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It’s the annual winter horse coat blow-out! Barns everywhere are overwhelmed with old winter coat hair. While wild horses naturally lose their winter coats, our domesticated equines need our attention to enhance their overall coat condition for the warmer weather.
See how much you know when it comes to your horse’s coat condition below!
Horse Winter Coats 101
Our animals depend upon their guardians for their overall health, well-being, comfort and happiness. Test your knowledge below when it comes to horse winter coats 101.
What triggers a horse’s winter coat to shed?
If you think it’s the warmer spring temperatures, think again! It is actually the amount of daylight that causes a winter coat to shed (longer daylight hours equals shedding). The same before winter, shorter daylight hours cause a natural reaction in growing a warmer winter coat in preparation for winter. According to The Horse, increased body temperature (from blanketing) does not help a horse shed faster.
Can fat supplements help your horse’s coat after winter?
Absolutely! Especially after a cold, dry winter. According to The Horse Journals, “fat supplements such as vegetable oil or stabilized rice bran is much more energy dense than cereal grains … and will also help improve skin and coat conditions.” Fat supplementation also helps reduce dandruff and flakiness.
Some horse owners swear by feeding flax or black oil sunflower seeds because of the oils they contain. However, this is no scientific evidence behind these claims.
Why is my horse shedding their winter coat so slowly?
There are a few reasons why your horse may be shedding slower than its barn mates.
- Not enough rigorous grooming.
- Not enough exercise.
- Too much time in the barn and less light.
- Additional nutrition is needed.
- Potential Cushing’s (or PPID). (Work with your vet to get bloodwork done.)
Click here to see how the EquiGroomer tools
make easy work of removing
your horse’s winter coat!
Never clip a horse’s winter coat! This one is not true. According to Pro Equine Grooms
, you should clip a horse that’s uncomfortable with its winter coat when the temperatures warm up.
Feeding older hay? Your horse may need this nutrient!
Other vitamins and minerals can help improve your horse’s coat condition including Vitamin E, biotin, silicon, zinc and copper explains VetLineEquine.com. These nutrients can often be missing from older or store-bought hay.
Did You Know?
Shedding by our smaller companion animals – cats and dogs – creates another health issue … hairballs!
Yes, your dog can get hairballs too! Help both your feline and canine avoid hairballs with daily grooming along with increased fiber and water intake!
Your horse’s coat condition says nothing about his overall health.
This is a falsehood. Yes, it is not the sole indicator of your equine’s health, but it is an important marker of health! HorseIllustrated.com offers some potential reasons (like nutrition, stress, endocrine issues and even worms for a lackluster coat condition along with suggested remedies.
During the COVID slowdown, we made some significant changes to our grooming product line based on comments and recommendations from customers like you!
Changes included:
- The shape of the handle making it more comfortable to hold.
- A new name, EasyGroomer for our 5″ version; and
- Better packaging to reflect the customers who purchase this smaller size.
Our EquiGroomer tools make grooming your pets easier, stress-free AND pain-free!
To order individual EquiGroomer tools or professional kits for your pet shop, tack shop or barn, call 860-573-0604, send us an email or visit our website today!
Image Credits (In Order of Appearance):
Product Image Courtesy of EquiGroomer
BUT … equine coronavirus (also known as Equine Enteric Coronavirus and ECoV) is “host-specific” and there is no evidence that it can be spread outside the species (or to humans).
Digital thermometers are considered safer and more commonly used today. Temperatures are typically taken via the ear or rectally – which is considered more accurate – in cats, dogs, horses and livestock (with a small amount of lubricant on the end of the thermometer). Be warned, depending on your pet or animal, taking their temperature may be a two-person job!
Opinions on the frequency of bathing horses range from a few times a year to monthly, weekly, only when the horse is dirty and even “never!” Regardless, never place tack on a dirty horse for their overall well-being and comfort! Dirt, debris and even dried sweat under a saddle and girth will create potential chafing, itching, fungus and infections.
water can be done more frequently with fewer negative side effects.
Warm and sunny days are perfect for letting your horse dry naturally. Use a sweat scraper to remove/whisk away as much water as possible before thoroughly drying the entire body. (
their horse, health, overall well-being and ultimately comfort. Maintaining a horse’s optimal health – including bathing – is different for each equine.
Yes, our pets are at an even greater risk for dehydration because their bodies contain more water (80%) than the human body which contains only 60% of water so it’s critical to know how to keep your pets well-hydrated during the summer months.
symptoms indicating potential dehydration.
quicker and easier and need to be monitored closely.
Horses are just as susceptible to dehydration. Just a 3-4% loss of body water can cause mild dehydration in a horse.
What exactly are horse owners up against when it comes to flies in hot summer months? A variety of flies that bite, draw blood and irritate and annoy both you and your horse!
less than a month! Using a combination of fly control options will offer the best results. Below are 6 best practices for your horse and barn.
fences and piles of manure) with a reliable fly control option or an insecticide, pesticide or larvicide.
nothing is as effective as unpasteurized, organic apple cider vinegar. Just fill a spray bottle with ACV and spray down your horse for natural fly protection. If the smell bothers you or your horse, dilute with a 50/50 ratio of water.
“Whisking” all sweat, excess soap and water from your horse is easy for maintaining their coat’s best condition with our innovative WaterWisk!
So how do you get rid of these pesky, annoying – and even dangerous – horse flies to protect yourself, your horse, dog and livestock from their insidious bites?
often find ourselves worrying about the past or fearful about the future. Neither are natural states of being. Thankfully our pets always live in the moment, so let’s learn mindfulness from our pets!
What would our pets tell us if they could talk? Perhaps that slowing down and being present in this very moment will help us find the mindfulness and peace our hearts and souls crave.
Stay mindful, healthy and positive!
Homemade Treats for Cats
