Do YOU blanket?

[appychik]

Just wondering why you (or why you don't) blanket your horse. Are their certain circumstances that would make your change your mind (one way or another)? Does age, weight (body conditon), weather factor in at all?

Just curious :winkgrin:.

[Ajierene]

I do not currently blanket my mare. She is in great weight and lives out 24/7. I cannot necessarily get out there every day the weather changes and right now it is not that cold anyway. Without a blanket, she grows a nice winter coat that lays flat or fluffs up to handle changes in temperature. She has a nice run-in shed to stay dry, also.

My older gelding and underweight gelding did get blankets. Both tended to be slightly underweight and I did not want them expending extra energy to keep warm. The older gelding especially seemed to have been pampered most of his life, so it worked for him.

If I was in that situation again, I would blanket, but I generally prefer a horse to stay in their natural state as much as possible.

[OneMoreForTheRoad]

Most of my horses get clipped during the winter because the luxury of an indoor lets us work them almost year round. So they are almost always blanketed.
But I will say that if its between a heavier blanket and a lighter blanket, I will almost always give my OTTB the heavier blanket but I will also give my fat POA the lighter blanket.
As for weather they have full access to a run-in and are in stalls at night and if the weather is especially terrible so besides temperature we rarely consider it.

[jaimebaker]

Nope. Never have. 6 Arabians, on pasture 24/7, access to shelters. It doesn't get blistering cold here though. I mean, a few days in negative digits and that's about it. I do have a blanket that I've had for about 12 years that I keep on hand in case someone needs the chill knocked off of them. Everybody gets great winter coats except for my stallion. He barely get a winter coat at all so if I notice him shivering, I throw it on while he's eating hay to get the chill knocked off. I think I've had to do that twice though and the stallion is 9 years old (had him since he was 5 months old).

[Fharoah]

I blanket mine from about September through April. Where I live it is very wet damp cold in the winter and the wet always makes it feel colder. I rain sheet at night only when it feels cold in September and October, when it starts to freeze at night or windy damp cold they get there 220 I live at home so will pull the blankets anytime it is decent out during the day but then they are groomed and blanketed every evening. I put my geldings thinsilite 440 polygram (not heavy) blanket when it snows and is freezing and feels bone chilling. We have a real wet damp kind of cold which makes it feel colder than it really is.

[JB]

This time of year, if it's between 50 and 65 or so, and it's going to be raining for any significant length of time, I do put sheets on - Miss Mare gets cold :( Below 50 I'm more apt to put medium weight blankets on, but it depends on whether the temps are rising or falling - rising gets sheets.

I don't sheet or blanket *these* horses for simple cold. But factoring in wet or wind and I'm erring on the side of caution. Cold Miss Mare gets running stupid, and that isn't good for any of them.

[sublimequine]

Yep, I do. My mare is clothed typically late November - early March. I'm in central IL, and the weather can get downright nasty here at times. Between the freezing rain, ice storms, blizzards, 40mph winds, 10 inches of snow, etc, etc, I just think the mare stays more comfortable with an appropriate sheet or blanket.

[gooselover]

My three OTTBs live out 24/7 also. Last year, when we had some horrible ice/snow, I did go ahead and blanket them during the "storm" and for a few days later - mainly because of the wet. We don't get real bad here in Oklahoma, but there are some days when it does. They also have a nice place to go in during the wetness, but I usually see them outside!

So, mostly they are not blanketed. Unfortunately, when they are blanketed, they rip off each other's blanket hence keeping it to a minimum. Too costly!

[tBHj]

I blanket. I am a clean freak. Sheets or blankets on all the time unless it is too hot/muggy.

[Tif_Ann]

I believe you are not all that far from me - I'm in Sioux Falls. Similar weather. To blanket or not to blanket is ALWAYS the question around here. The answer in my case is ... depends on many, many things.

Last winter I had an older horse, dealing with melanomas and struggling to keep weight on. Even before he got sick we made the choice to blanket him all winter to help him maintain the weight. Horses shiver to keep warm and that burns a lot of calories, and Rocky just didn't have any extra calories to burn. So his age and weight were the main factors that made us decide to blanket - and he had multiple blankets that were layered in the coldest weather.

