Odd coat question...

[Dresseur]

Has anyone had a horse who's coat stands up on end, all the time? Miro's winter coat grew in oddly this year - he normally has a heavy coat, but this is fluffy. Like someone put him in the dryer with no dryer sheet. It's literally standing on end. Is this indicative of anything or just another "horses are weird" thing.

[Hayburner]

Sounds like he has static....

[Dresseur]

Hayburner, I wish, but I don't think it's that as there is not static shock when I brush him. Just soft fluff. I don't have a sheet or anything on him yet, but even on warm days, it's still sticking up.

[Tsavo]

Horses do that to insulate against cold. Did he start doing it with the first real cold snap?

I don't blanket because it doesn't really get cold enough in NC. My horse will fluff up in the cold as long as I don't blanket.

I do allow a waterproof sheet if he is shivering which occasionally happens if it is cold+wet. He doesn't shiver if it is just cold and he is dry and his coat is not matted.

[Dresseur]

Tsavo, no. It was still quite warm out (70's, in fact) and his coat was still standing straight up. It's the weirdest thing.

[Kirby's Keeper]

How old is he? It could be a sign of Cushing's. Kirby's summer coat was sticking up where his neck meets his shoulders. Nothing too crazy but like it had been blow dried the wrong way. I had him tested and he has Cushing's.

[Dresseur]

He's only 4. I would HOPE that he doesn't have Cushings!!! But it's something I'll ask my vet about for sure, especially since he was so large over the summer.

[Kirby's Keeper]

Kirby is 19 so he is in the right demographics. Your guy would be very young but never hurts to ask. I don't know if insulin resistance messes with coat texture. Fingers crossed that it is just a weird winter coat.