To blanket, or not to blanket that is the question on every equestrian’s mind during these winter months. We all want to keep our horses and ponies comfortable during these colder months, and we are here to help with some great tips to make blanketing easier this winter!
First off – do I really need to blanket my horse?
Well the truth is that horses when in healthy condition are pretty capable of keeping themselves warm. When the days start shortening and the temperatures start dropping you will notice your horses’ coat will start to grow in length and become rather plush. This coat change is your horse’s natural defence against the winter elements and dropping temperatures.
So does this mean I don’t need to blanket my horse? The answer is it depends.
Every climate has its own weather and temperature systems which have different impacts on our horse’s needs for blanketing. But here are a few basic rules of thumb:
Firstly let’s start by splitting horses into two groups!
GROUP ONE: “The Winter Ready Horse”
We define this group of horses and ponies as having a body score of at least 4, with a thick uncut winter coat, and no underlying health issues. The horses who fall into this category when given access to shelter, an unfrozen water source, and plenty forage shouldn’t need blanketing.
GROUP TWO: “Horses At Risk To Feeling The Cold”
This group includes foals, seniors, clipped, and underweight horses and ponies. In addition to these four categories we also include breeds that do not tend to grow thick plush coats (such as thoroughbreds), and horses who have recently relocated from a warmer climate to a colder climate. These horses are often at a much greater risk of feeling the cold, and may require blanketing in temperatures starting to dip below 50’F.
Additional things to keep in mind for all horses no matter which of our categories they fall in:
1) No matter what your horse’s condition, age, or health remember if you see your horse shivering it’s time to pull out the blankets ASAP. Shivering is usually a result of a horse being wet and cold. Most blankets will wick moisture away from the horse’s body, and once your horse is warm, dry, and comfortable the shivering should stop. However if the shivering continues be sure to consult your veterinarian.
2) Wet weather can change everything. If the rain is substantial enough to flatten the hairs of your horse’s coat it will limit its insulating qualities. Adequate shelter can solve this issue only if your horse uses it – if your horse is the type to stand out in the rain you might want to consider a waterproof blanket to ensure their coat stays dry during rain and sleet showers.
3) If your horse starts sweating it’s time for the blanket to come off! This can be tricky to tell sometimes, but if you notice a steam forming around the withers – that blanket needs to come off! Failure to remove a blanket when a horse is overheating can lead to skin problems ranging from rubs all the way up to fungal infections!
Check out our other helpful articles about how to fit a blanket, and how to work out what weight of blanket suits your climate by clicking on the hyperlinks!