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Blanketing horses?
It's around 40-high 50s during the day and 30-45 at night here lately and I blanketing my horses today because of terrible wind making it extremely cold. My newer gelding came from south of where I live, he was blanketed last winter and he has a very thin coat even when he tries to fluff up when it got slightly colder. Should I just keep him blanketed, since he has a super thin coat?
Second my mare is about 20 and is slightly under weight but is gaining the weight. I know she can get hairy but then if you even walk her in the winter she gets hot, so it's ideal to blanket her. I wouldn't be so worried if she ate in the pasture when she goes out, she will eat some but she kind of just likes hanging out with the other mare with her. I don't want her to be cold since she possibly could be older due to no exact records.
So when is the right time to blanket? What temperature? Sorry for all the blah blah stuf
4 Answers
- partly cloudyLv 77 years ago
I don't like to over blanket - but I do not show in the winter and really prefer to blanket as little as possible. I don't like the way they bind the shoulders and wither. I like a lite - weight for days in the 40s with a stiff wind, or a nid weight for days in the 20's and 30's. If its 40 or higher and no wind ...then I do not blanket. they come in at night and the barn gets quite toasty with the 12 of them in there. a blanket will def. help your old mare save calories so she can actually gain weight.
- Missy BLv 77 years ago
I all ready have a sheet on my horse 24-7, but I have a few shows left and it's more for cleanliness than anything else. He is a Medicine Hat Paint and mostly white, and since it's getting too cold to bathe most days, I try to keep his white coat clean.
I'll blanket hard keepers, seniors, etc at 40 degrees, and have it come off when it gets 50-60 degrees.
My sheet stays on 24-7 though, now that it's October. (I did take it off when we had a little heat wave and it got back up into 90s).
- 7 years ago
Honestly, it's up to you. Horses are meant to withstand cold temperatures and even prefer colder weather over warmer weather. I'm guessing where you live it doesn't get too extreme? Where I live it has gotten to -25 degrees F. Without windchill and there are definitely colder (and wetter) places that horses live and without blankets. I'd say if your horses have poor shelter ( or no shelter) and it's raining or a very cold wind then blanket them with winter blankets. Also, keep in mind it's bad to blanket wet horses especially in cold weather so you will need to dry them off before blanketing. If that mare sweats easily then blanketing would definitely not be a good idea- it would make her sweat more and possibly be colder. Just try to keep her dry as much as possible.
- RosieLv 77 years ago
When I was showing, I would usually start to blanket my horses around Oct. I had multiple weight blanket, so I could blanket for the weather. My main reason for blanketing was to keep them clean, so I could use lighter weight blankets and start earlier.
Make sure to use blankets that are breathable and waterproof, not just water resistant.
If you need more blankets, Schneiders (sstack.com) has a great selection, good quality and great prices.
