Shedding-why some horses do and don't

[Marsha Cassada]

One of my horses is beginning to shed. I got a bushel today. The other hasn't lost a hair. Even the curry comb doesn't loosen any. I wonder what the difference in the horses is? They eat the same, are within a few years in age. One is a gelding, one a mare, though. One is bay, one is black bay.

 

[chandab]

Could be the gender difference? Although, I have mares, stallions and geldings; and they are all on their own schedule. I have one mare shedding like crazy, I didn't plan to breed her, but the stallion may have had different ideas, so possible pregnancy could have started her early. One mare that was exposed, and hopefully pregnant, not shedding, but she is almost always the last to shed. I think one gelding is shedding (not really paying attention to his coat), the Cushing's gelding will likely hang onto his hair well into spring, if not longer. Both stallions still have all their hair. And, I haven't paid close enough attention to the rest of the girls or the 2 year old colts.

It might be genetic. Might be related to coat color, as I've seen a difference on my black pinto mare in how her white hair sheds vs the black (can't recall which shed quicker, just recall a difference).

It'll be interesting what others have to say.

 

[Tremor]

Nutrition plays a big part. One of the reasons that some weanlings grow obnoxiously thick coats and don't shed.

 

[MountainWoman]

I don't know either. I have one horse shedding but no one else.

 

[shorthorsemom]

I have two geldings... One is shedding like crazy and the other hardly at all. One is appy and one is pinto. Genetics maybe? My pinto that is shedding like crazy also gets his winter coat first and heavier than my other boy. They eat the same food and share the same run in shed and everything is the same between them. Better breeding on my appy and his summer coat is thinner and prettier so maybe he is not letting go of his hair because he doesn't get as thick a winter coat.. who knows.

My one that is shedding is a furball. He just started this past week when the cold has been brutal here.

 

[happy appy]

I find that horses with white will shed their white before the rest of the herd.

 

[Foxhaven]

Legend, the white and sorrel pinto, is shedding like mad.

His son Luke, a dark bay, sheds VERY slowly and has not started yet. Same nutrition, similar genetics... dunno.

 

[Kendra]

Your pair are both fairly "mature" aren't they? (I didn't want to call them "old" and hurt their feelings!) Might be worth a discussion with your vet about PPID (Equine Cushings) since they're of the age - anything 14+ can be more prone to developing Cushings.

Course, the two we have that are insisting on shedding despite our continuing 20 below temps are both mid-20s. And while Cushings can manifest in a wide variety of symptoms, I don't think premature shedding is one of them.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Your pair are both fairly "mature" aren't they? (I didn't want to call them "old" and hurt their feelings!) Might be worth a discussion with your vet about PPID (Equine Cushings) since they're of the age - anything 14+ can be more prone to developing Cushings.

Course, the two we have that are insisting on shedding despite our continuing 20 below temps are both mid-20s. And while Cushings can manifest in a wide variety of symptoms, I don't think premature shedding is one of them.

Neither have any indications of Cushings. This is my first winter with the mare. When I got her in late March she seemed glad to get rid of her long coat. She siddled up to me while I was clipping my gelding and loved those clippers going over her! I clipped her right away, so not sure how she would have shed off. She did get her winter coat a little later than the gelding, but when it came in, it came it seriously! It is finer than the gelding. They both have a nice shine on their coats, even in this yak stage. Yes, they are in their prime: 17 and 21.

 

[disneyhorse]

Every creature is a little different.

 

[Tab]

In 16 years of minis it is my opinion that many minis that are regularly body clipped do not shed well. I do not know why this is, but it seems to be what happens.

 

[Marty]

I always find that soon as I de-worm them, they will start shedding like crazy.

 

[Mona]

Found this quite entertaining! At the end of November, I got back a little mini mare that was born and raised here for her first 12 years of life, later sold and lived somewhere else for 6 years. She is now my only mini, as I had sold right out. In addition to her, we also have 3 riding horses. Yesterday morning I decided to give Angel (the mini) a brushing as I noticed a few hairs starting to come out when I would give her her daily loving. I brushed out LOADS of hair, using my round Oster brush! We have had one of the coldest most snowy winters on record. After I was done brushing her, I went out to the pasture and brushed all 3 big horses, and I got FAAAAAAAR less from all 3 horses put together, than I did from one little mini!! UNREAL, the difference in coat types from minis to regular horses! Minis are like little wooly mammoths! Time to add my "rake" to my barn jacket pocket, as that works the best of anything I have ever tried on minis.

The several large fluffy piles on the left are from ONE mini in one brushing, and the small, flat pile on the right is from one brushing each, of THREE large horses, averaging 15h each. They gave up practically nothing in comparison!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I think that shedding comb is a great tool, also.

I worked on mine again today, also using the vacuum. Not as much this time on the gelding. But still a nice mound for the birds to use. The mare didn't lose a hair. Hers is very fine, which may make a difference. Both needed long tails trimmed. I do not believe it is as much a parasite thing as genetic.

Our winter has been exceptionally cold also, so I was surprised the gelding was ready to lose ANY hair!