The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Pets & Working Animals => Horses, ponies, donkeys & mules => Topic started by: faith0504 on January 10, 2011, 01:27:46 pm

Title: Winter coat is coming out
Post by: faith0504 on January 10, 2011, 01:27:46 pm

My girls have started to moult, the shetlands are shredding from there necks, but my big mare has gone full body moult, took her rug off and gave her a full body scratch( me one side OH on the other ) and we scatch her all over she loves it, but gosh we were covered in hair by the time we ahd done, i have explained to her it might be a wee bit early but its coming out like mad,

Has anyone else noticed any moulting?

Title: Re: Winter coat is coming out
Post by: Rosemary on January 10, 2011, 02:13:24 pm

Must be warmer where you are than here. My boys seem to ba hanging on to theirs.

Title: Re: Winter coat is coming out
Post by: shetlandpaul on January 10, 2011, 03:09:40 pm

could it be the rug. we have 8 shetlands and a cob/cross and they are all well fured up. it would be very bad if ours moulted before march/april.

Title: Re: Winter coat is coming out
Post by: faith0504 on January 10, 2011, 06:49:02 pm

my 2 mini shetlands dont have rugs on they are oh naturelle and they are showing signs of casting on there necks, i have warned them all its to early. its there first full winter in scotland so they might learn to keep it longer next year,

Title: Re: Winter coat is coming out
Post by: shetlandpaul on January 11, 2011, 09:00:24 pm

they should be ok for now. but watch them in early spring if you get a bad spell. you may just have to bring them in if they get to thin coated. as you say they will adapt.

Title: Re: Winter coat is coming out
Post by: faith0504 on January 12, 2011, 08:58:00 am

Thanks paul will bare that in mind, will keep a watchful eye on them  :wave:

Title: Re: Winter coat is coming out
Post by: ellied on January 12, 2011, 10:45:34 am

Very optimistic of them :o  Probably used to warmer if they've not wintered in Scotland before. 

None of my ponies (Highlands) are rugged and they're all woolly thank goodness.  I wonder if the rug on your other one is too heavyweight and might need a lighter one next year if they need rugged again?