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Discussion on No winter coat
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Member:
Leslie1
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Posted on Friday, Nov 10, 2006 - 9:28 pm:
Hi DrO A mare Im getting seems healthy but she hasnt put on a winter coat. All the other horses around here have. Its been warm during the day (70's)and cold (30-40's)at night.She is not blanketed or stalled. Her pasture mates are fuzzy. It just seems weird to me. Should I be concerned about that?
THX Leslie
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 - 7:08 am:
hi Leslie,
mine is always the last to get his also. He also does not have his winter coat and I am in NJ in the mountains up near vernon ski resorts. He gets it eventually. I would not worry to much. I dont ever blanket mine.The only time you should worry is if they are shivering and its not cold enough for that yet.
Katrina
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Member:
Stevens
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 - 9:39 am:
Leslie,
You should be happy instead of worried 
I'm lucky enough to have a horse that doesn't hair up. While my friends are either body clipping or spending alot of time cooling their horses out after riding, I'm just enjoying my horse who will get blanketed when it gets cooler.
Chris
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Member:
Hally
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 - 10:56 am:
Lelsie,
Count your clipper blades! Lucky you. My mare looks like she could be a stand in for one of the polar bears in the Coca Cola commercial!
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Member:
Pbauer
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 - 2:55 pm:
"My mare looks like she could be a stand in for one of the polar bears in the Coca Cola commercial!" .....Hally, so cute!
Big Smiles,
Tonya
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 - 8:42 am:
Hello Leslie,
Check out the earlier discussion from May 2003 with the same title as your question and it explains some of the reasons this happens.
DrO
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 - 5:23 pm:
One of my three NEVER gets much of a coat, and some years it is worse than others. He is the one I ride the most and it is nice that he doesn't get sweaty and too hot on those days it is warmer since I live in central Florida. If it is going to be under 40 or so (and especially if there is a wind chill and possibility of drizzle) I put a rainproof turn out blanket on him that covers his body and his neck. Breaking the wind and keeping him dry is all that he needs since he is free to move around in the pasture. If stalled, (seldom) I may add a liner. Dr. O's articles on this subject are very good and confirm to me this horse needs this extra attention since he shivers quickly when chilled.
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Member:
Banthony
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Posted on Monday, Nov 13, 2006 - 8:56 am:
Is she a chestnut? We have a chestnut mare that doesn't get a winter coat and shivers when the temps DrOp below 50. We blanket her all winter.
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Monday, Nov 13, 2006 - 9:27 am:
wow do I feel lucky. Even though my horse doesn't have his full winter coat yet when he does he is fine with below 0 temperatures. I found he was colder with a sheet because it made the hair lay flat. They need the hair to stand on end so that it provides insulation. When its freezing I run my hand under the hair and its so warm. When I used to blanket him he would get a tear then he would be soaked under neath then he would be so cold or if the blanket would come off I would be in a panic as he would shiver so bad. Now he will end up looking like a hairy mountain pony(when the coat comes in) and yes its a pain to cool him off when riding. But I have piece of mind that nature is taking care of him. I don't recommend this for all horses or old or sick ones but I honestly think we do more harm by trying to make our horses comfortable. If we are cold we think they must be. It simply is not true. I am guilty I blanketed for 40 years and it was never below 30. Now I am in a place thats way below freezing and would never think of blankets unless the horse truly needed it and 90% don't.
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Monday, Nov 13, 2006 - 11:23 am:
My guy who gets cold is a gray horse. Before I put a blanket on him, I do my best to brush him good so he is clean (and therefore presumably better insulated) underneath. I have read about needing the hair to stand on end rather than flattening it, but in his case his coat is so short that there isn't much to work with to that end.
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Member:
Leslie1
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006 - 11:03 am:
Thanks for the replies I live in Northern Arizona.(It does get cold here sometimes) I guess I will need to blanket her.
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