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Discussion on Spotty winter coat...
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New Member:
Crzyhrse
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Posted on Friday, Dec 24, 2004 - 7:40 pm:
Though I've been a subscriber to Horse Advisor for a couple years this is my first post. We have an almost six year old fox trotter, Bay, gelding, 16 hands whose winter coat has grown in in a wavy, spotty pattern. It is quite noticable when light slants across him and the shorter haired areas are in shadow. The longer haired areas tend to be 2-3 inches by 4-5 inches, somewhat in line, with narrow shorter haired areas inbetween. The coat in general is thick and healthy and he seems plenty warm enough. He has good healthy feet, and is active, strong and healthy in general. This is the first winter this has occurred. We've had him since he was a yearling and we live in SW New Mexico in the mountains.
From mid May until early December we were in SW Colorado, and we took this horse and a mare up there with us. They were on good pasture there, with a little sweet feed/4-way grain in the mornings, and his winter hair started growing in in this spotty manner as it began to get cold while we were up there. We thought (hoped!) his winter coat would eventually grow in evenly, but it has remained in this pattern with growth apparently fully developed. We wonder if there is a nutritional problem, but he has always been out in pasture, here and there, winter and summer, with good grass hay and grain supplimenting in the winter and as necessary in the summer, and this is the first time for this to happen. The mare has a normal winter coat.
We'd appreciate any feedback at all on this...
John Fridinger- Gila, NM
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Dec 27, 2004 - 7:48 am:
Hello John,
This may be a early symptom of Cushingnoid disease for more see, Equine Diseases » Endocrine Disorders » Cushing's SynDrOme and Pituitary Tumors.
DrO
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Member:
Crzyhrse
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004 - 9:17 pm:
Thanks DrO... I will read what you suggest and think it through, and also look closely at the nutrition links in the article...
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