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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:
Thread gallery
33
NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/10/2023 19:21

Cats don't have coats because they can have capes.

Why do horses get coats and cows don't?
Conkered · 17/10/2023 19:26

It's also quite hard to tell from an inexperienced eye what constitutes a fat pony! Tbh a lot of honey people aren't very good at it either! Lots and lots of overweight horses and ponies out there, rugged to the hilt, sadly. Horse skin doesn't stretch like ours does, so there are no rolls of blubber! But this makes for greater concern as the fat is all squished and compressed inside, making it even worse for internal organs.

Conkered · 17/10/2023 19:27

Honey people??? Horsey of course

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 17/10/2023 19:32

So horses don't get fatter they just get denser?

OP posts:
Conkered · 17/10/2023 19:33

Pretty much! They get rounder rather than wobblier Grin

Conkered · 17/10/2023 19:38

It's actually far healthier for horses to be underweight than overweight, but we all carry great angst that we're going to be reported to the rspca if a horse is lean, let alone skinny.
If a horse is unhappy and cold it will look all tucked up, kind hunched up and miserable and will shiver like we do. If it's none of those things and happily standing out, munching away in the pissing wind rather than in it's shelter, it'll be just fine.

therealcookiemonster · 17/10/2023 19:45

@noblegiraffe so what was your assessment of the body type of said horse? I know you shouldn't take a photo... but maybe a drawing?

also @mumsnet surely this is one for classics?

Westfacing · 17/10/2023 19:55

I'm a city girl.

Do horses ever get to have a sit/lie down?

Wrapunzel · 17/10/2023 19:57

I've enjoyed this thread and I have two horses and two ponies. They all differ! The elderly little pony needs to not be fat but also I worry about him being old and cold Grin I massively anthropomorphise with him.
By the way, don't think it was mentioned as to why some fly rugs are zebra print! They are meant to confuse horse flies who prefer dark colours. Stacks up with my experience, my grey (white!) pony isn't troubled whereas my bay horse is ravaged.

twistyizzy · 17/10/2023 20:07

My 20yr old TB is currently the only horse on the yard who isn't rugged. He won't get rugged until he gets clipped at the weekend.
Some of the fat natives are rugged already which is ridiculous! That's why we have an equine obesity problem in this country.

Valerianandfoxglovesoup · 17/10/2023 20:19

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.

Best response ever 😀

Woollymonster · 17/10/2023 20:24

noblegiraffe

Thank you for this thread which has really cheered me up.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 17/10/2023 20:36

therealcookiemonster · 17/10/2023 19:45

@noblegiraffe so what was your assessment of the body type of said horse? I know you shouldn't take a photo... but maybe a drawing?

also @mumsnet surely this is one for classics?

Horse body type? Like rugged and sexy?

The best I can manage is ‘it’s brown’ tbh. Maybe I’ll drive past more slowly tomorrow like some sort of horse kerbcrawler.

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 17/10/2023 20:36

We have one that can't keep weight on and one who can't keep it off. Very frustrating.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 17/10/2023 20:37

Woollymonster · 17/10/2023 20:24

noblegiraffe

Thank you for this thread which has really cheered me up.

Me too! I’ve been wondering for years. This thread is very educational.

OP posts:
HighlandCowbag · 17/10/2023 20:48

Ahhh bless you OP. It's a valid question if you don't know.

I have a highland pony and a freeloading outgrown by the kids welsh pony. Highland pony already been fully clipped once as she is regularly ridden and it was a sweat off between me and her in the late heatwaves. But is still coatless as its all grown back in now and waiting for a hairdresser to come. The freeloading welsh pony is also having a full clip now I have drugs from the vet that will stop him killing nice hairdresser. He jas a clip as his fluff stops him getting cold and burning energy and now he's a freeloader, he's a fat little shit.

He will be given a coat, but a rain mac instead of a neoprene sports jacket, a fleece instead of a duffel coat, and a parka instead of a full ski suit. He will be raging at it, really grumpy and aggy but thinner and healthier for it. The highland pony runs as hot as me, a perimenopausal fat lass so will get coats accordingly. She hates coats but doesn't read the weather forecast so I overrule her decisions which is easier than when dd was a coat refusing teenager.

Bovrilla · 17/10/2023 21:36

What is it with small fat welshies hating the hairdresser?!!

I had one of those as a kid, he was an absolute shit if he heard the clippers. Snorting little fat Welsh dragon 🤣🤣🤣

Actually, he was a little shit a lot of the time.....

HighlandCowbag · 17/10/2023 21:54

My little fat welshie hates everyone except me, my kids and his favourite groom tbf, he doesn't have prejudices. Hence him staying with me in his dotage, should have sold the little shit bag years ago when I would have got big money for his pointy toes and love of showing, and saved myself the livery bill and the work. Reality is now, he'd bounce back like a rubber ball if I sold him as 'good with kids' as he just wants to kill them all, and not many tiny adults knocking around that want to rode an 11.3h knobhead that bucks like stink when asked to canter.

And he's fat, takes the piss when you free school, won't ride and lead as he takes chunks out of me and my mare and has a habot of stopping dead and snorting at fucking leaves and shadows. Guy is an absolute dick.

AtmosAtmos · 17/10/2023 22:04

For those who own do you clip your horse yourself?

Never thought I’d be googling how to clip a horse but there were tutorials and guides on what clippers to buy. And the guides on types of clip and prices

This price list for different clipping tickled me - amputation seemed a bit drastic for a hair cut

Full clip (legs left on) £40.00
Full clip (legs off). £50.00

Price list of Mallory Equestrian | Mallory Equestrian

https://www.malloryequestrian.co.uk/prices.php

Floralnomad · 17/10/2023 22:16

I used to , we had mains clippers and battery ones but that was when I had 3 to do , and one of them was very hairy and needed doing regularly . The pony we have now is retired so doesn’t need doing . It’s a horrible job as the hair goes everywhere even if you wear a boiler suit .

DuesToTheDirt · 17/10/2023 22:24

For those who own do you clip your horse yourself?

Yes, I do. Quite a satisfying job.

Incidentally, not a single horse at my yard (out of about 30-40) is rugged yet. A handful have been partially clipped.

Conkered · 17/10/2023 22:36

Westfacing · 17/10/2023 19:55

I'm a city girl.

Do horses ever get to have a sit/lie down?

Yes! They like to lie down more than sit down, but they also sleep standing up! You catch the occasional goof sitting down like a dog, but it's not the norm. They sort of pause halfway as they get up and take a moment before heaving themselves up properly, but some like to sit like that for a while (there was a great meme about years ago which I've sadly lost).

alloalloallo · 18/10/2023 07:35

For those who own do you clip your horse yourself?

No. You know when your mum used to trim your fringe and it she’d have to cut it shorter and shorted to try and get it even and you’d end up with a wonky, extremely short disaster?

Well, that’s me with clippers. I’m shit at it so I stay in my lane and pay a very lovely lady £40.00 to do it for me.

Plus, the hair!! It’s gets everywhere. The only time I tried it was in my bra, in my knickers.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 18/10/2023 07:47

I love that there are horse hairdressers and horse laundrettes.

OP posts:
alloalloallo · 18/10/2023 08:38

noblegiraffe · 18/10/2023 07:47

I love that there are horse hairdressers and horse laundrettes.

They even get specialist willy washers! 😂