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Blanketing a Horse?

3K views 17 replies 11 participants last post by  HorseloverZB 
#1 ·
Hi everyone!
We seem to always have a rainy and windy winter, so I was wondering about blanketing. My horses sometimes run around outside while it is raining, instead of staying in their barn, so their hair is always wet! I am afraid that since their hair is laying flat that they are going to become chilled. I do not clip them and they are brushed everyday so it would be taken off and they would be checked. Should I get a waterproof/breathable blanket? Or do you think they will be ok?
Thanks!
~Darien :)
 
#2 ·
It's a personal preference..there is no right or wrong answer.

Some people blanket some don't.
 
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#4 ·
This topic has been coming up a lot lately xD

It is a personal preference, and a customized one depending on the horse. Like right now, I'm about to head out and take Indie's blanket off... because we had freezing winds last night, but are popping back up into the 70's this week- so leaving her in the cold was unnecessary since she won't need a winter coat for a few more weeks, it'd only mess up with the funky hot weather that came back through.
 
#5 ·
I only blanket when taking them from a warmer climate to cooler like heading into the mountains in early spring. Your horse will fur up nicely for winter and don't need blankets for help. I live in the rainy NW and spent 3yrs in NM where it gets sub zero, they do fine without. Key is for them to have a place to get out of the wind.

If you do shave or keep them under lights so they don't grow hair (show person thing) then they'll need a blanket.
 
#6 ·
We don't blanket unless it's some sort of special circumstance. Horses will grow a winter coat as thick as they need it. I've been told that blanketing (like many other things) is more of a comfort to the owner than the horse.

I have actually heard that blanketing in cold weather is more detrimental. Something about the hair not puffing up/out and insulating them..? At any rate, I don't know how true that is, honestly.

As far as rain goes, unless you have some sort of plastic rain sheet, I would not put a blanket on them. Standing out in the rain in a blanket means that in a few minutes, they are going to be wearing a sopping wet rag that will do nothing whatsoever to protect them from the wet.

If you're really worried, you could bring them in the barn if you have the option. As long as they have a shelter and the option to get themselves out of the wet and cold, I wouldn't worry too much if they decide not to use it. A lot of them don't.
 
#11 ·
As far as rain goes, unless you have some sort of plastic rain sheet, I would not put a blanket on them. Standing out in the rain in a blanket means that in a few minutes, they are going to be wearing a sopping wet rag that will do nothing whatsoever to protect them from the wet.
If it's a stable blanket then this is true. However, turnout blankets (the more common kind) are made to be on outdoor horses and are therefore waterproof or very water resistant.
I live in the rainy rainy NW and I blanket my mare. Never have I had a blanket soak through. I have had them get a little damp on the inside of a patched hole, but usually it's not wet and if it is wet, I just switch blankets.

I blanket my mare but that's mostly because she's older and she gets angst-y if it's wet out and she's not blanketed.

I think the most important thing about blankets, that generally gets overlooked, is that you can't just stick a light weight blanket on a horse in 30 degree weather and expect them to feel warmer. The weight of the blanket (how much "fill" it has, aka light weight, med weight, heavy weight) determines what temperatures it should be used in. There are blanketing guides all over the internet so I won't explain that here (just search "blanketing guide" on Google). If you live in a relatively temperate climate, you could probably get away with just a medium weight blanket with maybe a fleece cooler to layer under it if it gets really cold.
Personally, I think that if your horses seem fine without blankets and they aren't losing weight from the cold, they'll probably be fine blanket-less. :)
 
#7 ·
I don't blanket my horses. if the weather is going to be rather nasty i will keep them in overnight then let them back out in the morning. they have a run in if they want but they much rather just frolic in the rain and snow. if i ever look out and they are all in the run in and shivering (which i have yet to see) then i would bring them all in and dry them off. I live in NY where we get a lot of freezing weather but not very often below zero.
 
#9 ·
Yes hay is very important to a warm and happy horse, I am assuming you have a nice structure for your horse to get out of the wetness and wind? If so then you probably do not need a blanket. Not everyone is as lucky, my stall is still under construction, and the tree's she usually use are in a pasture that is closed for MAJOR fence maintenance, so a blanket in that case would be necessary in freezing rain.

But like I said, it's really a customize per horse sort of care, I don't think there is really any one rule for any one horse :lol:
 
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#12 ·
I blanket my horses in summer only for showing purposes. Blankets in winter even though we have extreme cold temp,has been a few exceptions but generally rarely blanket. This article sums up the debate pretty well:D
Horse Care: To Blanket or not to Blanket by Cherry Hill
I think in alot of cases the blanket serves more purpose to make the owner feel better,rather than the horse:wink:
 
#13 ·
While blanketing is not a necessary thing in most cases, I still blanket one of my horses. I use him for drill team where he gets hot and sweaty during cold evening practices and it makes it much easier to cool him out when he isnt all fluffy with winter coat.
 
#14 ·
I think it just depends on the horse/person preference. Bev has like 3 different blankets for around winter time that I switch or double up on depending what the weather is like since it tends to fluctuate a bit (so annoying!).

since the start of October I've had a waterproof medium weight turnout on her, but in a week or so I will need to start doubling up with her lightweight stable sheet under that, and then if it gets really cold she has her mid heavy weight, also waterproof.

Sometimes we have rainy winters all the way through and +10c. Other winters it can be windy/snowy and -20. you just never know, lol.
 
#18 ·
Many people have said that horses should be fine without blankets as long as they have shelter and alot of hay, and it is totally true(depending on the horse). The problem is, is that I am the one that is worried lol! They are my babies and I'm always afraid they are going to be cold, eventhou they are pretty fat! They are both in very good health, but I am worried because just a few days ago, it has already hailed and many places already have snow. My geldings winter coat doesn't seem to be very thick, but it could be because I compare him to my wooly mammoth shetland pony hahah. I'm sure they will be fine, but I might get some blankets just incase :)
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