Puzzle coat / crushed velvet coat

[BBP2]

Does anyone have a perfectly healthy, well horse which is performing beautifully, who also has puzzle/crushed velvet coat? Or a horse who has gone from crushed velvet to normal?

In my usual overthinking way, I’ve been looking into this and theories abound as to whether this is genetic (like giant whorls), related to heat, humidity, PSSM, Lyme or fascial tension. But there doesn’t appear to be a definitive answer. I’m sort of inclined to think fascial tension, as it would make sense to me how that could cause sections of skin and therefore hair to be drawn in a different direction to the usual hair growth.

I’d love to hear anyone else’s thoughts as it isn’t something I have noticed before.

 

[Auslander]

Yes - Alf, ny old boy had extensive crushed velvet on his left hand side. He competed to PSG and worked GP in his younger days - and was very soft and supple til the day he died at 27 years old

 

[BBP2]

Thanks that’s nice to see another one. And did he have that crushed velvet all his life? It’s not great for the ex groom in me, I want all the hairs to lie the same way!

 

[Nancykitt]

This is my wonderful pony AJ. He's been getting these patterns in his summer coat every since I've had him (he was 4 when I got him and he's now 16). They must be relatively rare as EP/EDT/vets etc often remarked on it! One person told me that they had a part Apaloosa with similar markings; AJ is also quarter Appy so I don't know if that's a thing. He's a sweetheart anyway!

 

[rabatsa]

My cob when I was a teen, had what seemed like no two hairs lying in the same direction. His coat was a beggar to clip. I was told that it was just one of those things that make each horse unique.