THE REASON WHY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 61, 10 April 1946, Page 6

THE REASON WHY

HORSES LOSE THEIR COATS IN WINTER \ A newspaper has been asking how it is that, while we put on overcoats for the winter we strip the horse by clipping its hair. The answer is that the animal’s heavy coat is Nature’s provision for winter in a state of shelterless freedom. When wild or at liberty horses do not constantly exert themselves by galloping; their grazing habits make it necessary for them to move slowly. Moreover, they have to lie in the open, so the heavy covering which the horse grows in autumn is essential to health and comfort. When horses are set to work, however, their efforts make them hot; and if they were blanketed in a great mantle of hair they would sweat intolerably, and then, having to A and still for intervals, would run the risk of severe chills before their coats dried. So we clip their coats for th iir comfort while at work, throw a rug over their loins when are are standing in the open in harness, and at nights give them blankets to take the place of Nature’s protective covering. Thus the horse is prevented from being overheated when at its toil, and safeguarded against cold when at rest.