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Horse changed color after move

2K views 11 replies 10 participants last post by  mls 
#1 · (Edited)
I noticed my Bay/White paint is looking very close to Black/White paint now. We just moved to NC and I figured it was stress, but its been about 3 weeks. His whole appearance looks diminished. I have kept him on same feed and hay. His grooming has been taken a backseat as there is no grooming area and he now decides he doesnt want to stand to be groomed. I still curry and brush him every few days but there is red clay here and it just seems to stick to him. His feet are horrible since the pasture has lots of rocks and pebbles. He had great feet, but thinking i might need to shoe him. You can see my post about critique when I first joined, and I will add a new pic of how he looks now.


I realize i havent taken many photos lately. And yes, hes still brown, but he was shiny and glimmery and healthy. Any ideaS?
This is compared to :

He looks so dull now
 
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#2 ·
Could it just be that he is getting his winter coat? I know my trail gelding's coat looks kind of lousy right now because the winter hair is starting to come in and he is two different colors. Actually, my foal is doing that too. They look rather moth eaten at the moment, but are perfectly healthy.
 
#4 ·
THR, that's what I was thinking. My horses are starting to look a little fluffy. It is the middle of September and the days are really starting to get shorter. Also, if your guy has even a hint of a sooty gene, the beginnings of his winter coat will generally be a smidge darker than his summer coat color. I will have to share a summer pic and a now pic of my boy Jesse, his neck is getting this dark, smokey color going when he is usually a rich gold color.
 
#7 ·
Temperature has nothing to do with winter coats; it's the amount of daylight.

The days started getting shorter right after the longest day of the year, which is in June. Horses start shedding out their summer coats then. You just don't notice it until late August or early September.

They also start shedding out their winter coats after the shortest day of the year, which is in December, because the days are getting longer.

Temps are immaterial. The length of days determines the shedding/growing of winter and summer coats.
 
#6 ·
My bunch is starting to get fuzzy too - and their coat is coming in a little earlier than in previous years. I hope that doesn't mean another bad winter - then again, maybe last winter scared them!
 
#9 ·
I guess it hadnt crossed my mind. He doesnt seem fuzzier but maybe so. And not to mention, I got him last winter with his full winter coat, last Feb, and at the time, when he shed out to his beautiful color, i thught it was because he was so much healthier. LOL OK, sorry for the useless post. I learned something new, and yes, i do believe you are all correct, its his coat coming in.
 
#11 ·
^^ exactly! if nothing else, hopefully it set your mind at ease a bit. My guy starts getting much much darker before he even fuzzes up for the winter. He goes from dark bay to black with seal points and then about 2 weeks later he starts to fluff. I'd say keep an eye on his overall demeanor but not to worry about it.
 
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