During the winter a horse’s natural coat helps protect it from the elements and keep it warm throughout the cold and wet winter months. This is great for horses that live outdoors with little or no exercise, but for most horses, such as our therapy program horses, this thick winter coat can have the opposite effect.

When a horse perspires during exercise, the sweat can mix with the natural greases in its coat and cause the hair to become matted. This matting can be uncomfortable for the horse.  It is also more difficult for the horse to keep warm because the matted hair takes longer to dry and will clump together and allow cold air to get in through the gaps.

When our horses were shaved this season, LTA Carola Strozzi, went to the extra effort of creating designs on the horses’ hindquarters.  The designs include hearts, butterflies, footballs, lightning bolts, and teddy bears.  Thank you for such a fun idea, Carola!