I'm really glad this thread
started, as I was wondering the same thing yesterday. Of my two boys,
PG has less fat than Toc, and has leaner kind of muscle mass (I know
there is a scientific way of putting this, but I'm damned if I know it) :
Toc is built like a weight-lifter, PG like a swimmer, if you get the
picture.
What I find fascinating is
that PG has shed all of his winter coat already, but Toc's, whilst not long,
is still thicker than PG's. Both are blanketed the same, and kept in a
barn, so lights can't really be a factor. Could it be the type of
muscle each has developed, or the fact that PG has less obvious body fat
than Porky?
And as for hosing horses in cold weather - I
was told by an old Irish horsewoman that, if you are going to do it, use
cold rather than warm water as the latter opens the pores, and the horse
feels cold later. I have a brilliant
rug which I use after hosing - it has a sweat sheet inside, and a day sheet
outside, so it wicks off the water and keeps them warm.
But I still maintain that you can achieve
the same results with patience and elbow grease.
Regards,
Tracey
Tracey
My not so scientific theory on this is
that the "engine" or muscles of the horse are what keep them
warm...so the more conditioned animal would generate more warmth because it
actually burns the fuel/food it is given thereby creating heat. The
fat animal doesn't need the calories and possibly just stores or dumps most
of them instead of burning them....thereby creating a lot less heat.
Hmmm.....not a bad theory when I reread it. LOL
Shannon
I wonder if the better
conditioned horses were warmer because they/you/me/us have better
circulation if we are in good condition, less body fat etc.
Annie