This is a Welcome Change!?

[Tremor]

I know shedding has been a varied topic on here; especially with younger horses under the age of three.

I was working with a couple of my youngsters this past week (clipping heads & bridle paths) and I was very surprised to see that all three of my 2010 babies were shedding. I have never had a two year old shed.

Add in my 2011 filly. She's shedding...a lot. I have to say that this was a HUGE change! A weanling? Shedding? No way.

I just thought that it was a great surprise and I have a feeling that its because of being fed grain. The two year old were started on grain in 2011 and my filly was fed grain before her birth (dam was on Omelene 300 to gain weight) and while she was nursing.

 

[Kendra]

Our 2011 foals are shedding more than anyone else at the moment - I think because they're in the most sheltered spot. Course, they also have the most hair, maybe they figure they need a head start! ;-)

Do you mean your weanlings don't usually shed at all?

We never clip our babies - or any horses unless they're going to a show. And last year I showed a yearling colt without body clipping, he shed out that well.

 

[Tremor]

Our 2011 foals are shedding more than anyone else at the moment - I think because they're in the most sheltered spot. Course, they also have the most hair, maybe they figure they need a head start! ;-)

Do you mean your weanlings don't usually shed at all?

We never clip our babies - or any horses unless they're going to a show. And last year I showed a yearling colt without body clipping, he shed out that well.

I clip my foals/weanlings regularly because its good training and because of showing and I've noticed in the past two years (2010-2011) that none of my weanlings have shed.

I did have one 2010 foal (born August) start to shed around her face after 2 weeks of being born. That has been the extent of my weanlings shedding in the past two years.

However, I do remember that in 2007 we did have weanlings shedding. Those same foals as yearlings/two year olds didn't shed.

We've been breeding since 2006 (up until April 2011) and have never had yearlings/two year olds shed.

The more and more I think about it I think it has to do with grain. My yearling and two of my two year olds are on Omelene 300 while my other two year old is on the Miniature Horse & Pony feed.

 

[Charlotte]

Well, that is interesting and a bit strange. Our weanlings shed a LOT a few months after they are born and from then on shed out well every spring. If I do any trimming on the horses that aren't showing it is a bridle path, under jawline and back of fetlocks. I've shown a number of horses unclipped and they have done quite well and for photographs I really like full summer coat. Like Star Skipper here in August. He did have his muzzle clipped and oiled too.

Maybe what you are seeing is the result of an improvement in nutrition? It takes a well balanced diet to achieve optimum condition in a horse, just like in us humans.

 

[chandab]

Well, I have horses shedding this spring that don't normally shed this early, so I'm thinking its the change in diet and for one medication. I put everyone on flax this winter, and I'm hoping its helping, we'll see when they finish shedding in a couple months. Still too many chances for cold weather for me to seriously groom or clip anyone here. Today, I noticed my recently diagnosed Cushing's gelding is even shedding a little bit, not like the others, but some (he's on medication for his Cushings). He'll probably need to be clipped at some point, but for now, he's losing a litlte hair on his own.