Why is my Shetland always wet?

[Mary Poppins]

I have a 9hh mini shetland. She is stabled overnight and out during the day. She is not rugged at all as she has a very thick coat. However, in the morning when I see her she is always wet. It is not dripping condensation in her stable and it doesn't leak. Even if she's out overnight she is wet in the morning and she's only like this in the winter. The only way I can stop her getting wet is to put a rug on overnight which I don't really want to do, but I have done this in the past and she keeps dry. I don't think it's sweat as she doesn't smell sweaty and her skin is dry. Does anyone have any ideas why this happens?

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

When it snows does the snow melt on her back, or does it stay there?

Lots of natives like Shetlands have several layers to their coats. It might be that she is so well insulated that no heat is escapaing so is not steaming off the morning dew.

 

[Brandy]

Where is she wet? It could be sweat as it has been very mild. Or maybe its condensation - you know like you get when you put a fleece cooler on a damp horse and the moisture ends up on top of the rug?

 

[Rose Folly]

Is it condensation on her coat? Like when your car's windows fug up inside because of the temperature variation? She is probably toasty warm and the air in the stable will be considerably cooler. I notice with our three rugged horses, who live out 24/7, that on cool or frosty mornings, steam rises off the outside of their turnouts, which I presume is warm air wicking out and meeting the cooler ambient temperature air.

 

[ponypilotmum]

its sweat wicking away from the skin. Try clipping just beteween the front legs, it stops the problem.

 

[Mary Poppins]

We haven't had any snow where we are yet, but thinking back to last year, the snow just stayed on her back and when we bought her in at night we just dusted it off, but she was wet again in the morning! I don't know whether to just leave her be or put a rug on overnight.

 

[BlackVelvet]

Is it condensation on her coat? Like when your car's windows fug up inside because of the temperature variation? She is probably toasty warm and the air in the stable will be considerably cooler. I notice with our three rugged horses, who live out 24/7, that on cool or frosty mornings, steam rises off the outside of their turnouts, which I presume is warm air wicking out and meeting the cooler ambient temperature air.

More likely to be this, If i dont clip my ID hes like this!

 

[Mary Poppins]

Brandy she is wet all over!

Lucky-Lady - Thanks, I might try that clip - hadn't thought of clipping her as we're in the midst of winter!!

 

[AngieandBen]

Yep she's warm! my shetland used to be wet in the mornings even when it was below zero! I left them out 24/7 when I realised

 

[smellsofhorse]

I'd say. It was sweat when in at night and damp from the ground when lying down outside.

 

[ATrueClassAct]

Our shetland was like this, no rug in winter etc to make sure she wasn't too warm. Clipped her to try and stop it since she had so much fur. Turned out she had mild cushings, but she was 21 so this might just be my case.

 

[MagicMelon]

its sweat wicking away from the skin. Try clipping just beteween the front legs, it stops the problem.

I do this with mine. Not because she gets wet every night, but she lives out 24/7 (with permanent access to open stables) and rolls daily and sleeps in the muddiest patch you can find so she's permanently filthy and always wet. Its her tummy hair that gets disgusting, it actually got matted last year when I couldnt brush it due to it being so wet. So I just clip between her front legs and her tum hair off - sorts the problem and she's more comfy too.

 

[Brandy]

Does sound like she is too warm then, although not sure what its like where you are but its turned rather cold here!

 

[Cuffey]

Agree with bib clip, no need for rug in/out

My Connemara (now deceased) who had Cushings, had to be clipped and rugged as he just never got properly dry after rain his coat was so heavy if untouched.

 

[amandap]

Sounds like she is too hot to me too. I'd be tempted to get the vet to give her the once over (possible infection) and a blood test for Cushings is also a good idea.

I have three minis with very thick coats and they are never wet unless it is raining or they've rolled in a puddle. It's been very mild over here too.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

my shetland does this. its cos he is too hot! so i clip him 2 or 3 times over the winter (hunter clip) he doesnt have a rug ever and is happy and warm. he is stabled overnight otherwise he would pop! he gets very grumpy if he has his full coat left on. i would suggest you do a bib or trace clip and see if this helps and no i wouldnt rug. they are reall toughies and should live off the top end of scotland in fairly bleak harsh conditions.

 

[juliette]

My friend has a mini and she clips her chest as she gets very wet when stabled if she doesn't. The coat is just amazingly thick on them isn't it?

 

[GREYSMEADOW]

I have a midi shetland and he gets too hot and sticky underneath between his front legs so I usually start with a very low trace/bib clip (from underneath throat down to his chest to underneath his front legs then round his shoulders and finish just behind his elbow.

If the weather is over 10 degees then I continue and clip his belly too and then trace clip around his hide legs.

Last year the weather around Oct - Dec was really quite mind in the South for the time of year. Now his clip has almost growth out and was only thinking about clipping again but its been -2 over the last few nights and due to get milder later on in the week so next week-end I plan to at least clip from his thoat to behind the elbows for starters as he's getting a bit sweaty in the sunshine.

 

[The-mad-cat-lady]

Ahh ! Is there a lake nearby ?
Mine loves an early morning swim.