Horse holding onto its winter coat

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HashRouge

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For the second year running my Welsh D (well, he's my sister's, but he lives with me!) is very slow to lose his winter coat. At present, he has lost it on half his face and a few patches on his shoulders, but otherwise he's still in his full winter woollies. He looks really odd, actually, because his winter coat is bright copper chestnut and his summer coat is dark liver chestnut. I have to say I was a bit worried the patches on his shoulders were bald spots at first but there is definitely darker coloured coat there!

My Arab, in contrast, is almost completely in her summer coat now. I suppose my question is whether him holding onto his coat might be a sign of anything else going on? It only really occurred to me today but I have literally no experience of natives and their winter woollies before taking on L from my sister 2 1/2 years ago! I've always just had my Arab, and then the SJ horses I worked with were just clipped year round. So possibly this is normal for a hairy native and I just don't know! Interested in your thoughts :)
 
It's not unusual, mine is still moulting and my old one had about 2 weeks in august with a full summer coat before he started shedding again. Can't be too careful! If he's older and not shedding normally there's no harm in a Cushings test but it's still early for natives to have a summer coat.
 
Gloi said:
It's not unusual, mine is still moulting and my old one had about 2 weeks in august with a full summer coat before he started shedding again. Can't be too careful! If he's older and not shedding normally there's no harm in a Cushings test but it's still early for natives to have a summer coat.
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That's good to know! The problem is I think I just don't have enough experience of him in such a thick coat (we've owned him for over 10 years but he always used to be clipped and rugged through the winter). I don't remember him being slow to moult the first winter I had him down here, but it's been noticeable the last two years. My mare will be due a check up soon before the vet will renew her prescription so I will probably just get him tested to be on the safe side.
 
I definitely would. I think my mini probably has it because she was very slow to lose her coat last year and itchy with it. I've put her on agnus castus and she's lost it better this year and isn't itchy.
 
I have 8 ponies, the one who was fully clipped has her summer coat and my TB is almost there, but the others are at various stages! It’s usually the end of May/ start of June before they are all in summer coats!
 
My two welshies are still casting their coats- one from the neck down, the other from all over. They live out and we’re still getting some cold nights and cold downpours so I’m not overly worried....they’re just looking a bit feral!
 
Mine are still shedding. But for his age I would defintely have him tested. If you keep an eye on social media the drug companies offer free teting periodically.
 
My 2 fells are still casting, the one that was part clipped in January still has clip lines and then fluff above. The shetlands are both hanging onto part of theirs.

Nothing unusual in a native:- Cast the coat through March to end June, start growing by end July, unless you clip and/or rug etc
 
ycbm said:
I definitely would. I think my mini probably has it because she was very slow to lose her coat last year and itchy with it. I've put her on agnus castus and she's lost it better this year and isn't itchy.
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My mini has also been slow to shed this year and also footy for the first time ever. He’s only 11 ☹️
 
My Welsh Cob looks like he has been in a bar fight with a cat! His coat is half in, half out and no rhyme nor reason as how he is losing it! It doesn't even match both sides lol! But he is one of these ponies that holds on and holds on then sheds it all in 5 days!

I have some shetlands in 95% summer coat, others that have only just started chucking their coat out at a rate of knots! My tb's are in their full summer coats.
 
My palomino madam has developed a lovely dappled summer coat except for her legs which are still a bit woolly & showing clip lines - she's about 2 weeks behind in her moult by my reckoning 😅
 
My Welsh cob X has lost her winter coat on her neck and hindquarters but is still hairy on her back and belly. Looks very unattractive!
 
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