THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE ON THE THERMAL INSULATION PROVIDED BY THE COATOF A THOROUGHBRED FOAL

1. The thermal resistance of the hair coat from the torso of a Thoroug hbred foal was determined in relation to its moisture content. 2. When dry and combed, the thermal resistance of the coat was about 80 s m(- 1). The thermal resistance of the dry coat decreased slightly with inc reasing air temperature (range 3 to 20 degrees C). 3. Moisture (about 350 g per unit surface area) reduced the coat resistance by two thirds , to about 25 s m(-1). The wet coat took about 3 h to dry. During this period, the coat resistance increased with decreasing moisture conten t. 4. After drying, the coat remained compressed and its resistance wa s only about 50 s m(-1). Compression did not have a significant effect on the insulation per unit depth of hair.