Horse shedding coat - reasons?

[Birker2020]

There is a horse at our yard that has almost all its summer coat on its front end, shoulders, neck, breast, top of legs and face, although the flanks and hind quarters are still very furry, the coat is coming out in droves and has been since about mid Jan. It's only been clipped about twice in 15 years as it has a very fine coat, and although competed still, its never necessary to clip it. Its nearly 22.

Its owner wondered if it was because she was over rugging it. Could this be a possible cause? Its in a thermatex type of rug without a neck with a medium weight with neck rug over the top in the stable and out in the field its in a medium weight with neck. That doesn't seem a lot given that its usually anything from -2 to + 4 most nights of the week and only reaching 2 or 3 degrees out in the field during the day. Its keeping its weight well.

Do horses shed there coats quicker if they are over rugged?

 

[Cortez]

The main thing that starts horses coats shedding is the daylight lengthening. Temperature does have an effect (warm, sunny days will see horses shedding like mad. A sudden cold snap will slow down or stop shedding). This is also why rugging doesn't always stop horses growing a very heavy coat, although showing people believe fervently that it does ;-)

 

[dominobrown]

One of mine is nearly got her summer coat. She has had a chaser clip, she is turned out with medium weight turnout and where a medium weight stable at night. I wouldnt exectly say its over rugging. She also came into season for the first time at the beginning of January.
As cortez says daylight is the main factor... clever showing people of those 'daylight' lamps in the stables. Its just horse by horse, not necessarily over rugging.

 

[tristar]

we have a stallion who sheds heavily in january every year, this year he seemed earlier than ever, loses most of it then finishes shedding in april, but he looks fairly in summer coat at the mo

 

[Antw23uk]

Both mine have started ... time to get the clippers out .. Im not dealing with that mess!!

 

[SEL]

The Ardennes grows a double coat in winter. The outer layer is very coarse and virtually waterproof with an inner layer that is soft fluffy and down like (think otter hair!). His outer layer has pretty much all gone and we're down to the fluffy inner layer now.

His is definitely daylight related and I actually had to pop a rug on him for a couple of nights last week as the beast from the east blew straight into his stable and the poor lad was very cold even with the fluff.

 

[Birker2020]

Thanks for all your replies.I shall pass the info about the daylight hours to the lady concerned. I think she's getting quite het up about it.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Both of mine are moulting but one has much more coat coming through they are all different I suppose and it is March so I don't think it's unusual.

 

[MouseInLux]

Mine has been shedding for a while now and is close to finished. My daughter’s pony was clipped except a patch for the saddle, that’s still SUPER fluffy.

 

[Goldenstar]

All but one of mine are shedding like mad and one is fully summer coated .

 

[criso]

One is seriously moulting, he is retired, unclipped and only wears a rain sheet so definitely not overrugging. He has a coat like a yak so lots to come out. He has always been one of the first on the yard to start moulting and the last to get a winter coats, even when in work and clipped. I have another that is one of the last to moult and first to get his winter coat. Both TBs and both ex racers so similar management before I got them.

 

[claret09]

don't worry perfectly natural

 

[southerncomfort]

The two chestnuts aren't shedding at all but the little black and white coblet is losing handfuls but only of his white hair, the black hairs are staying put!

 

[Casey76]

The two chestnuts aren't shedding at all but the little black and white coblet is losing handfuls but only of his white hair, the black hairs are staying put!

My old cob used to do that; the white would shed first then the bay. Similarly the white bits of mane grew much faster than the black bits!

 

[Gazen]

My two have just started to shed properly this week. I have another version of a snow storm in the stable every day.
There was an interesting comment a few post back about skewbalds / piebalds shedding the white coat first. This also happens with my skewbald, although the mahogany hair is now starting to go.

 

[Merrymoles]

All shedding like mad at ours - place looks like a horse hair factory! None over-rugged and even the completely unrugged pony is losing handfuls.

 

[DD]

mines shedding. its spring.

 

[coss]

one of mine started in january then paused for some cold weather then restarted. All 3 are casting now - not great handfuls yet but defintely more hair on the brushes and can pull hair out....