Are your horses shedding already?

[Minimor]

Christmas eve in Manitoba, & we have horses that are shedding. This has to be a record--previously we've had them start in January, usually mid to late January, one year I think the mares started in early January--but never have we had one shedding in December! I'm not talking a few loose hairs either--this morning the one mare had gobs of loose hair on her. She's in foal, but not due until May 1st, so we can't attribute early shedding to an early baby...

So far we've been having a very mild winter--some cold, -30 was the coldest so far & that was only one night; otherwise we've had a few -20 to -27 nights, but only for a short spell, then we get the tail end of a chinook & it warms up nicely. We've been having lots of rain/freezing drizzle--we had more rain night before last, lots of fog yesterday....it was thawing yesterday & again today--feels like spring!

We always hear the amount of light affects the horses' coats, but this winter we've had very little sun--it's been cloud, cloud & more cloud. So, we can't attribute the early shedding to an extra bright winter sun.

The horses know something about the weather that we don't know??? Woo hoo.

 

[sedeh]

Mine aren't losing a hair yet!....and our weather is mild compared to yours! Of course, it may be a mild winter for them. [SIZE=14pt]Merry Christmas![/SIZE]

 

[Relic]

Our this years weaners are shedding very bad right now and some of the stallions from other places have really been rubbing and leaving hair hanging on the fences like in spring the mares are not maybe it's colder behind the barn who knows. lt's like summer here and has been all month but not always with sun so l would be thinking that the amount of light doesn't hold true for this year as we really don't get a lot of daylight hours in Dec.. We did have a nice warm slow rain for about 2 hours yesterday morning but l don't think thats going to help my dried out trees a heck of a lot. We have no snow at all none not a patch anywhere.

Weird.

 

[Hosscrazy]

Yes, I noticed my guys were already shedding a bit yesterday! Too weird... here I am clipping my guys in the winter (it's in the mid 80's) and they're shedding at Christmas time? I just don't get it!

Liz R.

 

[Southern_Heart]

Yes! as a matter a fact I do, shedding just like it was spring. But then a gain its nature gone nuts as we have a Red Bud Tree in bloom.

Now that never happened on Christmas. Also my mums in the flower garden are blooming.. Thats a first also!!

But then again its in the 70s here T-shirt weather and will be all week.

Mind you I am not complaining.. just wish it was a tad cooler!!

Oh heck maybe I don't as its nice not having to wear coats and such!!!

Joyce

 

[Equuisize]

A week ago it was in the high teens and low 20's at night.....

This week it is 50 at night and 60 out right now........with lots of rain.

There is lots of humidity in the air from the previously frozen ground.

Brought the kids in last night, they are stalled at night, and this morning

they are still damp.......

If this keeps up they'll be shedding, too....

Way weird weather so far for the Pacific Northwest.....

 

[Shaladar]

I was head and necking, chest and underarms and some bellies of my poor sweating horses this morning, and most of them are shedding too !!! Handfulls of hair. Wierd,

never had them start shedding this early.

Sue

 

[Margaret]

Today our temps reached the mid 90s,

and one of my kids got out the play pool... but the minis are still not shedding what little coat they managed to grow this winter, so it looks like we have more cold to go..

 

[Sterling]

Funny you should mentione that. I just noticed my Manny tonight when he came in for dinner, he's got alot of extra hairs loose on his little yak body. I don't usually see this until March!

 

[hhpminis]

I just did a good groom ing today and not a hair came off so no, not here yet. We have had very cold weather for us and this week it has been about 40 during the day. It ws great. I only wore a flannel shirt instead of a coat today.

Edited to add...

March 20th is the first day of spring Leanna

 

[JO~*]

No shedding yet but they don't seem as wooly as other winters.

 

[Ojai Minis]

None of mine are shedding yet. And it was hot here today! 85 degrees.

Liz R. yours are shedding already???

Liz V.