Sweaty Horse - Should I Worry?!

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LittleSoph

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Freddie has always been a bit of a hot bod and in summer I was constantly hosing him down, plaiting his mane, etc. to try and keep him cool... but I wasn't worried as it was warm. But now I'm beginning to worry!

While everyone else is deciding which rug to put on at night, I'm still trying to stop my pony sweating! It's mad. His coat isn't really thick, it isn't particularly warm and he hasn't had a rug on yet since last winter...

Does anyone have any idea why he's sweating so much? Is it normal? Should I worry?

He literally just stands in his stable and his coat his clammy and staring. That's before he's even done any work.
He seems absolutely fine in himself, in every other way, but someone mentioned to me today that maybe he has an infection somewhere and has a temperature...??
 
When I viewed my boy at 3 yrs old he was in a barn with a lovely thick rug on in May! I'd always had TB's and loved wrapping them up.
My boy sweats so easily, all I can think is that barn was cold or he was a mat4uring horse using all his feed for growth not warmth as theres no way I could rug him now, he'd melt. Infact none of the horses have rugs on at our yard, some are in there late 20's. I have just come in and my car says its 15 degrees outside so its not cold yet. My boy hasnt got a thick coat yet but is has changed and is looking dull. I will clip mid to late October and he will have either a LW or MW rug on until it gets really cold then he will have his Rambo Wug on. I find it really difficult as he just gets too hot. He is an ID x Shire x TB but mainly TB although looking at him you wouldnt think so.
Maybe you should consider clipping him shortly if you are working him and as long as he seems healthy, eating and drinking well I would just think its the mild weather and start og his winter coat.
 
Patchy, unexpected sweating can be a sign of Cushings syndrome.

On the other hand I think it is still really warm and no doubt some horses as well as people are just hot bods.

Is this sweating a change for him?
 
My friends cob is still sweating from just standing in his stable. Having said that he is 26 and so holds onto his coat very easily but it is still very, very warm in the day! You're in Kent right?? Bring on the cooler days hey!!??
 
No1 LGW lives out, and her winter coat is definitely coming through because her freezemark is no longer mainly pink. Consequently, even just hooning about with her fieldmate for 5 minutes before being caught at 4pm today she was sweating all over, and after an hours lesson she was soaked through and almost dripping. I would think your Freddie is the same, it's been very warm and even having half of winter coat must be the same as putting a jumper on to us. I've certainly been warm in short sleeves no jumper all day today.
 
He is only 4 so wouldn't it be doubtful that it was cushings?

I've only had him 6 months but he's been a real hot bod all through summer, especially under his mane. I've spent all summer hosing him down and plaiting his mane to try and keep him cool... but I definitely thought it'd have stopped by now.
 
Lol Don't be so sure. My pony was diagnosed at 6 with it.

Seriously hope it isn't that though.

Maybe he's going to be one of those that needs a clip all year round? My friend has a lovely cob that she showed and he was fully clipped out all year round. He still lived out over the summer, with a light turnout if it was rainy as he didn't have much grease in his coat.

He did fine like that for years. I do think it helped that he was hogged too, but your boy has a gorgeous mane, would be a shame.

Perhaps think about getting him clipped sooner rather than later. If it's going to be an all year round clip it will need doing often so it's not so bad if the whole season change coat isn't through.

I would think it more important to keep him comfortable tbh.

x
 
Looking at the horse in your sig (he's beautiful by the way!) he looks a similar build & hairiness amount to mine and when temperatures have been in the 20 degrees C mark this week my boy has come in of an evening quite damp and sweaty and continued to gently sweat in his stable til the temperature drops. Very sweaty after I've ridden him. He's lost all his summer coat and winter coat which is always very full is on its way. If you're very worried I'd try and check his temperature and if that's normal might just be coping with growing through winter coat when we're having an Indian summer!
 
If it's the lovely coloured in your siggy (and you don't show him) why not give him a good trim? Get his mane nice and short, and also his tail - all this will help him keep cool.

It actually has been much warmer than the seasonal average - and none of the horses on my yard are even remotely approaching wearing a rug. There is simply no need.

His coat will probably be thicker than you think - or at least denser, because he's a 'native'.

Doesn't sound particularly sinister to me. Just a warm horse.
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as a fellow owner of a hairy one I virtually always plait his mane to work him especially if its hot or doing hard work as this helps to keep him cool , i personally would not touch his mane or tail but leave them as they are. Give him a good cooling wash after work and he should be ok, remember if he has a good coat on him he will find it warm still.
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Thank you for the replies...

Lol, SallySmart... did you just swear at me?? short and mane in the same sentence?? lol!
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He was bought to show and next season I will be planning to show him as much as I can. I think the best bet is to just to continue to stick it in a running plait to keep it off him.

I'll definately keep an eye on him over the next few weeks and maybe take his temp. I haven't clipped him yet as only had him since April, but he's very laid back so I wouldn't think it'll be an issue for him, so if he needs clipping early, that's no problem.

Good to hear their are others that are still feeling the heat too though.
 
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