Here's a horse health care question: What does it mean when your horse is shaggy rather than shiny in the spring?
Most horse owners expect to see their horses shed out their dull winter coats after the winter season is over, and
emerge with a shiny spring bloom. A shiny horse is a healthy horse. But what if spring has sprung and your horse is
shaggy rather than shiny? If so, then you may have a horse health care issue on your hands.
The quality of a horse's spring coat is an excellent horse health indicator because it gives you a good idea of how
your horse has come through the winter. The quality of the coat also predicts how well your horse will fare through
the summer, since a shiny spring coat is necessary to carry the horse healthily through to fall.
What to Do About a Shaggy Spring Coat
If your horse emerges from winter as a shaggy beast and refuses to shed out his coat during the spring, you may need
to consider horse health care issues like nutrition, parasite load, and chronic ailments like Cushing's.
Nutrition
Horse nutrition comes at the top of the list of factors to consider because your horse is literally what he eats. If your
horse has just experienced a hard dry winter, then he needs a lot of spring grasses and weeds to put the bloom on
his coat. If he doesn't get those spring greens, then he will likely remain shaggy unless you supplement his feed.
For instance, here in Texas we have had a hard dry winter followed by a dry cool spring. The spring grasses and greens
simply refuse to grow in these conditions, so my equines are literally starving for nutrition, despite having plenty
to eat. During spring my horses crave not only spring grasses, but also weeds like dandelion, clover, and burdock,
which clear the liver and stimulate the body's organ systems. My horses also seek the delicate seed heads on the tops
of fresh grasses, which provide the necessary oils to produce a sleek shiny coat.
Since nature is not providing all of these spring greens, my horses came out of winter with shaggy coats. To put a
bloom on their coats, as well as duplicate all the cleansing and stimulating actions of the spring grasses and weeds,
I am supplementing my horse's feed significantly. I feed:
- APA Blend: This blue green algae from Simplexity Health is bitter and has plenty of chlorophyll to clear the liver
and act as a system stimulant. This supplement also provides a wide range of minerals and trace minerals the horses need.
- Chia Seeds: These provide the essential fatty acids normally found in seed heads that contribute to a shiny coat.
- Digestive Support: To help the horses assimilate all the supplements, I support their digestive health with
enzymes,
acidophilus,
and bifidus from
Simplexity Health, or
KLPP from KAM.
During dry spells like the one we are experiencing in Texas, I double the dosages of all the above supplements to
really fill in the nutritional gaps. As a result I see quite a difference in my horse's coats.
Parasite Load
Many horse owners immediately deworm their horses at the first sign of a shaggy coat. While it is necessary to keep
a regular deworming program, parasites are not necessarily the cause of poor coat quality. As discussed above,
a strong nutritional program will go a long way toward promoting a healthy coat. If you do feel parasites are a
problem do a fecal test for parasites before using a dewormer.
Chronic Ailments
In older or constitutionally weak horses, chronic ailments like Cushing's are always possibilities that need to be
considered. If you suspect your horse may have a chronic condition like Cushing's, get a blood test to confirm the
diagnosis. Then support your horse with nutrition, homeopathy, and other holistic treatments. A Cushing's horse will
need the same kind of nutrition in the spring as described above, plus will need extras like coenzyme Q10, wheat
sprouts, and other antioxidants (learn more about Cushing's, IR, and Laminitis in our ebook). If your horse does have
a chronic ailment and you are not sure what to feed, consider getting a one-on-one nutritional consult to help you build
a customized feeding program.
Need Nutritional Help for Your Horse?
With all the "natural" and "organic" and "healthy" horse feeds and supplements on the market today, you may find your
head spinning! You may wonder which of those hundreds of feeds and supplements you should feed your particular
horse, and in what quantity. To help you clear up your confusion, check out these nutritional resources:
About the Author
Madalyn Ward, DVM, owns Bear Creek Veterinary Clinic in Austin, Texas. She is certified in Veterinary Homeopathy and Equine Osteopathy. Memberships include American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Veterinay Medical Association and the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy. She has authored several books and publishes the monthly newsletter, “Holistic Horsekeeping.”
Contact
Madalyn Ward DVM
11608 FM 1826
Austin, TX 78737
303-575-1170
www.holistichorsekeeping.com
www.horseharmony.com
www.horseharmonytest.com
www.yourhorsebook.com
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