Horse Whiskers

Cats have whiskers, dogs have whiskers. Cowshave them now, so that should tell us something.
have whiskers. Horses have whiskers. I'd ventureThe whiskers are there for a reason or they
to say most every animal on earth has whiskers.would have vanished by now.
Whiskers seem to be the norm, a necessity. WhyI think the reason we clip, and I say "we" including
then do we clip our horse's whiskers? And are weme in the past tense, is because we think the
doing them a disservice?horse looks prettier without them, grander. It's all
From all my research, extensive to say the least,about looks. I doubt anyone has set out to clip or
I believe we are doing them a disservice. A horseshave their horse's whiskers to make him a
having whiskers is a natural thing. They arehealthier horse, to give them a simpler life, a
feelers, necessary when grazing, when drinkingbetter self image, to lighten the load, all of the
water, when eating grain or hay, when nuzzlingabove. It's all about looks! And unfortunately, the
one another. Horses can't see what's down therehorse has no say in the matter. One way or
at the end of their noses, they need feelers,another, be it clippers, scissors, or the ever so
hence the whiskers.handy sensitive skin disposable razors, those
When you look at the evolution of the horse, howwhiskers are falling by the wayside in the blink of
they have come to be the magnificent animalsan eye. Perhaps we should re-examine our need
that they are, we see that their conformation andfor the clean-shaven equine muzzle. Maybe, just
size has changed drastically. I think it's safe to saymaybe, we should listen to Mother Nature in this
they had whiskers way back when, and they stillregard.