Hello, Tri-W readers! We have had some warmer, beautiful days recently and some hints that spring is just around the corner. Not only are the flowers starting to bloom but I’ve noticed the surest sign at the barn that a new season is coming. What is it, you ask? Horse hair! Everywhere! So much horse hair, on my clothes, on my hands and sometimes in my mouth!

Each year in the fall a healthy horse will grow an extra thick coat to stay warm in the winter. At the end of winter, the horse will start to let go of that heavy coat to prepare itself for the change of season. Contrary to what you might think, shedding is not triggered by temperature. It’s linked to photoperiods: As the hours of daylight increase, a horse’s winter coat begins to loosen and shed. The shedding process started way back in late December, but you usually won’t see the obvious, hairy results until now. Although this extra hair is a nuisance to us when we are brushing our horses, it is actually a complex physiological process that tells you a lot about your horse’s health.

If your horse does not shed out it’s winter coat it could be a sign of a problem and you should notify your vet. Otherwise, try not to breathe too deeply while brushing your horse for the next few weeks! Getting horse hair in your nose is the worst!