[horseluver50]

When I get my horse, i will be riding her during the winter. Mainly in an indoor arena, but it isnt heated.
I am wondering, when she gets sweaty after I untack her.. would she get super cold?
It gets to -30 degrees celsius here, but i prob wouldnt ride on those days..
It is normally about -15 degrees celsius or so on the average day.

Should I get a blanket/sheet of some sort, to put on her after i ride her?
Should she be blanketed all the time? If so, what type of blanket would be best for us?

Also, it is going to snow soon as well..
Thanks

 

[StormyBlues]

If you are going to be working her hard enough to sweat, then you probably need to clip her. I live where it gets around 30 Farenhite, and I blanket at night on my horses who arn't clipped.

 

[horseluver50]

Clipping makes her warm?
What type of blanket do you use?
Thanks

 

[1dog3cats17rodents]

Yes, she will get cold. If you don't plan on clipping her (and also if you do) you should buy a cooler. It's a warm fleece or wool sheet you put on her while you are walking before and after the ride, then remove while you trot and canter. If you don't clip, you should also consider buying one or two anti-sweat sheets to put under the cooler to absorb sweat. Once the sweat sheet is wet, remove it and put on another (if you have two).

SHe should NEVER go to bed wet, but it can take hourse to dry in cold weather. Clipping might be your best bet if she seats easily, in which case you need several blankets to keep her warm when she's not being ridden.

 

[StormyBlues]

I find that weatherbeeta makes a fine wick-away sheet.

1dog- don't you mean to say that you put on an exercise sheet not a cooler to ride with?

 

[kitten_Val]

I put cooler on my horse if she's wet after work out and it's cold (I mean below 40F). I got that pessoa one-size cooler from Dover and been very happy with it. Yes, your horse can get cold. I've seen that happened with other horses and it doesn't look all that lovely (runny noses, cough, and all other "fun").

 

[horseluver50]

Thanks so much guys!
So to clear it up.. I should get:
- exercise sheet (while riding her)
- cooler (after riding her, and when its cold?)

Does that sound a good? or, would it also be good to get a heavy duty winter blanket?
Thanks so much everyone! <3

 

[kchfuller]

are the people blanketing her right now?

I am an avid blanketing machine! lol

After I ride I put on a cooler till she has cooled down all the way and then I blanket. I am in CA and it has been getting down to the 30's at night and I put on a sheet and a med weight blanket (200 fill) ... Maddy is body clipped also.

If you plan to ride enough to have your horse swet then you need to clip probably- that is what I would do. BUT keep in mind that if you clip you HAVE TO blanket.

Also I don't clip Brodie (he doesn't grow as much of a coat as Maddy) and I still blanket him with a Med. weight (200 fill) at night when it gets below 50 degrees.

 

[kchfuller]

if you need help picking out a blanket let me know- i love to shop for them! I have lots!

 

[1dog3cats17rodents]

I find that weatherbeeta makes a fine wick-away sheet.

1dog- don't you mean to say that you put on an exercise sheet not a cooler to ride with?

What's an excercise sheet? I warm up (walking) and cool out with a cooler.

 

[Wallaby]

I'm blanketing Lacey 24/7 right now. On average the coldest it gets around here is 25 or so fahrenheit with a lot of windchill.
I didn't clip her but she doesn't sweat hardly at all so I'm not worried about that.

She has this blanket:
WB Landa Freestyle MW Standard Ne and Mid Weight Turnout Horse Blankets | EQUESTRIAN COLLECTIONS.COM

So far it's great. My only complaint is that her shoulders are always getting wet when it's rainy, but I think that's mostly because it doesn't have a hood. It fits her well and the drop length is so long that it almost covers her belly underneath. haha!

 

[horseluver50]

are the people blanketing her right now?

I am an avid blanketing machine! lol

After I ride I put on a cooler till she has cooled down all the way and then I blanket. I am in CA and it has been getting down to the 30's at night and I put on a sheet and a med weight blanket (200 fill) ... Maddy is body clipped also.

