Anyone Else In The South Notice. . .

[Little Wolf Ranch]

That our horses have started shedding? Everyone at my farm has started shedding profusely - a clump here. . .a clump there. . .

I already had to clip my preggo mare down except for her legs due to a little bug infection (can't remeber what the vet called these little yellow boogers) so I could get the medication down into her skin and after doing that. . .boy is that foal in there is moving like crazy!

Well getting off track again. . .who all's horses are shedding already?

 

[Sue_C.]

Mine have started shedding, and they are still in snow up to their bellies, and last week the temps were steadily around -15 to -22 C. They generally start late January to mid February, but are never completely shed-out till almost the end of May.

 

[Minimor]

Well, I'm not in the south (not by a long shot!

) but our horses are shedding like mad. Some have been shedding for over a month now, others just got started in the past couple weeks, but in the last week or so they've really shifted into high & are losing hair big time.

 

[kaykay]

Every year I have to giggle a bit as people will swear their horses are shedding too early or hairing up too soon.

Both shedding and getting winter coats are dictated by the hours of daylight. Really has nothing to do with "how bad a winter will be" or "how hot summer will be"

As the days start to get longer they will start to shed. When the days start to get shorter they will start to get their winter coats even though this comes in Aug. Just goes by the length of daylight hours

Kay

 

[LittleRibbie]

Mine are shedding like crazy....and so are the dogs!!

 

[georgiegirl]

I live in Southern Colorado.

All three of my horses are shedding. Two more than the other one.

I am curious to see what my mare does this year as far as shedding. Last year she shed off 4 different layers at different times. Hopefully this year she will shed all at once. Fingers crossed.

 

[Minimor]

Of course shedding is related to daylight hours, but in spite of that we've noticed a variance in timing. Some years the horses won't start growing their winter coat until beginning of August. Most years it's late July/early August. But there have been a few years where they were already starting their winter coats the beginning of July.

Likewise it's normal for our horses to start shedding in late January/early February, but a few times they've started in early Jan. or even late December. And no, it's not just the bred mares that have started unusually early some years.

The one year I was very surprised when our horses started shedding the end of December--it was a very gloomy, overcast December, hardly any sunshine at all...a dark, dreary sort of winter, not at all what I wouldn't have expected would trigger the horse's summer coats to start growing in.

 

[Dona]

Well, I'm not in the South......wintery Ohio here right now, and mine have been shedding since early January. In fact, most of mine always start shedding at the beginning of the year.

 

[Shortpig]

I live in the wonderful Pacific NW and noticed that mine have also started to shed out. We have had an unusally warm winter due to good ole El Nino visiting is this year. I must admit I was a tad surprised when I petted them and ended up with a handful of hair and no one is preggo here.

 

[normajeanbaker]

I am not anywhere near the south, but am in Maine, and I've even got several horses already shedding like crazy. I have a few I am already taking a shedding blade too

Come on spring!!!!!!!

~Jen~

 

[Watcheye]

Mine are shedding in Michigan. Most of them anyway.

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

Thank goodness I'm not the only one LOL! I thought I was losing my mind!

 

[Sandee]

Funny for the last 2 years my stallion has started to shed out starting Feb. This year - nope! Maybe we should use the horses instead of a "ground hog" to forcast the spring.

 

[Matt73]

Royal started shedding in November

I'm in southwestern Ontario.

 

[maggiemae]

Maggie is shedding a lot, but it is very cold here. I'm wondering - if she sheds should I blanket her until it warms up? I don't normally blanket her - she has a stall and adjoining pasture. I put her up at night. Will she get cold if she sheds a lot of her hair before it warms up?

 

[Sandee]

Maggie is shedding a lot, but it is very cold here. I'm wondering - if she sheds should I blanket her until it warms up? I don't normally blanket her - she has a stall and adjoining pasture. I put her up at night. Will she get cold if she sheds a lot of her hair before it warms up?

Is she's shedding on her own (by that I mean is she under lights that are on long or are you using a shedding blade to groom her - those would be shedding but not on her own)? Or does she have a skin irritant like a mite or something?

If shedding is natural and not caused by something else then just watch to she is she shivers. If she does then blanket. Otherwise she fine and just doing what nature tells her.