When deciding whether to blanket your horse, several important factors should be considered. In certain situations, blanketing is essential for maintaining your horse's health and safety. Or it can simply provide convenience by reducing drying time after a vigorous workout in chilly weather.
Weather and Location
When considering whether to blanket your horse, weather conditions play a crucial role. It's essential to pay close attention to cold temperatures, wet weather, and wind. Horses typically fare well in cold, dry climates, but when these conditions combine with strong winds and precipitation, a blanket might become necessary. Keep a vigilant eye on weather changes, temperature fluctuations, and precipitation levels to determine if blanketing is appropriate.
Your Horse’s Age and Health
Your horses age is an important factor. As a horse ages they lose their ability to maintain warmth and generally struggle to keep extra weight on. Senior horses tend to lose weight during excessively cold temps due to the caloric needs to keep their cores warm. Adding those waterproof layers with insulation for your old friends will help maintain their weight and comfort during cold temperatures. Equally, horses that are underweight, have compromised immune systems, recovering from surgery or illness, are also at risk of hypothermia. Younger and healthy horses may not need to be blanketed as often.
Living Conditions - Outdoor Board VS Stalled
Horses that hang out in stalls most of the time usually have a thinner coat compared to those that roam outside all day. So, if your stall-loving horse is heading out for some fresh air in not-so-great weather, make sure to wrap them up in a cozy blanket! On the other hand, horses that live outside 24/7 tend to grow a thicker coat and might only need a blanket when it's really wet and windy. No matter where your horse calls home, having proper shelter is a must to keep them safe from the elements!
'Au naturale' Or Clipped?
A horse's natural coat is essential for regulating body temperature and provides some degree of waterproofing. As the colder months approach and daylight decreases, horses naturally develop a thicker winter coat, which acts as insulation. However, if a horse is clipped, this natural defense is removed, necessitating the use of a blanket to maintain warmth. It's important to note that certain breeds, such as Thoroughbreds, Saddlebreds, and Arabs, typically have a lighter and thinner coat due to their genetic makeup. Understanding your horse's breed can help you better prepare for the cooler months.
Commitment and Management
Older, ill, recovering, clipped or thin coated horses are generally going to require more maintenance and diligence during bad weather. Not only will you need to be more watchful for signs of a chill in your horse, but you'll also have to have many types of blankets on hand (and typically a spare ready for those blanket destroying goblins). A rain sheet, light weight, medium weight, and heavy weight are needed per horse (sized appropriately) to be fully prepared for weather changes.
