blanket or no blanket?

I've heard both sides of it. Does a horse who is in an outdoor run with an open shelter need a blanket? He get's pretty fuzzy in the winter and he's never had one before but does anyone think he needs one? I know they're outdoor animals but I feel bad lol.

If they have a good winter coat and the ability to get out of the elements, I would think he would be fine.

Sonny will get a winter blanket won't because he doesn't get a full winter coat like some horse's do. The BO is great though and will take off the winter blankets if it's too warm, or put them on if it's too cold.

My horses have always been able to get out of the wind in the winter and get a nice coat… I don’t blanket. Last year we had a few days with -40F windchill and then a decent time with the core temp at 0 to -15F… my horses were fine. On the really cold days like that they got their food in the barn (not heated by any means) so that they didn’t have to stand outside to eat. If your horse seems to not being doing well in the cold though I wouldn’t hesitate to blanket. Just make sure you get a good fitting blanket and it gets removed and checked daily for any rub marks and a quick brushing.

our guys get sheets at 40F and heavy blankets at 32F....below 20F and they get double - they don't have as thick of coats as horses up north though

Yeah, I think if he has a nice, thick winter coat that should be just fine. Some horses don't really grow a big winter coat, so they would need to be blanketed.

I say no blanket only because you spend more washing the blanket as apposed to not having the blanket used at all

And plus there a pain in the butt to take on and off if you ride frequently.

Thanks. I don't even have a blanket for him yet anyway. He's already getting his winter coat. Hey how do you measure for a blanket again so I can get him one just in case? Isn't it from the center of the chest around his side to the middle of his tail?

^^ that's exactly right. If it's between numbers, always round up

I like to let the horses get a nice thick coat, and then have a rain sheet around to keep them dry if its supposed to snow or if its really muddy out and I know I am going to be up the next day. If its a really nice day, and there's no snow in the forecast then they go out with no blanket.