How a Horse deals with coat change

How a Horse’s winter coat change can affect mood, temperament and behaviour
As winter creeps in and the days get colder, we see a lot of changes in our horses. They start growing their thick, fluffy winter coats, and their routine often shifts too – maybe less turnout or a lighter workload. But along with these changes come some real nutritional needs that we need to stay on top of to keep our horses healthy and happy through the colder months.

Coat change is a natural, seasonal process for horses. When daylight hours decrease in Autumn the pineal gland produces more melatonin due to the longer nights, signalling the body to grow a thicker coat to prepare for colder temperatures. The winter coat is designed to provide better insulation and keep the horse warm.

This coat change process doesn’t happen overnight. It takes several weeks and varies from horse to horse but largely dependent on daylight changes.
In short, the amount of daylight, not temperature, primarily controls the timing of coat change in horses, helping them naturally prepare for seasonal shifts.

The coat change period can come with a few behavioural quirks

• Increased irritability: Shedding or growing a new coat can cause itchy, sensitive skin, making horses more irritable, especially during grooming.
• Low energy: The energy required for shedding or growing a coat may leave some horses feeling tired or sluggish.
• Increased grooming behaviour: Horses may groom themselves or each other more to relieve the itchiness caused by shedding or new hair growth.
• Discomfort under saddle: Horses can be more sensitive under saddles or girths due to coat changes, making them more reactive or uncomfortable when ridden.
• Playfulness or fizziness: Some horses become more energetic or playful, especially if you clip off their Winter coat due to them feeling lighter and colder air bringing muscle tension.
• Changes in appetite: Coat change may lead to an increase in appetite due to higher energy demands or a temporary decrease in appetite if they’re uncomfortable from shedding.

Whatever the change in your horse, keeping them happy and comfortable through nutrition and diet during the shedding or regrowth process will help them feel their best as the seasons change.

So just how do coat change and routine shifts impact your horse’s nutrition in winter and what can you do to support them through this transition.

Coat change means more energy needed

As the temperature drops, your horse’s summer coat starts shedding, and in its place, that cosy, thick winter coat starts growing. While the coat does a great job of insulating and keeping them warm, it takes a surprising amount of energy for their body to grow it and stay warm in the colder weather.

What’s happening?

The process of growing a winter coat and maintaining body heat in cold weather burns extra calories. If they don’t get enough fuel (calories), they can start to lose weight, especially when the temperature really dips.

What you can do:

• Increase calories: Depending on the weather, your horse might need 10-20% more calories in their diet to stay warm and maintain body condition.
• More forage: Forage, like good-quality hay or haylage, should be the main source of calories, since digesting fibre helps keep them warm from the inside out.
• Feed a good quality Feed Balancer: A feed balancer will provide all the vital nutrition that your horse needs and most importantly help them to utilise their forage more effectively.

Vitamins and minerals for a healthy winter coat
A horse’s winter coat isn’t just there to keep them warm; it also protects them from wind, rain, and snow. For that coat to be healthy and strong, your horse needs the right balance of vitamins and minerals. As nutrients in grass are severely depleted in Winter you should feed a good quality balancer to all horses. All Blue Chip Feed Balancers will address the increased requirement for the below vital nutrition to prevent a dull coat and weakened immune system.

• Vitamin E: helps keep your horse’s muscles, immune system, and coat in top shape.
• Omega-3s: Omega-3 fatty acids are great for improving coat quality and skin health.
• Biotin: To help prevent your horse’s coat looking brittle or lacking shine, biotin can support better hair growth and hoof health.

Clipping your horse
Clipping your horse for winter can make life easier when it comes to managing sweat and keeping them comfortable during exercise, but it also means their body is working harder to stay warm. That means we need to be mindful of their changing energy needs and adjust their diet accordingly.
Whether it’s increasing forage, ensuring they stay hydrated, keeping an eye on your horse’s weight, energy levels, and overall condition will help them thrive, even without their full winter coat.