My pony has a very weird summer coat - any ideas (especially Appy people!)?

Nancykitt

Nancykitt

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I have a lovely 14.2 boy, got him just before Xmas. He was home bred by some people I've known for a while so I know that his mother was an Appaloosa cross (dad was a compact cob type) - so I know that he is quarter Appy. He's a bay with no spots as such, but he definitely has the lovely Appy personality!

Until recently I hadn't seen his summer coat due to the long winter - he took ages to lose the wooliness. When it eventually did come through I'd never seen anything like it - my first thought was that he'd sweated in patches! On closer inspection, he has patches and spots that stand out because the hair in these bits is growing in different directions. The patches and spots are also clearly defined because they are 'outlined' in slightly paler hair.

I know that solid colour Appys don't have these markings but just wondered if it could be down to his breeding? And has anyone seen anything like it?
 
How old is he? I have a horse that started off solid chestnut and at 3 is rapidly going very spotty now. He had the 'patchy' coat that you describe. You never know, your boy may be starting to spot out.

I think that different coloured hair does grow differently, my coloured mini has much rougher hair on his black bits, the white hair is much smoother and noticeably shorter.
 
He was five in May, but apparently he's not been particularly patchy up until now.
Very interesting that your horse is starting to spot out and that you are familiar with the patches and spots! This is reassuring to me as no-one up who sees him can explain it - hence I thought it was very probably a breed-related thing. Thanks for this, very reassuring!
 
My leopord spotted pony is 10 now and he is constantly 'loosing' spots and gaining them in different places. He has done since i had him at 2 and a half. :)
 
YAY!! At last, someone else that this happens to. We have a chestnut Sec D, early summer her coat comes through normally but overnight it will change and form what you accurately describe as looking like sweat patches. We are convinced its genetic.
 
Ladyinred said:
YAY!! At last, someone else that this happens to. We have a chestnut Sec D, early summer her coat comes through normally but overnight it will change and form what you accurately describe as looking like sweat patches. We are convinced its genetic.
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That's intersting as I have what I think is a welsh D x who comes out in weird and wonderful colours every summer - including this :
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He's normally a liver chestnut :) I'm not sure why he looks pink though :D


Sorry to hijack OP :)
 
BBH that is certainly an odd one! I must try to get some pictures over here for the OP. Year before last ours had one shape appear as a perfect heart on her neck, 'twas very cute and lasted right into her winter coat.
 
The old appy changed her spots all the time the older of the current appy's was solid chesnut when we got her age nine, she is now roan with spots at 17 The younger of the current pair was born bay, but is now roan leopard,age three, so they change all the time :)
 
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