Fit Through the Coat Change

Fit Through the Coat Change Coat change – what lovely hair you have It’s the time of year when riders had better vacuum themselves before getting into the car, coming home, lying down on the sofa or quickly popping to the shops after the yard. Hair upon hair – as far as the eye can see and in even the tiniest crack. We horse owners are still finding hair from the last coat change when the next one is already starting. But how does the coat change actually work, how can we support our horses and what can we do about all that annoying hair? Who’s been turning the clock? Every year, 21 December marks the solstice and with it the start of the change from the winter coat. As daylight increases, horses and ponies switch hormonally to the new metabolism. The pineal gland in the brain is primarily responsible for this, because this endocrine gland produces the hormone melatonin, which controls the biorhythm, reproduction and the coat change, among other things. What many people don’t know: the coat change doesn’t start when the winter coat is shed, but many weeks beforehand. How does the coat change work? The growth of “new” summer coat and the shedding of the winter coat vary from horse to horse. Some start earlier, others later. This process can last a few weeks or even several months. Certain weather and temperature conditions play a decisive role. The horse’s state of health also has an important influence. If the horse is well prepared, it can get through the coat change quickly and without problems. The change from winter to summer coat is considerably more draining than the coat change in summer, because the body has to draw on the reserves it built up earlier and performs at its peak. A hairy feat of strength that costs a lot of energy and nutrients. Tip The rub side of our grooming gloves is especially good for "de-hairing" the sensitive areas of the horse’s head. Feeding and care A healthy gut together with a strong immune system and a good supply of minerals and vitamins are the best basis for a good coat change. Alongside zinc, copper and manganese, magnesium, sulphur and silicon are important. Then there are vitamin E and the B vitamins folic acid and biotin. All of them ensure smooth cell division, which is needed for new hair growth and good blood flow to the skin underneath. To supplement “normal” feed, courses of herbs or mineral feeds are a good idea here – depending on requirements. Feeding and the supply of important nutrients have a fundamental influence on all of the body’s metabolic processes and on the horse’s coat change. A feed advisor you trust can give you good support here. Furthermore, you can help your horse by grooming, grooming, grooming to rid it of its annoying, loose and itchy hair. Owners of grey horses often call it: “It’s snowing.” There is a wide range of curry combs, rubber grooming tools and products suitable for coat care and grooming. During the coat change, pay particular attention to any visible abnormalities that show up in the coat and on the skin. Check daily for small skin changes and injuries. But: please don’t overdo the grooming or washing, as the natural balance of the skin’s acid mantle and the oily sebum layer in the coat should be preserved. That way your horse is well protected against external influences, and unwanted germs or fungi will find it hard to take hold on the skin. Coat change problems Unfortunately, the coat change doesn’t go smoothly for every horse. Difficulties show up in horses with allergies or metabolic diseases. Horses with sweet itch, respiratory diseases, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), Equine Cushing’s Syndrome (ECS) or laminitis in particular suffer from coat change disorders. But horses and ponies with free faecal water, diarrhoea, fungal skin infections or mud fever also often suffer from coat problems all year round and show a delayed coat change. Older horses have a particularly hard time. They risk losing weight, and hair production costs a lot of energy, which saps their strength. During this time, the immune system of senior horses is weakened and especially susceptible to disease. Important to know: one coat change is barely over before the next one begins. Your horse has an advantage if you prepare it early for this demanding time. That gives it the best chance of getting through the coat change without problems. A laundry bag protects the washing machine drain from blockages, which hair can quickly cause. “A quick hoover, please!” So that you don’t find your four-legged darling’s lovely hair in your own wardrobe, we recommend de-hairing boots, rugs, saddle pads and the like before washing. This works well with rubber gloves or the Magic Brush, for example. A laundry bag can also help stop the hair from spreading. At the same time, it protects the washing machine from blockages caused by hair. Our tip: the good old window squeegee. It’s not only good for drying smooth surfaces, it also reliably picks up horse hair. Simply run the squeegee over the inside of your stable rug, cooler rug or saddle pad to remove the hair. Make sure the squeegee’s rubber blade is as narrow as possible – then the little rolls of hair collect on it particularly well. Any more questions? Feel free to get in touch with us at any time! Your EQM Team