How would you interpret this?

[little_critter]

I’m probably overthinking, I usually do.

Ive noticed a couple of times in the last week that when I’ve been grooming my horse (prior to riding) that his coat is fluffed up and his tail is very slightly clamped (not full on clamped down but you can see and feel that there is tension in it, it’s not hanging loosely)
Coat is fluffed up like they do when they have a shake, but it’s remaining fluffed up for say 10-15 mins
Horse is mostly TB so his normal summer coat is fine and silky, when fluffed it looks more like velvet.

Horse is otherwise bright, alert, normal energy levels, eating and pooing as normal.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Has he got wet or cold out in the field I find it can do that to the coat and if they feel a chill the tail can clamp as well, one of my Arab's will go a bit like that when he get soaked through and it's maybe got a chilli.

 

[little_critter]

He was in the stable for 1-2 hours before grooming and was dry. The spot I took him to to groom was sunny and sheltered. I’m in a very light tee shirt so he shouldn’t be cold.

 

[MissTyc]

It does sound like a small pain response - any tension through his topline anywhere? Or holding himself stiff from cold or heat? Sensitive skin that he doesn't want brushed? Oh just "who knows" ... my ISH has a weird fluffy patch on his belly that I'm ignoring.

One of the things that always amazes me when I see my vet-chiro working on horses is how shiny they go within a single session ...

 

[little_critter]

It does sound like a small pain response - any tension through his topline anywhere? Or holding himself stiff from cold or heat? Sensitive skin that he doesn't want brushed? Oh just "who knows" ... my ISH has a weird fluffy patch on his belly that I'm ignoring.

One of the things that always amazes me when I see my vet-chiro working on horses is how shiny they go within a single session ...

Hmmm, I was using a stiff dandy brush to get some mud off. Maybe he was sore. I’ll experiment.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Hmmm, I was using a stiff dandy brush to get some mud off. Maybe he was sore. I’ll experiment.

It may have just been the brush mine don't like rough stiff brushes just keep an eye on it if it happens again maybe mention to your physio or whoever you use.

 

[Cragrat]

One of my TB's adores those stiff plastic magic brushes, the other one HATES it - even used lightly on thick mud he raises his back and clamps his tail -( obviously I don't use it any more). He doesn't raise his coat but yours could be reacting to the brush?