HOW TO LOOK AFTER AN OLDER HAIRY COAT

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dizz4

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I have a 16 year old Welsh Cob gelding, he is starting to get very hairy now and had him clipped for the first time in the winter, just a neck and belly clip to start and a nice medium weight turn out rug and he coped very well living out in the winter. He is so hairy coming into the Spring that I then had him totally clipped in April and I must admit he looked fantastic.... Now his coat has grown back and he is starting to look fluffy and it is really hard to get a shine on his coat, he is also sweating up when it isn't event that hot or after some fairly light work.

.... I have just started supplementing him with micronised linseed so this may make a difference to his coat.

His mum in her later years was just the hairiest horse you have ever seen and looked somewhat like a yak and it looks like he is going the same way...

Any tips on how to manage a hairy horses coat as he is getting older...
 
16 is not really that old, there may be a reason his coat is so thick, have you considered cushings, a thick coat is often the only sign and not always the classic curly coat that is seen when the condition is more advanced. Although a pony on my yard also has a thick coat and was tested recently and it came back negative, much to his owners relief.
It has been a horrid summer and if they could I am sure most horses would have kept their winter coats this year.
 
be positive said:
16 is not really that old, there may be a reason his coat is so thick, have you considered cushings, a thick coat is often the only sign and not always the classic curly coat that is seen when the condition is more advanced. Although a pony on my yard also has a thick coat and was tested recently and it came back negative, much to his owners relief.
It has been a horrid summer and if they could I am sure most horses would have kept their winter coats this year.
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I know 16 is not that old but I have read that horses as young as 8 can have cushings... I may have him tested but I have still got to deal with the coat and he is still competing and really just want him to look his best, we have got a show this weekend (one of the few still going ahead because it is all weather surface...)
 
If he is struggling with getting too hot I would clip him again now, it may be a bit difficult to manage with the changeable weather but he would probably be more comfortable in his work.
 
Agree in the short term clip him and get cushings test. I would just mention that if his coat is not that good check he is not missing something from his diet as longer term that may help.
 
My friends pony is currently sporting a truley bizarre winter coat! vets checked and nothings wrong so putting it down to him hanging on to it due to the awful conditions.
Some of the racers at work even started to get a little fluffly again after growing clips out this year.
Get him checked out but i wouldnt be panicing too much at this point x
 
My shire-x became very, very hairy in his later years.

He was tested for cushings but it was negative. I clipped him all year round, as he was unable to regulate his own temperature in his wooly coat! If you clip in the summer it is very imporant to turn out in a fly sheet, because the flies can get closer to the skin and cause more irritation, and the skin is more at risk of sunburn (not much risk of sunburn today though :rolleyes:)
 
I'd test for cushings. But also, we have horses and several other types of animals already having shed their summer coat this year, so it's been very strange weather wise

Pan
 
MissMincePie&Brandy said:
My shire-x became very, very hairy in his later years.

He was tested for cushings but it was negative. I clipped him all year round, as he was unable to regulate his own temperature in his wooly coat! If you clip in the summer it is very imporant to turn out in a fly sheet, because the flies can get closer to the skin and cause more irritation, and the skin is more at risk of sunburn (not much risk of sunburn today though :rolleyes:)
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Same with my elderly pony, I clipped her all year round, rugged when wet/cold/midges about - and should have bought shares in a certain brand of suncream - as i covered her in it when hot (lovely job just before work!).

I also found that regular clipping older skin lead it to dry a little more than normal, so I used baby oil all over watered down in warm water and rugged it on her after clipping. Kept her skin lovely, and pony comfortable for many year.

I know human products aren't for every one - and your horse may be more sensitive then mine but I found it worked for me
 
Little Claybrooks said:
Same with my elderly pony, I clipped her all year round, rugged when wet/cold/midges about - and should have bought shares in a certain brand of suncream - as i covered her in it when hot (lovely job just before work!).

I also found that regular clipping older skin lead it to dry a little more than normal, so I used baby oil all over watered down in warm water and rugged it on her after clipping. Kept her skin lovely, and pony comfortable for many year.

I know human products aren't for every one - and your horse may be more sensitive then mine but I found it worked for me
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thanks for all advice, we took him to a show on saturday and all horses look lovely shiny except for mine, even when he has been washed and spray shined....

I would put a photo on but I really not very good at adding photos

picture.php


did it work.....???
 
I would also like to know, if I have Bruno clipped as it is an option I am exploring, if I can then show him in a Mountain and Moorland class....? or any class for that matter or if I do, is he going to be placed down the class because he hasn't got a nice shiny coat... he hasn't got a nice shiny coat at the moment but at least he has a coat....!!
 
It did work. Clip him about 10-14 days before the show. In the winter a lot of natives who compete are clipped. Trick is to do it leaving enough time for a little hair growth so u dont get tram lines. And take the whole lot off, legs etc. I would think about an oily suppliment for skin and coat shine. Lots on the market. What are u feeding?
 
Little Claybrooks said:
It did work. Clip him about 10-14 days before the show. In the winter a lot of natives who compete are clipped. Trick is to do it leaving enough time for a little hair growth so u dont get tram lines. And take the whole lot off, legs etc. I would think about an oily suppliment for skin and coat shine. Lots on the market. What are u feeding?
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He gets fed speedy beet, hi fi lite, mix (which is grass nuts, micronized barley & some kind of processed peas...) I am also adding magnesium and micronized linseed....
 
Personally i would feed a baileys cube (everyday cubes are non heating and no 2s give a little bit of ommph) and a chaff. Keeps cost down but condition on (well the various assortment of horses and ponies we've had) or if you have a fatty happy hoof. All great for general condition and shine.

Remember its your horse- this is just my opinion, and im sure lots of other people have theres, you have just have to find what works for you and said pony :-)
 
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