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Original poster

Why do horses get coats and cows don't?

258 replies

noblegiraffe · 13/10/2023 19:59

Today I was driving in the pouring rain past a horse field, and they were all, bar one, wearing coats. Then there was a cow field, obviously no coats.

Which led me to wonder why some animals get coats and others don't. Who decided that horses need coats, and why? Was the coatless horse just like a cool teen who will not wear a coat however much you tell them to, or a rock-hard horse who doesn't actually need one?

Why do some dogs get coats and others not? Did they try to sell coats for cats but cats said no way?

Do other animals get coats?

OP posts:
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33
CutiePatooties · 13/10/2023 21:16

noblegiraffe · 13/10/2023 20:04

Cows are brought in to stop them getting cold? That's pretty sweet.

Will horses also be brought in? Or just left outside in their coats?

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Thank you, I needed a laugh today and this just tickled me.

Like awww, cows, come in… have shelter.

Horses, no! You stay out there in your coats! 😂 😂

Conkered · 13/10/2023 21:19

I might be known to call her Hairy Mary in the winter 🤭

Why do horses get coats and cows don't?
Toddlerteaplease · 13/10/2023 21:19

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 13/10/2023 20:02

I’ve always thought of horses as being more fashion forward.

Swishy hair, shiny hooves, etc.

Cows tend to stick with the 80s style black and white. Classic, but kind of dull.

🤣🤣

alloalloallo · 13/10/2023 21:20

Cherrysoup · 13/10/2023 21:11

A relatively clean day. You can see the ‘smooged in a puddle’ look here.

My old lady was a puddle smooger too.

She was a horror for it.

Why do horses get coats and cows don't?
Notcookie · 13/10/2023 21:24

Look at this cutie. Doesn't look too dissimilar to a Highland cow.

Why do horses get coats and cows don't?
Conkered · 13/10/2023 21:25

Notcookie · 13/10/2023 21:24

Look at this cutie. Doesn't look too dissimilar to a Highland cow.

😍

Cherrysoup · 13/10/2023 21:28

alloalloallo · 13/10/2023 21:20

My old lady was a puddle smooger too.

She was a horror for it.

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Classic and always before a clip so the cobby beard was nice and long!

Puffinshop · 13/10/2023 21:29

I live in Iceland and the horses are hard as nails. Out pretty much all winter through blizzards and deep frosts and never a rug in sight. They do get hay though.

The cows are cosy in the cowshed - they go mental with the excitement when they are let out in the spring.

Bovrilla · 13/10/2023 21:33

Icelandic horses are amazing. Spent a week trail riding on them and a fantastic experience. Sure footed, tolt was so comfy.

twistyizzy · 13/10/2023 21:36

@Whatnowfgs just an FYI, double rugging can cause issues and in this country it really shouldn't be needed as it hardly gets cold enough. Horses thermoregulate in a different way to us, they create heat by eating. Therefore if a horse has constant access to hay in winter then that's how it will create heat. Too many rugs can have the opposite effect to the intention.
My 20 Yr old TB never has more than a 200g rug on even when it drops to -10 (which it rarely does).

Haffiana · 13/10/2023 21:52

Will no-one think of the poor bison?

MsJuniper · 13/10/2023 21:59

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 13/10/2023 20:02

I’ve always thought of horses as being more fashion forward.

Swishy hair, shiny hooves, etc.

Cows tend to stick with the 80s style black and white. Classic, but kind of dull.

Cows are cooler though because they wear leather jackets.

reallyworriedjobhunter · 13/10/2023 22:10

And what about hats?

Swizzel · 13/10/2023 22:17

I misread the title of this thread and thought it said 'goats' not 'coats...

Alltheyearround · 13/10/2023 22:34

Cats require.... cloaks. To swish mysteriously into the night.

Coats for goats and cows having a mid season coat have made my night.

Thanks for this thread.

Squirrel28 · 13/10/2023 22:46

I know someone who was told that their horse couldn’t wear it’s orange and purple rug with hedgehogs on because said horse lives in a National Park and it was Creating The Wrong Impression.

I don’t know if the person who wrote the rules about horses and rugs was confused, and thought they were a permanent fixture, like someone painting their house bright pink.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 13/10/2023 22:50

DuesToTheDirt · 13/10/2023 21:03

I'd never call them New Zealand rugs... To me, NZ rugs are what we used back in the 70s - canvas, heavy when wet, and very outdated. Don't think I've heard the phrase used in years.

A lot of non-horsey people call them blankets, but they're not blankets either.

They're just "rugs".

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They aren't "just rugs" my horse has her mac, her anorak, her big coat, and her jammies 🤣

stickybear · 13/10/2023 22:54

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 13/10/2023 20:02

I’ve always thought of horses as being more fashion forward.

Swishy hair, shiny hooves, etc.

Cows tend to stick with the 80s style black and white. Classic, but kind of dull.

This has really tickled me, thank you Grin

crazymare20 · 13/10/2023 22:59

Horses pretend to be cold to get up to mischief.

Why do horses get coats and cows don't?
gwenneh · 13/10/2023 23:08

Cherrysoup · 13/10/2023 21:07

You have to get them to lie down and smooge their face (both sides, mind) in a puddle, so their excessively long stupid eyelashes (that stick through cheap fly masks so you have to buy the expensive darted ones) glue together in muddy clumps that you’re not then allowed to remove because’OMG! DON’T TOUCH MY EYES areyoutryingtokillmewoman!’ even though he loves rubbing his face on you.

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This chaos goblin thanks you and says he will try these tips later this week.

Why do horses get coats and cows don't?
Kweenbee · 13/10/2023 23:28

You can get coats for cats. We had a little camouflage one for boycat when he was a kitten, partly as it was just at the start of the pandemic and he was so little and it was a wee bit cold. He tolerated it as he's a stoic little chap but it's fair to say he didn't like it...

Cherrysoup · 13/10/2023 23:52

gwenneh · 13/10/2023 23:08

This chaos goblin thanks you and says he will try these tips later this week.

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Ha, look at the naughtiness! 'I'm a gonna escape from here and lead you a merry dance around the yard'.

IamRa · 14/10/2023 00:47

Interestingly, light-coloured cows that stand in the sun all day can sunburn. They benefit from a good coat of ... sunburn lotion. Not even kidding.

CloudyAgain · 14/10/2023 07:19

DuesToTheDirt · 13/10/2023 21:03

I'd never call them New Zealand rugs... To me, NZ rugs are what we used back in the 70s - canvas, heavy when wet, and very outdated. Don't think I've heard the phrase used in years.

A lot of non-horsey people call them blankets, but they're not blankets either.

They're just "rugs".

Show quote history

I hated those canvas rugs and they were so heavy!

I used to work as a checkout operator from the age of 16 after school. I recall when the weatherbeetas first came out and they were so expensive and so beautiful! (Like a duvet coat for horses). I worked extra shifts for weeks so I could buy one for my prize and joy Warmblood.

I'm not sure how long it lasted. But I know i put it on him the first night and returned the next morning to find it shredded and wrapped around his front legs.