My QH doesn't grow a great coat, and he'll get blanketed when he's cold. Also - when he gets cold he loses his mind and is crazy, so blanketing is just wise for him. If he's shivering, or I know it's going to be wet and cold for a while, or if it's going to be windchill of -10 ... he gets blanketed. He's stalled and is only fed in his stall, so he can't generate heat by eating hay during turnout.

My mustang grows a thick, heavy coat, and also has round bales since he's on pasture care. He probably never needs a blanket, and really only gets blanketed when it's bitter, bitter cold, like windchills of -10 to -20 or lower. Because I hope to show in early May next year, he will be in pretty heavy work this winter, so I'm currently debating doing a trace clip and blanketing him anyway. But then my choice to blanket would be because I took away his ability to stay warm.

I hope that is what you are looking for? :)

[SkipChange]

My horse is body clipped and in heavy work so I really don't want him growing a coat. He gets a light sheet pretty much every night--low 60s is enough to warrant a sheet. About 42 or below and he gets his heavy blanket. Our barn guys are great and don't like the clipped horses to catch a cold. He gets an irish knit thrown on after a workout or bath until he's dry. Our barn guys are so great they know to swap coolers and turnouts once they are dry :D really handy.

I know my temps are probably a lot higher than some others but I live in the deep south so we consider that "cold." Plus he's got a full body clip and I want to keep his weight up, don't want him shivering away outside (he has no shelter from wind or rain when in pasture).

[billiebob]

My horse is a skinny TB who HATES being cold. He has a decent coat but I err on the side of caution. He wears his sheet pretty much every night, and yesterday when it was rainy and around 50 (I think, but felt colder) he got his medium. He has a few fleece sheets to layer underneath as well.

All the horses at our barn wear some kind of blanket with the exception of one super fuzzy and super fat Nokota. The weight of blanket depends on the individual horse.

[HenryisBlaisin']

No. Winters aren't cold here and my horse is inside at night and if the weather is terrible. He was in NH out 24/7 with a run in last year and to my knowledge (he was on a lease) never wore a blanket then either. Blanketing takes away their ability to insulate themselves against the cold, and we often blanket horses for our comfort, not theirs.

[sublimequine]

No. Winters aren't cold here and my horse is inside at night and if the weather is terrible. He was in NH out 24/7 with a run in last year and to my knowledge (he was on a lease) never wore a blanket then either. Blanketing takes away their ability to insulate themselves against the cold, and we often blanket horses for our comfort, not theirs.

Freezing rain or ice storms also take the horse's ability to insulate away (hair gets so wet it cannot stand up, or gets frozen down so it cannot stand up), so in these situations, at least a blanket will provide insulation where the horse could not provide naturally.

[ManyDogs]

I wait until they have a nice fuzzy coat, then use a lined sheet to keep off the rain/sleet/wind. They are out 24/7, have access to the barn, but chose to stand in the weather like idjits most of the time.
They have free choice hay.

[Luckydonkey]

I don't clip my horse, but I do blanket him. He is sheeted in the fall, and then in November I start putting the heavy blanket on him at night. I work from home, so am able to run out and adjust his clothing if needed.I mainly blanket for 2 reasons- keep him cleaner/less shedding to deal with in spring time, and keeping him warm means he is an easier keeper. during the wet cold winter months he is in his stall at night, and his sacrifice area has a run in he can use if he chooses too....

[Lone]

I have my mare blanketed, she's an OTTB and a pretty hard keeper. I spend an awful lot in groceries for her each month- I don't want her wasting any extra calories trying to stay warm in the winter!

She is also in active work all winter, so I think it helps her to grow less of a coat and thus cool off faster after we ride. My mom has a draft cross gelding, and he isn't blanketed. He stays plenty warm on his own!

[Simbalism]

Yep, I blanket. I have a TB mare who is a pretty easy keeper, but she doesn't grow a very heavy winter coat. She lives out 24/7 and is ridden pretty much all winter except the really icky days(no indoor). She generally starts getting a turnout sheet on the end of September, beginning of October(depending on temps-50's she is cold)) and then progresses to heavier weight clothes as the temps get colder.

