The Skin Functions

The skin is tough and elastic. The Skin is a sensory organ. The Skin will vary in thickness in different areas of the body according to rhe need for protection. Skin should always feel supple and should move freely over the structure in which it covers. The outer layer of skin (epidermis) is constantly dying and changing, and being replaced by new cells. The dead cells is the reason being why we groom horses regularly. Functions of the skin are: a) To protect the tissues/organs beneath from weather, infection, minor injury, damage from abrasion. b)to inform the brain of outside conditions. The Skin has many nerve endings enabling the horse to feel pain, touch, pressure, heat, cold. c)stabilizes body heat by warming and cooling itself.