I just put a blanket on and icy horse! WWYD?

[2boys]

Since the temps went from 32 to 22 degrees in an hour, with wind chills getting into the single digits tonight, I had to bundle the boys up. Unfortunately, before I got out there, they decided to stand in the rain/ice storm for a while. So I had to do it! By the time I was done blanketing and haying, one of them was almost dry under the blanket. But the other was wet and a bit chilly on the wet spots. The area between his hind legs was toasty though. Do I try to change blankets later, or will he warm up/dry off later on his own? This is yet another example of me probably screwing up the whole nature thing again...

[murphyluv]

well, we all try not to put blankets on a wet horse, but sometimes you just have to! The blankets are breathable, they'll dry out. Just give them a good curry and keep an eye out for rainrot- but really, I've never ahd a problem with it. Don't worry!

[marta]

it will help him dry out under the blanket.
i think so long as it's a blanket and not just a sheet he should warm up eventually.

good luck! i remember years ago when i first got my mare she got soaked in a cold rain and she was on 24/7 turnout. i only had 1 rain sheet for her and i tried to dry her out w/ a hair dryer!!! it didn't really work.:lol:

[the_other_mother]

lol, I tried blow drying mine once with the horse vac, putting the hose on the other end and usiang the air blowing out. It didnt work well and the air was cold! Feeding lots of hay and creating body heat works alot better!

it will help him dry out under the blanket.
i think so long as it's a blanket and not just a sheet he should warm up eventually.

good luck! i remember years ago when i first got my mare she got soaked in a cold rain and she was on 24/7 turnout. i only had 1 rain sheet for her and i tried to dry her out w/ a hair dryer!!! it didn't really work.:lol:

[Fharoah]

Often I will put a cooler under the blanket until dry then remove it later when they are dry.

[2boys]

Thanks. I might go peek at him. His other blanket is soaked from the snowstorm. I may have to stink up my dryer so I can trade. Oh, my husband just looves these horses...

[2boys]

hmm. So I guess for everyone's research purposes, it should be noted that they will dry and warm themselves! I went out with toasty dried blanket, only to find him dry and warm underneath the blanket he had on. :cool:

[equusus]

Has anyone ever tried a Sham Wow to dry wet horses? Looks like it may work really well!

april

[Chief2]

If mine are shivering and wet, then I put a wool dress sheet on him, and if need be, layer a square wool cooler over that and surcingle it on. The water then evaporates up through the dress sheet, and up through the square cooler to the top, leaving him warm and dry, and leaving the dress sheet dry on both sides. Remove the top layer after a while once its top is saturated, then later remove the dress sheet, and he is toasty and dry. Curry, fluff and buff, and he is ready for the night. Takes less time than it did with one layer only to work with.

If you are in need of coolers or such, horseloverz.com or ebay has them for low prices.

[yellowbritches]

When I've had to blanket over a wet horse, I've always tried to either throw on an anti sweat or a wool sheet under the turn out. It usually works pretty well, and at least pulls the moisture away from them. They seem to warm up pretty quickly if they've gotten wet and chilled, especially if you then throw a big pile of hay in front of them. :yes:

[BeastieSlave]

I've put a layer of hay between a wet horse and its turnout blanket before (when I knew I wasn't going to be able to get back to the barn to change blanket for a while). It works like a charm! I imagined it would be itchy for the horse, but all the hay had vanishes by the time I get back to adjust blankets. I don't know if that's because the nylon lining lets it slip out when the beasitie dried, or what....

[gabz]

I have a large piece of polyester fleece material that I put on the horse when it's wet, before putting a blanket on, when they are wet. Pile of hay in front of the horse and 90 minutes later, the horse is usually dry enough to remove the fleece.

I bought 2 yards at a fabric store. Works great.

[sublimequine]

Sometimes, ya gotta do what ya gotta do! It's not ideal, but for a shivery, icy horse.. I'm sure they'd prefer to be blanketed even if it isn't 'proper'! :lol:

That said, the few times I've had to blanket my mare wet/icy, I use a blanket that's cotton lined instead of nylon lined. The cotton seems to breathe better, so she dries out faster, it seems.

Now though, I have started just blanketing all winter long no matter what, so occasionally she DOES have a sheet on JUST to keep her dry. :)