If you plan to ride enough to have your horse swet then you need to clip probably- that is what I would do. BUT keep in mind that if you clip you HAVE TO blanket.

Also I don't clip Brodie (he doesn't grow as much of a coat as Maddy) and I still blanket him with a Med. weight (200 fill) at night when it gets below 50 degrees.

They are blanketing her right now I think.. she had one on when we were there.. it looked like a rain sheet or something.
lol... I dont plan on body clipping her, as I wont be working her that hard, but i was thinking the sweat that the saddle leaves, and she might get the chills. I will be in a lighted indoor arena, western riding.. walk/trot/canter, western pleasure. She might work a sweat depending on what i do..

Okay thanks so much! I think i will get a exercise sheet, and cooler for now, and buy a big blanket when I save up enough money

if you need help picking out a blanket let me know- i love to shop for them! I have lots!

hehe thanks thats so kind of you, and i will def. be msging you before i go shopping for one! x)

What's an excercise sheet? I warm up (walking) and cool out with a cooler.

an excercise sheet is a lightweight sheet that covers from the saddle to the tail.. your saddle gets put on overtop, and you ride with it on.. here is a pic of google:

I'm blanketing Lacey 24/7 right now. On average the coldest it gets around here is 25 or so fahrenheit with a lot of windchill.
I didn't clip her but she doesn't sweat hardly at all so I'm not worried about that.

She has this blanket:
WB Landa Freestyle MW Standard Ne and Mid Weight Turnout Horse Blankets*|*EQUESTRIAN COLLECTIONS.COM

So far it's great. My only complaint is that her shoulders are always getting wet when it's rainy, but I think that's mostly because it doesn't have a hood. It fits her well and the drop length is so long that it almost covers her belly underneath. haha!

I like that blanket you have for her. so, prob mid weight would be most suitable for me, along with a cooler, and exercise sheet.

Im unsure about pricing for blankets.. I am in canada, but are exercise sheets and cooler quite cheap? I know that heavy duty blankets can range from like $300-infinity haha, but what do you think would be the average price for blankets?

Thanks so much!!!

 

[1dog3cats17rodents]

Got it! At my barn they are called quarter sheets, but we don't use them

 

[Hoofprints in the Sand]

We call them quarter sheets as well Figured that's what everyone was referring to! If it's chilly at our barn, we ride with them as well. I rode Sandie in one today and it was around 30 degrees (F). If it gets below 25, I don't like to ride at all, just walk her around.

Last year when I first got Sandie, she was furry since the previous owners didn't blanket, and when I worked her she would be SOAKED with sweat...I once had to stay at the barn for several HOURS with a hair dryer to get her completely dry!!! This year, I started blanketing early and she doesn't have the fuzzy coat now so she doesn't get sweaty enough to have to wait for her to dry...after I brush her she dries right off, only a small amount of sweat around the saddle area. It's the same with clipping -- it doesn't keep them warmer (quite the opposite actually) but it keeps them from getting sweaty/wet which relieves you from having to take hours to dry them.

Just remember if you blanket to prevent the coat from growing in thick or you clip, you need to blanket all winter since you essentially took away the horse's natural defense from the cold

 

[Hoofprints in the Sand]

Im unsure about pricing for blankets.. I am in canada, but are exercise sheets and cooler quite cheap? I know that heavy duty blankets can range from like $300-infinity haha, but what do you think would be the average price for blankets?

Thanks so much!!!

I got my quarter sheet for $30

 

[kchfuller]

Since she is blanketed right now (even if it is a light/med sheet) you should keep with it especially if she isn't in a stall...

