Coat change of the horse

For horses, the coat change, which takes place twice a year, is a physical strain that should not be underestimated. The metabolism is working at full speed to produce the coat, and the horse’s nerves are on edge, as the shedding hair can cause severe itching. Find out how you can make this hairy time easier for your four-legged friend in our guide.

When does the coat change take place?

The start of the coat change is on the days of the winter and summer solstice. While the days become longer from 21 December, the length of the day shortens again from 21 June. With the pineal gland, which is responsible for the release of the sleep hormone melatonin, the brain of our horses has a sensor for the length of daylight. When the days become longer or shorter, hormones are emitted from the pineal gland that stimulate the production of the new coat.

Until the change of coat becomes visible to us, 2-3 months can pass since the beginning inside the body, because only when the new coat is reproduced, the extreme hair loss of the worn-out coat occurs. The condition of the new coat depends, among other things, on the breed, the type of husbandry, but also on the weather. As the change of coat is often accompanied by a loss of nutrients and demands a lot from the organism, the period is particularly challenging for previously ill or older horses.

Supportive feeding during the change of coat

Feeding and supplying minerals according to the horse’s needs is extremely important – not only during the change of coat, but all year round. Due to the increased need for energy and nutrients and the high stress on the metabolism and immune system, supportive supplementary feeding makes sense in many cases. However, this should be discussed with a veterinarian in advance.

A targeted administration of supplementary feed can have a positive effect on the skin, coat and the immune system and support the horse during the change of coat.

Careful dehairing with coat change aids

During the change of coat, our horses lose a lot of hair. By removing as much of the winter coat as possible during daily grooming, you can actively support them in this process and prevent itching and dandruff. Daily grooming also stimulates blood circulation, which in turn stimulates hair growth.

Removing horse hair from textiles

Once the hair has been removed from the horse’s coat, it often gets stuck in the rider’s clothing. Practical aids such as animal hair removers or animal hair and lint brushes, which can be used to easily remove loose hair from clothing, car seats and horse rugs, can help here.