potentially silly question, but WWYD?

[oharabear]

I did a search on this topic but was having a hard time finding exactly what I was looking for...

I have a 6-month-old weanling who is a furry, fuzzy yak. :yes: This is my very first foal, so I'm not sure if I should blanket him or not. I will be moving him to a pasture-board situation with trees and run-in stalls next month (my barn is not equipped for a weanling/yearling as it's a training barn with stalls and small runs... and that's the extent of my turnout options. Now that he's weaned it's time to go out to pasture and grow up).

I have not blanketed him so far (since he's been in the barn). I don't really *want* to blanket if I can help it, since I wont be able to see him every day (although he'll be living at a family friend's house, and she's retired, home all day, and will probably dote on him). However, my biggest issue is that since I'm in the perpetually rainy PNW, and that last winter was FREAKIN' COLD, I don't really want him getting wet from the rain AND standing out in the cold- I'm worried that will be too much.

So... I was thinking of just buying him a waterproof turnout sheet, instead of a heavy blanket. Is that not enough? Should I get a blanket? I don't want my little guy to be too cold.. Exactly how tough are the wee young ones, anyway? :confused:

Which do you guys think is better: to blanket weanlings or not?

[Daventry]

I vote no. If he is a furry yak with an abundance of coat, trees and a run in shed for shelter, he will survive just fine...as horses have for thousands of years. ;) Horse blanket companies must laugh all the way to the bank over our sympathy pains for our animals, who I don't think really care one way or the other...unless they have been shaved/body clipped....then it matters.

[Laurierace]

Definitely no as long as he has adequate shelter.

[Blacktree]

We put light blankets on our guys, which has worked well. The weanlings get very thick and fuzzy winter coats, so there is not much need for insulation - but being in the PNW, I like having them with some rain protection. :)

[clint]

I have the same situation as you do, with a newly weaned six month old out in a field with a run-in and a couple of friends, hopefully liking the idea of sheltering in the rain. Until proven otherwise, I will leave her unblanketed. However, I have a waterproof sheet that will fit her, and if I find her out in the cold, wet and shivering, I can take care of that. ;)

[oharabear]

Thanks guys! that's what I was kind of leaning towards, but I didn't want to win the "Mean Horse Mommy of the Year" award. :lol:

[JB]

Get a medium weight blanket that he can wear by the end of the Winter (ie 2" or so bigger than he measures now) and have it on hand for when he *needs* it.

I wouldn't blanket him just to make yourself feel better. But there may be a time when it's cold and wet enough for long enough, and he chooses to not use the shelter, that he'll get cold. That's probably not a time for a rain-protecting but not warmth-providing sheet - time for a medium weight blanket to replace some warmth.

[vtwmbld]

I say no also. I never blanket the babies. I live in Freeezing Northern Vermont and they are just fine if they have good healthy coats. There's too much of a chance that they might get into trouble when left unattended in clothing at that age. Besides, if there are several you're only giving the others something to destroy.:no:

[Ladybug Hill]

I would never blanket a horse unless they were in work/showing.

[lolita1]

I'd blanket him - once wet, a blanket isn't going to help. Also I believe that introducing blanketing now helps the learning process. Just one more step towards being a well adjusted horse.

[rideagoldenpony]

I also live in the misererable, wet, is-it-EVER-going-to-stop-raining PNW.

I blanket my foals in the winter. I didn't used to, but they had such thick coats that they were getting rainrot -- the vet said just from not being able to dry out, due to the aforementioned yak hair.

They have a nice run in, but they mostly choose to get soaked instead -- and for how wet the winter is, that is a lot of truly WET days for them.

I've been perfectly happy with the results, and have fat, healthy babies with slightly less hair than they would have had by spring. I have no complaints.

I vote for a blanket.