Here are some good sites to get blankets (there are some good sales right now):
doversaddlery.com
Statelinetack.com
horseloverz.com
horse.com

or even craigslist.com or Ebay

 

[Hoofprints in the Sand]

kch I love those sites!!! Stateline usually has pretty reasonable prices since they carry their own brand, and I have one of their light weight turnout sheets that works AWESOME! Right now, I'm layering under it with a wool sheet until the snow and REALLY cold weather comes and I need to drag out my medium weight! ;-)

 

[horseluver50]

We call them quarter sheets as well :smile: Figured that's what everyone was referring to! If it's chilly at our barn, we ride with them as well. I rode Sandie in one today and it was around 30 degrees (F). If it gets below 25, I don't like to ride at all, just walk her around.

Last year when I first got Sandie, she was furry since the previous owners didn't blanket, and when I worked her she would be SOAKED with sweat...I once had to stay at the barn for several HOURS with a hair dryer to get her completely dry!!! This year, I started blanketing early and she doesn't have the fuzzy coat now so she doesn't get sweaty enough to have to wait for her to dry...after I brush her she dries right off, only a small amount of sweat around the saddle area. It's the same with clipping -- it doesn't keep them warmer (quite the opposite actually) but it keeps them from getting sweaty/wet which relieves you from having to take hours to dry them.

Just remember if you blanket to prevent the coat from growing in thick or you clip, you need to blanket all winter since you essentially took away the horse's natural defense from the cold :smile:

Thanks for all the info, i guess i will see how it goes, to see which blankets she will need.. but I think for sure a light/med weight blanket

I got my quarter sheet for $30 :smile:

Whoa! Thats a really good price! I will have to check out our local tack store

Since she is blanketed right now (even if it is a light/med sheet) you should keep with it especially if she isn't in a stall...

Here are some good sites to get blankets (there are some good sales right now):
doversaddlery.com
Statelinetack.com
horseloverz.com
horse.com

or even craigslist.com or Ebay

Im not sure if she is blanketed all the time, but I am sure I will get her a blanket I am going to spoil her soo much! hehe
Thanks for the sites! I will go check them out

kch I love those sites!!! Stateline usually has pretty reasonable prices since they carry their own brand, and I have one of their light weight turnout sheets that works AWESOME! Right now, I'm layering under it with a wool sheet until the snow and REALLY cold weather comes and I need to drag out my medium weight! :wink:

Im not sure if i can order anything off internet though, as my parents dont like paypal, or credit card info online :/

 

[Lobelia Overhill]

(quick reply)

Clipping makes her warm?
What type of blanket do you use?
Thanks

No, being hairy and work will make her warm, clipping takes off the long hair under the belly and on the underneath of the neck so that she won't get sweaty when she's ridden.
My horse is so hairy I can only ride him for about 15 minutes or he sweats up - he's not been clipped yet!

- exercise sheet (while riding her)
- cooler (after riding her, and when its cold?)

this is a cooler/fleec that can be used as an exercise sheet when riding, a cooler to cool the horse down after, a travel blanket, and a stable rug (I have one for my horse and the surcingle that's attached to it was useless so it needed something else to keep it on him!)
Horseware Amigo Jersey Cooler - Horse Travel, Cooler & Exercise Rugs from Old Mill Saddlery

(that site delivers worldwide)

I wouldn't use it as a night-time rug as it fell off my horse! I have two different types of night-time stable rugs for him

this fleece
Equine Warehouse | Rugs | Economy Fleece

and a quilted rug like this...
Equine Warehouse | Rugs | Budget Stable

(they're cheap but very good quality and that site delivers worldwide as well)

It doesn't get desperately cold here, but if it did get very very cold I'd combine cooler and quilt or cooler and fleece, or fleece and quilt.

 

[kchfuller]

kch I love those sites!!! Stateline usually has pretty reasonable prices since they carry their own brand, and I have one of their light weight turnout sheets that works AWESOME! Right now, I'm layering under it with a wool sheet until the snow and REALLY cold weather comes and I need to drag out my medium weight! ;-)

I am a lean mean blanketing machine! lol :lol:

It has been getting into the high 20's here (that is so NOT normal for CA) so i have been blanketing with med weight blankets cause my horses aren't used to it being this cold.