Are chestnuts more sensitive?

HorseGurly143 · 07-25-2008, 02:09 PM

Someone told me that chestnuts tend to be more sensitive to skin ailments and allergic reactions then other color horses tend to be. Is that true? Why?

bnwalker2 · 07-25-2008, 02:12 PM

Not sure if it's true, but I have noticed that Sienna (who is a chestnut) seems to react more to mosquito bites and she seems to have more sensitive skin and is bothered by flies much more than any of the other horses.

Then again, the Belgians are basically chestnuts and they don't seem to be any more sensitive than the darker horses.

endurgirl · 07-25-2008, 02:25 PM

Never heard that.

Grays are susceptible to melanomas.

No1Dazy · 07-25-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnwalker2

Not sure if it's true, but I have noticed that Sienna (who is a chestnut) seems to react more to mosquito bites and she seems to have more sensitive skin and is bothered by flies much more than any of the other horses.

Then again, the Belgians are basically chestnuts and they don't seem to be any more sensitive than the darker horses.

This is what I have noticed too. The flies seem to LOVE chestnuts more than any other color.

Zeta · 07-25-2008, 02:30 PM

I have never heard that before but my chestnut reacts quite badly to bites, he comes up in lumps and bumps, whereas the two bays do not. There are other chestnuts at our yard and I have not noticed them being over sensitive to bites etc, so it may be a coincidence.

Mandzanita · 07-25-2008, 03:59 PM

I have heard it before, not sure if it's entirely true but I would think it has something to do with the notion that human "redheads" are also more sensative because of the light pigmentation in their skin being more sensative. Also dogs with pink or light brown noses (as opposed to black) are though to be more sensative as well. Something to do with the skin. Not entirely sure it's true for horses though.

pantha11 · 07-25-2008, 04:13 PM

Chestnuts - know as the Red Heads in the equine feild.

I have noticed when they are ill, injured, stressed or pushed to there limits, they do tend to be more temperamental/nervier than other coloured horses.

I have not however, found they are more susceptible to the above mentioned.

tbtrainer · 07-25-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandzanita

I have heard it before, not sure if it's entirely true but I would think it has something to do with the notion that human "redheads" are also more sensative because of the light pigmentation in their skin being more sensative. Also dogs with pink or light brown noses (as opposed to black) are though to be more sensative as well. Something to do with the skin. Not entirely sure it's true for horses though.

It is true, alot of chestnut horses have lighter skin than bays.

Dancers Mom · 07-25-2008, 05:01 PM

I have never had a problem.

HorseGurly143 · 07-25-2008, 05:26 PM

Some of the "skin ailments" I was kind of talking about was like reactions to bug bites and different topical treatments such as fly sprays, shampoos, and other things like that. I know about the red head thing, like how red heads react more to sun and stuff, but I would think that grey horses would react more than a chestnut would.

07-25-2008, 02:09 PM	#1
HorseGurly143 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellingham, Washington, USA Posts: 2,042 Images: 360 Blog Entries: 1	Are chestnuts more sensitive? Someone told me that chestnuts tend to be more sensitive to skin ailments and allergic reactions then other color horses tend to be. Is that true? Why? __________________ ~ Caitlin ~ A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. I've been snowballed x14!!!!!

07-25-2008, 02:12 PM	#2
bnwalker2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,589 Images: 54	Not sure if it's true, but I have noticed that Sienna (who is a chestnut) seems to react more to mosquito bites and she seems to have more sensitive skin and is bothered by flies much more than any of the other horses. Then again, the Belgians are basically chestnuts and they don't seem to be any more sensitive than the darker horses. __________________ ~Britni~ and: Ike- 6 yr old Quarter Horse gelding Sienna - 7 yr old Arabian/Quarter Horse cross mare Bob, Boomer, Thunder, Nick & Jack - The Drafts I've been snowballed!

07-25-2008, 02:25 PM	#3
endurgirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 2,398 Images: 227 Blog Entries: 5	Never heard that. Grays are susceptible to melanomas. __________________ I squatted with my spurs on!!! I got snowballed....and they throw like a girl!!!!

07-25-2008, 05:01 PM	#9
Dancers Mom Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: La Mesa, CA Posts: 1,503 Images: 48	I have never had a problem. __________________ Native Star aka Dancer = 7yo OTTB mare http://blossomvalleyequestrians.webs.com/

07-25-2008, 05:26 PM	#10
HorseGurly143 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellingham, Washington, USA Posts: 2,042 Images: 360 Blog Entries: 1	Some of the "skin ailments" I was kind of talking about was like reactions to bug bites and different topical treatments such as fly sprays, shampoos, and other things like that. I know about the red head thing, like how red heads react more to sun and stuff, but I would think that grey horses would react more than a chestnut would. __________________ ~ Caitlin ~ A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. I've been snowballed x14!!!!!

07-25-2008, 02:30 PM	#5
Zeta Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 522 Images: 17	I have never heard that before but my chestnut reacts quite badly to bites, he comes up in lumps and bumps, whereas the two bays do not. There are other chestnuts at our yard and I have not noticed them being over sensitive to bites etc, so it may be a coincidence.

07-25-2008, 03:59 PM	#6
Mandzanita Full Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca Posts: 47 Images: 8	I have heard it before, not sure if it's entirely true but I would think it has something to do with the notion that human "redheads" are also more sensative because of the light pigmentation in their skin being more sensative. Also dogs with pink or light brown noses (as opposed to black) are though to be more sensative as well. Something to do with the skin. Not entirely sure it's true for horses though.

07-25-2008, 04:13 PM	#7
pantha11 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Australia, Victoria. Posts: 1,593 Images: 23	Chestnuts - know as the Red Heads in the equine feild. I have noticed when they are ill, injured, stressed or pushed to there limits, they do tend to be more temperamental/nervier than other coloured horses. I have not however, found they are more susceptible to the above mentioned.

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