3 Ways to Help Your Horse Shed Out for Spring

Spring is great, shedding is not. As the days get longer, you will begin to see your horse shedding his winter coat. This process has probably already begun for horses in many parts of the country. Shedding is inevitable but your approach to speed up the process can be done a few different ways. 1. The Natural Process – The natural process is exactly what it sounds like – letting your horse naturally shed their winter coat. Horse owners that choose to do nothing about the shedding process will allow the coat to naturally fall out. The problem with this method, is that it takes MUCH longer than most methods. By allowing it to naturally shed out, your horse could possibly over heat on some days. Depending on where you are located, this method could work for you, but look into it first. 2. The Traditional Process – The traditional process uses some good old fashion elbow grease and TLC! Use a select number of grooming tools to shed your horse out. A few of these tools include a curry comb, shedding brush, body brush, shedding block, etc. Grooming your horse thoroughly for a few weeks will help loosen that winter coat. This is the most common and cost-effective method. 3. The Advanced Process – The advanced process is used by many horse owners that are experienced in this area. The advanced process involves body clipping your horse’s winter coat. In a few hours, your horse’s winter coat can be completely removed. After your horse is clipped, they should be bathed, brushed, and groomed normally. You should only body clip your horse if you know what you are doing. This is process takes a few hours at a time and there are many different types of clips that can be done. If you are not experienced in this, look into hiring a professional to clip your horse. The shedding method you use on your horse can be a number of different processes. Take into consideration the amount of time and money you plan on spending and make sure you choose what is best for your horse. Happy shedding! For more information on shedding your horse’s winter coat, visit: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=1813