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  Discussion on Increased light for shedding
Author Message
Member:
Maggienm

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 21, 2006 - 10:13 pm:

I am thinking that if I turn the barn light on to increase the 'daylight' my horses recieve they should start shedding earlier.
Do you think it would matter if I used morning or evening light. How much extra light would make a difference? Two extra hours?
Thanks for your ideas
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 22, 2006 - 8:01 am:

As a matter of fact we are pretty certain it needs to be evening light started before the sun goes down. We have seen the recommendation of about 200 watts per stall, and on to 11pm but many barns seem to get by with less. However, you are starting a bit late for this, it takes about 60 days for the full effect and that may well take you into when the horse normally sheds. Start earlier next year.
DrO
Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 - 9:39 pm:

I've been told it needs to be atleast 16 hours. We have 9 month old QH gelding that went under lights November 28th. His breeders let him hair up after Colorado futurity in September. (Which he won, have to brag on him. He is my dream boy!!) He is like a HAMSTER. We are in Texas, and nothing here is even close to as hairy as him!

Stall lights come on at 5 am when still dark. He eats and goes out into his own "pasture" until after school when he is worked, sweated, rinsed, and put back up around 6pm. By then it's pretty dark here. His 300 watt light stays on until 11 pm. He gets daily wormer, and is VERY blanketed. Anyone have any suggestions on how to speed the hair loss? I am hoping to have him slicked off by mid-February. Have ordered hot water heater, but won't go in until after Christmas. :-)

I have attached a few pics. Several of you helped us figure out how to get him here. Thought you might like to see him.

Last night in Colorado:
Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 - 9:41 pm:

Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 - 9:43 pm:

Day one fitting, November 28th. "Before" shot!

Yesterday, trying to impress the mares at the other side of the arena.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 - 10:02 pm:

What happens if you clip a horse that already has it's full winter coat, but before the summer coat starts growing I wonder? I take it the summer coat starts around the middle of Jan. if I go by when the shedding starts. Would the winter coat grow back then if they are kept blanketed and under lights? Or would it ruin the summer coat? I know at the boarding barn I worked at (eventing) they did clip jobs in late Dec., the horses looked kind of rough, then a month or so later they had nice slick coats. They were not kept under lights, but did wear blankets of course.
Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 - 10:06 pm:

I've been told not to body clip b/c as a yearling, coat can be iffy anyway. Am going to "trim" his neck so that he doesn't develop any fungus from the sweats, but can't slip him slick like you would a weanling.
Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 - 10:07 pm:

Our horses won't naturally start shedding her until March or so. :-(:-(
Member:
scooter

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 - 10:34 pm:

Mine tend to go through two sheddings, when the daylight start getting longer mid-end of Jan the hair starts coming out slowly, almost like they start shedding the outside long hairs. Then in March the rest of the longer hair and the undercoat starts shedding, they usually don't finish up until mid May. Start shedding their summer coats end of July.

Wonder what the difference is in a yearling coat?
Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Friday, Dec 18, 2009 - 11:38 am:

I don't really know the reason why yearlings are more difficult. Maybe between foal and adult hair?? I was hoping someone out there had some secret tip to give me to speed this up! :-):-)
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