spring shedding

[Lynette Helgeson <helgeson@lansford.ndak.net>]

I live in North Dakota and I have noticed over the years that the horses
will start to shed once the cold weather is over. The are starting to
shed now. We have had a mild winter, so their shed is early. Sometimes
we can have -20 below F in Feb. and even March. They don't start
shedding then until April. So the shedding process never starts at the
same time each year, so I don't think it has to do with the lengthening
of the days. Also once they start to shed, we never get any more cold
weather. So since we are in Feb. and they have started to shed, spring
is going to be early this year. I always look for the shedding to start,
because it is a sign of spring to me. So that is why I have taken note
of this over the years. 

Lynette
Sunshine and in the 40's tomorrow. Look out horses, here comes the
saddles!

The Craig/Haisz family wrote:
> 
> I live in Eastern Ontario, where it has only gotten a little above freezing
> a few days so far.  Other horses have started to shed, but my new(last May)
> arab that spent his first 6 years in Southern USA, and the last 5 in Ohio,
> has not lost a hair.  All these horses live outside, with run-ins.
> 
> Is he waiting for the days to get longer?  This far north he could wait
> until June!  Will a horse used to longer days this time of year wait until
> he gets days of that same length before shedding his coat?
> 
> curious.   Alison Craig
> 
> > We noticed yesterday that some of our guys are starting to shed pretty
> good
> > already.  This prompted speculation as to when horses in less cold parts
> of
> > the country shed.  My bet is that a lot of shedding is caused by day
> length
> > changes and thus we will shed off more in a rush here in the northland
> than
> > those in more southerly climes.
> 
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=