Can You Judge a Horse by His Coat?
By Patricia Celley
Hooray spring shedding is over! There is nothing finer than running your hands over your horse’s sleek, shining summer coat. All those long hours of grooming with hair flying in your face have finally paid off. But don’t abandon your grooming tools for the hose sprayer this summer. Grooming has many benefits.
When you groom your horse you have the opportunity to improve his well being and develop a strong bond. While you groom your horse you improve circulation and relax and massage muscles. Working with a soft, round, rubber curry in a circular motion has the effect of a massage. When you use a brush on your horse, brush vigorously and flick your wrist to send the dust up and out of the coat. Many beginners brush so lightly they never move the dirt at all, or they simply move it from one spot to another. Vigorous brushing in this manner has the effect of “buffing” the muscles as described by Linda Tellington-Jones. I will talk more about her in next month’s issue.
Have you ever seen two pasture buddies nibbling on each other’s back while standing in the pasture? Sometimes they will also stand side by side facing in opposite directions so that their tails help keep the flies off each other’s face. Grooming is a universal bonding behavior in many species, including the horse.
Grooming is also a good time to practice your horse’s ground manners. He should be expected to stand quietly, and not step into your space. Do not allow head rubbing or bumping you, or getting so close that you have to move away. A horse that is respectful of you when you are handling him from the ground will be more respectful and responsive when you are riding him too. He will be a lot less likely to step on your toes also! Your horse should also allow you to pick out his hooves without pulling away, kicking, or leaning on you.
Yes, many times you can judge a horse by its coat. A healthy horse will have some luster to their coat with very little grooming. A horse that has a very dull coat is probably suffering from more than lack of attention.
We expect our pampered and well groomed horses to have a nice shiny coat, but we may also notice that other horses with much less “elbow grease” on them have a nice shine to their coats as well. Given the right time and conditions, even horses in the wild, which never get brushed at all, have some luster to their coats. They may not look that way directly after taking a mud bath, but it is a sure sign that the herd is generally healthy and is getting plenty of food and water if their coats look well conditioned.
A horse with a very dull coat, especially one that has patches of hair rubbed or missing may be infested with parasites. Pin worms will cause a horse to itch his tail, making it look very bushy at the top. Other internal parasites will cause horses to lose weight and have a dull coat. Horses suffer from a variety of external parasites and fungi. Some of the most common are mange, lice, ringworm, mites, chiggers, and rain scalds (also known as rain rot).
Poor coat condition can also be caused by a poor diet. The proper amounts of vitamins, minerals, and especially fat in the diet will show in the horse’s coat.
The most serious condition that can be detected by a poor looking coat is Cushing’s Disease. Cushing’s Disease (or Cushing’s Syndrome) is caused by a tumor at the base of the pituitary gland. Horse’s affected with this disease do not shed out like they should. Their hair is very coarse, and will have a curl or wave to it. Other symptoms are high water intake and a pot-bellied appearance as the muscles along the top-line atrophy. It usually affects older horses, but can affect horses as young as eight years old. When diagnosed in the early stages, the symptoms can be alleviated with drugs, and the horse may have many useful years. However, the tumor will continue to grow, and eventually euthanasia will be the most humane option for the horse.
About the Author:
My name is Patricia Celley, and I've got horses in my blood. I inherited this condition from my mother, who dedicated 17+ years to sharing her passion and knowledge with the 4-H horse programs in PA. She always told me to never stop learning; that there was always more to learn about these wonderful animals.
Patricia may be contacted by email at patriciacelley@msn.com.
Article courtesy of Suite101.com.
