought!

 

[JJS]

He's looking wonderful, Michen

Dapples are actually to do with the pattern of capillaries under the skin, as opposed to good health. They usually lay at the centre of networks of arteries, with the degree of pigmentation being dependent on the blood supply. The skin under each dapple tends to be less pigmented than in the surrounding areas, and if you look closely, you'll see that the hairs in the middle of them are shorter.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Sorry, little bit of thread hijacking.
Is it OK to clip at this time of year? He's not far off a summer coat but still shedding a lot. And getting sweaty just out in the field.
I thought if I clipped him now it would take the edge off the summer coat??

His tummy dapples are very obviously shorter hair but I've never seem so many dapples on him. I'll try to get a picture today.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

His full summer coat might not have been out yet. Mine gets lovely dapples but it’s still a bit too early as he’s still shedding.

Either way Michen you’ve done a fab job with him and he looks gorgeous.

 

[Wheels]

He's looking fantastic michen.

Summer coat wise - my connie was clipped last at the end of December and his full summer coat is *almost* all through but not quite. He is moulting out the last of his short clipped winter coat, his legs which werent clipped still show his coat is still very different lengths. Dapples showing up on his bum.

 

[Cecile]

No idea about the dapples but he is absolutely stunning, whatever you are doing keep doing it

 

[ozpoz]

Very interesting JJS. Old wives tale.. feeding dried nettles will give your horse dapples. I've no idea if this works but all my bays have had dapples in a field where I sythed the nettles, just in case.
Michen, he looks great!

 

[Michen]

Can’t seem to quote replies on here at the mo but thank you all- he’s feeling even better than he looks! He will be having a chilled summer soon so no doubt he will get rather porky.

 

[Michen]

That’s very interesting thank you, so would the hairs on his summer coat have been shorter where the dapples underneath were?

He's looking wonderful, Michen

Dapples are actually to do with the pattern of capillaries under the skin, as opposed to good health. They usually lay at the centre of networks of arteries, with the degree of pigmentation being dependent on the blood supply. The skin under each dapple tends to be less pigmented than in the surrounding areas, and if you look closely, you'll see that the hairs in the middle of them are shorter.

 

[JJS]

That’s very interesting thank you, so would the hairs on his summer coat have been shorter where the dapples underneath were?

I believe so!

 

[tankgirl1]

Sorry, little bit of thread hijacking.
Is it OK to clip at this time of year? He's not far off a summer coat but still shedding a lot. And getting sweaty just out in the field.
I thought if I clipped him now it would take the edge off the summer coat??

His tummy dapples are very obviously shorter hair but I've never seem so many dapples on him. I'll try to get a picture today.

I did a trace clip on my mare last week as she was sweating in the field. I don't show so don't really care what she looks like as long as she is comfy

 

[cavalo branco]

No idea about dapples but what a stunning horse! He is absolutely beautiful and in great condition.

 

[Michen]

No idea about dapples but what a stunning horse! He is absolutely beautiful and in great condition.

Thank you! He wasn’t always the best looking but very pleased with how well he is now!