Matted shetland yearlings grrrrr!!

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kat2290

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My mini foals are now officially my mini yearlings :( boohoo they're not my babies anymore!

Anyway! They have been losing their mammoth winter coats really really slowly...so slowly in fact that they have now turned in to a matted mess. I tried to tease the matts out when they first started appearing but as quickly as I was getting rid of them more would appear plus 10 more and they have become too thick to get out. The amount of hair that comes off them everyday with the shedding blade is crazy but it just doesn't seem to make any difference, it's like a bottomless pit of fluff!

They're now in a ridiculous limbo stage probably about 30% summer coat 70% matted winter coat. They look terrible and I really want to tidy them up but I'm not sure if its a good idea to start interfering with their natural shedding process. Should I just leave them to it? Will all the matts eventually fall out? Their summer coats are gorgeous...I just wish I could see a bit more of them! I'm sure they must be uncomfortable on the warmers days as well, poor girls.

I'm hoping this is just a foal/yearling thing and that next year it won't be so bad... :rolleyes:
 
It does seem to be a babies first coat thing, just persevere it will all come off in the end!
 
I have been thinking about clipping them but then I just think maybe I'm just overreacting and in another 3/4 weeks it will have sorted itself out. I don't have any clippers myself so would have to get somebody out to do it plus I am on holiday from Saturday for a week and I doubt id be able to get it done before then.
 
I had to clip one of mine, it took me ages to own up to the breeder what I'd done and she agreed that with some of them it's the only way.
 
My welsh pony was like this when I got him as a yearling, he was unhandled and not very friendly at the time though so couldn't do much about it, except cringe with embarrassment at how terrible he looked, it looked like he was sporting a shag pile rug. It all sorted itself out in a couple of weeks though and came off of its own accord.
 
I have a welsh hill rescue pony that looks like a badly knitted sweater. Its still a bit feral so I can only brush for so long without him getting stressed. He is also turned out with a moth eaten Cushings pony so I bet the tongues are wagging about me. I did think of clipping him but where he is kept there is no power so I am just going to have towait it out, frustrating.
 
Well I'm comforted to know I'm not the only one, but at least you two have an excuse because they're rescue cases/a bit wild! I don't have any excuse!!

I even remember the day they got the first matts because it was when we had a few days of nice weather at the beginning of may and they were very sweaty and got matted armpits. If only I had known what was to come I would have got them clipped then! Hindsight is such a wonderful thing :D
 
honetpot said:
I have a welsh hill rescue pony that looks like a badly knitted sweater. Its still a bit feral so I can only brush for so long without him getting stressed. He is also turned out with a moth eaten Cushings pony so I bet the tongues are wagging about me. I did think of clipping him but where he is kept there is no power so I am just going to have towait it out, frustrating.
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I sympathise as my grotty-looking yearling is turned out with my 30yo Welsh, but the way you put it and the image it brought to my head had me howling with laughter:D
 
Ooo will they? I might try that today! I did try washing bella who is the most scruffy of the two, and slathered the matts with conditioner but that did naff all!
 
Afraid it will happen every year with mini shetlands! Best thing ever for when thick hairy coats start shedding is a pony-sized FURMINATOR! They are absolutely brilliant and pull vast amounts of hair out at every sweep without harming the new summer coat underneath. The ponies love them too, especially when you start on the underneath of the mane. For gods sake though, don't buy one from a horse site/shop! W-bay or a bog standard pet shop but get a medium sized one. Shouldn't be more than about a tenner x
 
I have a miniature who turned one yesterday and she is exactly the same. I have found a rubber curry comb works well and you will find that the knots loosen eventually and then you can just pull them off. My two year old was the same last year but this year she has had a proper grown up moult.:D
 
I have just got into Minis and have 3 little foals (plus some adults)...not looking forward to this stage..!!! That said, I have 2 Newfoundland dogs that are about the same size as the ponies and I manage those lol :D
 
My friend has two shetlands, the younger one his two he still has a wooly winter coat its just not going, the other one is a bit older she is not too bad, she does show hers but she is going to clip them this winter hoping it will look better in the summer, have you tried bathing them it might get most of the hair out.
 
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