Red headed people have sensitive skin, so do horses.  It’s not something you automatically think about.

I have a beautiful, copper-colored gelding at the barn, who is allergic to everything.  At age 26, he is getting worse.  It wasn’t so bad when he was by himself, he would stand under the trees in the summer and stay cool.  If there was a tree in the pasture he would rub so I kept him in a pasture without trees, but there were branches hanging over the fence.  He was terribly lonely.  He had been out with another old horse and they made the perfect pair.  They both enjoyed taking naps and hanging under their favorite tree.  His friend was sold to a young girl who needed a horse like him.  Then depression set in.

So for several years we were hoping for a friend for him.  Well the six-year-old came in and he had a friend.  One who would rear, run, chase, and play.  I wasn’t keen on that idea, but he loved it.  The six-year-old looks like swiss cheese, but they both have a great time and Copper is in charge.

However, they go out and play and graze all day.  They are both good sweaters, but it’s taking a toll on Coppers skin.  Where he is sweating on his back, with the sun baking on it, he is losing his hair.  I’ve had horses with sunburn on their nose before but this is a new adventure.  Because there are two of them they are in a bigger pasture with trees.  I feel so bad for him.

I’ve been rinsing his coat and applying a skin conditioner, but the vet will be here in two weeks and once again she’ll give him an allergy shot.

It’s been a really hot humid summer so far and they are all sweating, thank you God.  What I am noticing is that where they are sweating, they are getting bleached more than usual.  I guess it has something to do with the salt laying on their hair.  Don’t know that for a fact, just seems that way.

Putting him back in his old pasture is not an option, its only two and half acres and is not big enough for two to graze for nourishment, they will take it down too quickly .  I have another old horse I can put him with (which would be more quiet like he used to be) but those two bad boys would not accept being separated at this point.

I think I’m more bothered by his condition than he is.  His owner is fine with it, as long as Copper is having a good time.

So things go along as they are until the fall gets here.  This happens in December, so I have a long way to go.  Even in Florida they start losing their summer coats and start getting their winter coats in August, so we’re almost there.

His coat has always been on the thin side, but with a beautiful shiny copper glow.  He’s pretty much bald on his back so I have to watch him closely.  Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you realize you haven’t.

I know, many of you are thinking, I wish my horses had two and half acres, but this is what they eat, with a little grain on the side.  Hay only when they are in the stalls, which is only during a storm.  They are pasture fed.  We fertilize, and they really maintain their weight.

So onto the next adventure.  I wonder what that will be?  Don’t ask.