This is such an interesting topic. I can’t say I’ve noticed a bad smell with any of my current crew but I could probably pick who was who blind.
My first OTTB had such a distinct sweat smell - it was a very sharp, almost dirty smell. I could always tell which blanket or saddle pad was his. I would always have to wash his stuff more. I never got an answer for why. He didn’t have any health issues up until the end, and he lived into his twenties.
I’m so glad to read this, I thought I was going nuts! Out of my herd of four, the two bays and the chestnut all smell slightly different but in the same vein. And they don’t smell weird when I give them a bath/hose them off. The grey, though, always smells a bit weird, and has a very distinct wet dog smell to him when I’ve hosed him off.
When we gather cattle out of the brush to move them to other pastures, we always put a grey horse in front of them and cattle seem to follow them like little soldiers, out of the brush into the open and on right thru gates, meekly.
Other horse colors can work, but a grey is a failsafe one to have them follow quietly, without trying to scatter off.
We thought that is because of the way greys smell, maybe?
Like a wet dog smell with horse smell mixed in it is just right. 
How odd!
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
