the older horse and clipping.

[Solstar]

Red has his summer coat through now, after being hunter clipped twice this winter. It is a lovely reddy chestnut colour, but quite long- the individual hairs are about an inch long.
He'd not done any real work for about 4 years until we got him in August, and last summer his coat got quite parched and bleached, and looked really dry, but it was quite short.
He only has a very thin covering of hair below his ears and around his eyes.
Anyway, his coat is that long and thick that he sweats really badly- I had a short canter on him last night and although we didn't go fast, he was absolutley dripping when we got home- and I walked him for the last 10 minutes.
and, on Tuesday morning when I went to put their flysheet's on, Red had been laying down, and his coat was so wet with the dew off the grass that it had gone a bit curly.

I know it is warm, and apparently it's going to be warm all weekend, but I'm going to clip him out. We had hoped to do some very small local shows with him, as the OH wants to do some in-hand with him,but he gets so warm that I dont think it's fair on him.

So, is Red's long coat normal on older horses? (he is 18) and this is slightly silly, but will he stay red or go the weird caramel colour he's been all winter?

any of your thoughts please!
thankyou.

 

[wormhugs]

Hmm, I cant be much help but my Welsh cob is nearly 21 and his coat is the same as it always has been (apart from more grey hairs

). It doesnt sound like this is just an age thing to me.

 

[Horseymum]

My mare is 25 and definitely gets a much thicker and longer coat in the Winter than she did when she was younger but once she moults that out her Summer coat is the same as it has always been. Whatever the cause, I think you are right to clip him out for his comfort over the summer.

 

[Cuffey]

Yes def clip for comfort but be prepared to pop on lightweight rug if weather changes for the worse
Does sound like the beginning of Cushings so feed low sugar, low carbs high fibre diet. Think about increasing Magnesium in the diet and dont forget salt (a mix of ordinary salt and LO-Salt makes a cheap home made electrolyte).