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Isn't it weird how our horses pick that one day to let go of their hair? Speedy's let go day was Sunday.  It's snowing! He started shedding a few weeks ago, but it was just a few hairs here and there. Sunday's shedding was the type where you can pull the hair out by the handful. By the time I had gone over his body just one time, the ground was littered with piles of white hair.
This is not the most flattering photo of my usually photogenic boy: he's standing in a bit of a dip so he looks super downhill in his build. His normally bright white coat is looking rather dingy, and his silvery tail is looking quite thin and puny. The hair pile is pretty impressive though. We've changed our show plans a bit, so our first competition of 2016 is actually in two weeks. I sure hope most of that dingy winter coat is gone by then. No matter how clean he is, no amount of special shampoos can brighten an end of winter coat. Are horses in your neck of the woods shedding as heavily, or do they hold on to their coats just a little bit longer?
Ours started shedding a lot in the last few weeks, but they seem to be holding on to their hair for the most part (no pulling it out in clumps, at least not on my horse haha). I'm debating shaving off the rest of Penn's hair because a) I don't want to deal with his shedding, b) I don't want to scrape spring's thick dried on mud out of long hair, c) we're horse showing and he'd look super nice at the series finale if he was completely naked. I'm terrible, haha. I've had a body clipped horse for the past several years and I have thoroughly enjoyed skipping shedding season and all the things that come with spring and winter scruff. 3/2/2016 08:45:11 am
I am probably the only dressage rider who DOESN'T clip. :0)
jenj
3/2/2016 07:03:45 am
Ugh, mine are all still hanging on to it. I'm hoping Taran doesn't decide to dump all the hair at our show this weekend. Nothing more fun than a shedding white horse! 3/2/2016 09:02:00 am
Shedding white horses definitely make a mess. I feel your pain. :0) 3/2/2016 09:02:52 am
I actually don't mind as they look better and better each day. Just yesterday I noticed how slick Izzy's neck and shoulders are getting. :0)
I'm another dressage rider who doesn't clip :-). I use blankets whe needed but the temperature swings in the winters here can be pretty extreme and I know that my horse can adjust more quickly with her own hair than I can with switching up blankets all the time. 3/2/2016 05:32:51 pm
Sweatiness is certainly a springtime problem for us too. It was in the 80s this afternoon when I rode, but fortunately Izzy tolerates a quick evening shower. He was dry by the time I finished mucking stalls and feeding. A quick shower is certainly easier than rotating blankets.
I had to giggle a bit when I read your reply. We have the same basic problem with the hair and sweatiness, but the conditions and available solutions are pretty different: It was 35F and windy here when I rode last night, a quick shower would have hurt more than it helped ;-) Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. 
Photo by Lori Ovanessian
About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)
Bakersfield Dressage approved!
My favorite breeches!
FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
I love her stuff!
Watercolor Artist and Friend
National Rider Awards
USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013
State Rider Awards
CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
State Horse Awards
Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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