|
|
Discussion on Buffalo girl...
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
ekaufman
|
Posted on Thursday, Dec 6, 2007 - 9:58 pm:
I have a filly who puts on a RIDICULOUS winter coat. Several sets of visitors have remarked that something must be wrong with her, including (today) a pretty reputable local breeder. My question is, does this forum feel the same way? My vet claims to think the filly does this specifically to annoy me.
She has had regular worming: monthly as a foal, and is now (18 months) on the adult schedule-- yearly for tapes, and according to the HA rotation. She does shed out, though she isn't the quickest. Otherwise she seems like a typical awkward baby.
My guests are making me paranoid-- what do you guys think?
Winter shot
Summer shot
|
Member:
juliem
|
Posted on Thursday, Dec 6, 2007 - 10:26 pm:
Looks about like my 18 month old AQHA filly. My weanlings are even furrier, as is my Shetland pony. We have relatively mild winters--lots of night time temps below 20 degrees, and most days getting above freezing for at least a bit. Doesn't look abnormal to me, especially for Colorado!
|
Member:
mrose
|
Posted on Thursday, Dec 6, 2007 - 11:06 pm:
She looks fine to me, also, esp. for a horse in a cold climate. Our horses get very furry in the winter if we don't blanket plus put them in the barn. They look like big teddy bears. Our show horses have to be kept under lights early a.m. and evenings, wear body slickers, hoods, and heavy blankets, and still get a little hairy in the winter months. Our neighbors horses that have run-in shelters, look a lot like your girl. I wouldn't worry about her. In fact, I think she looks kind of cute.
|
Member:
paul303
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 12:41 am:
Looks good to me, too. By the size of the pile of snow in front of her, I'd say she needs every hair she can grow.
|
Member:
paardex
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 4:26 am:
She looks fine to me, I've had the same coats without the snow even when stabled during the night. Other ones didn't grow a coat like that shivered and needed blankets, who's healthy and sensible? It was often family related though even some stallions gave foals with less or more coat.
Jos
|
Member:
scooter
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 6:25 am:
Mine look like that too.  . How old and what breed is she?
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 7:17 am:
Elizabeth, she looks fine but if you are concerned about this have a fecal from the foal checked just prior to the next deworming.
DrO
|
Member:
canter
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 7:34 am:
Yikes, Elizabeth! All that snow already?? She doesn't look any fuzzier to me than many of the horses at my barn.
|
Member:
ajudson1
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 8:48 am:
Looks good to me too. Some of mine are fuzzier than that. Glad of it, will be below zero tonight with the windchill, I doubt any will need blankets.
|
Member:
hpyhaulr
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 8:55 am:
My Christmas wish for you:
I hope you can learn to trust you gut instincts as much as your filly trusts them.
I hope you take these people off the Christmas list and that will enable you to enjoy your filly.
We all have enough anxieties trying to do what we believe is right for our 'kids'. You don't need to import anxieties from self proclaimed know-it-alls who really know just enough to make you feel unsure of yourself.
|
New Member:
smacemon
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 12:34 pm:
Lukas, my 19yo Appendix QH is also one of the "really furry" variety (1.5-2"). Odd because we really don't get very cold here in the Silicon Valley. Each year I re-affirm with the vet that his coat isn't a sign of any mysterious disease, and then I have fun with it. Right now he's got a star clipped into the hair on his butt. As we get closer to Christmas, it will have rays like the Star of Bethlehem... When friends and strangers tell me that 1: he has Cushings, 2: I need to move him to a warmer/colder climate, 3: I need to body clip him and use a blanket, etc. I look them straight in the eye (with a twinkle in mine) and tell them I feed him a special diet to encourage the growth because in the spring when he sheds out I collect and spin his hair, and would they like a sweater? (I have spun his sheddings - makes really bad yarn!) Mostly, I've learned to ignore those "helpful" comments.
Have fun with your very cute youngster!
Shirley
|
Member:
imogen
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 1:52 pm:
Erm, Elizabeth, that's bald by Irish draft standards...
Imogen
|
Member:
rubysmom
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 2:22 pm:
What about the horse that's born in SoCal, has NEVER seen snow or sustained frigid temps and grows so much coat he needs full body clipping 3-4 times a season. (from late August to End of Dec).
His blood has been checked, he's wormed, extremely healthy, (knock wood), sound and is worked at least 5 times a week under saddle. His coat (both clipped and unclipped) is smooth and blindingly shiny and soft. Got him as a 6 year old and he's 11 now, and still grows a coat that would make a Yak proud.
I joke around that he's got a Freisian in the woodpile somwhere back in his ancestry. However, I do have his pedigree and I can't find a Yak or a Friesian anywhere in it. <sigh> It's all thoroughbred and westfalen, so go figure.
I think some horses are very sensitive to changes in daily light, and they are just pre-disposed to growing mondo haircoats. I"m just glad he actaully seems to like being body clipped and dozes while I work. <sigh>
|
Member:
ekaufman
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 7:12 pm:
Thanks guys. My gut is that she's fine, but I always worry about "breeder's blindspot" when folks start telling me she looks weird (which she does-- it doesn't help that she prefers to lay out in the poo, so the texture and color of her coat is, well, crappy).
20' and plenty of snow today-- guess which yearling looks best?
|
|
|