[barrelchick00]

I blanket my mare because she doesn't grow a real thick coat. I had never blanketed prior to her so it has been quite the experience. Actually I'm still learning about it!!

[Chief2]

No blankets. Although I own blankets for each horse in case it gets sick and needs to be blanketed, I do not blanket. The app/tb has a good coat, and the percheron/qh has a very thick coat. They do fine in their own clothing.

[PNWjumper]

My riding horses get blanketed from October(ish)-April(ish) both to keep them clean and because they get body clipped.

My non-riding horses live naked all year round usually. I'll make an exception if the horse is a skinny/hard-keeper type who doesn't do well in cold. And thanks to our horrendous non-stop rain for the last month I have two always-naked horses who are now living in rain sheets to give their [first-time-ever-in-their-lives] rain rot a chance to go away. Ugh.

[mypaintwattie]

I blanket. I am a clean freak. Sheets or blankets on all the time unless it is too hot/muggy.

LOL I am the same way! I do like my horse to stay as clean as possible! I blanket/sheet in the winter because I clip. The first year I had my horse I didn't clip her, and it was a nighmare. Her coat was so thick, and our weather here in Southern California can be pretty crazy- 40's at night and then high 70's during the days. She would never dry out enough after a ride and keeping her clean was miserable! Last year and this year I clipped early, as soon as she had enough of a coat to get through! I pretty much have something on her year-round though, a fly sheet in the summer, sheet when its not cold enough for a blanket, and various blankets depending on how cold it will be. I swear my horse has a better wardrobe than me!

[manyspots]

My two are out 24/7 and the only thing I cannot stand is letting them get wet. Both have thick coats and have done fine in NH winters, even during winter storms BUT they will stand outside in heavy rain or snow by choice. That being said, I do use lined sheets above 25 degrees or so and add fleece liners when the temp dips lower AND its wet. This assures they can stay warm and dry for the most part. Worked great all last winter and so far the rain sheets have worked perfectly. My two like the feel of being in the rain :lol:.

I would be blanketing if I hadn't been able to get weight on my hard keeper. I agree, they just can't stay warm and keep weight on if they are cold. The only time I broke out my medium weights was during a -17 degree cold snap last year. As soon as we got up to 0 and no wind, blankets came off!

[ThoroughbredFancy]

I put a sheet on my guy if it's below 45°. If it is below 25-30° he will wear a mid weight.

If it goes into the single digits he might wear a liner or stable sheet under his mid weight.

He is unclipped and in work year round.

He's only worn his turn out sheet a handful of times so far, mostly when it's been rainy.

[buck22]

my horses are wooly mammoths, and winter is my busy time with work so I don't do much riding anyhow, so I don't clip. Mine live out 24/7 with good shelter and heavy tree cover and constant hay. One is pushing 30 the other 10. I only put on rain sheets if its raining/sleeting and I can see my breath, or mid-weights if its going to be below 20° + wind for an extended period, like not just over night for a few hours.

both my horses hate wearing their blankets, barely tolerate it and sulk when they see me approaching with them.

[shawneeAcres]

Yes and no! I have quite a few that live out 24/7. the only times they get blanketed are if it is a REALLY cold driving rain or snow (rare around here). If they are shivering they need to be blanketed in my opinion. Then I have some that stay up at night and out during the day (in winter) some of these are boarders, and obviosuly I blanket those according to owners wishes. The ones of mine that stay up at night and are being shown do get blanketed to keep coats looking good, and in spite of the fact that supposedly horses coats are not affected by blanekting I find that they do grow a bit less fuzzy when blanketed. I also sometime body clip and sometimes use lights to keep a horse that is showing thru the winter from growing hair and obviously those need blanketing.

[starkissed]

Depends on the horse. In theory I would not blanket my horses, but I always end up doing it anyway because I like to...is that a bad reason?lol

But some do get clipped and then yes, blanket.
I give some of my horses off for the winter, so I leave them unclipped for quite a while and they grow a coat and everything, then when winter gets colder and more brutal I usually put a heavyweight on them.

I know that its bad to put a blanket on a fuzzy horse because their coat lays flat and they lose all the warmth, so thats why I put the heavy ones on, so even if their fur is flat, the blanket will still be warm

[caballus]

Out of 5 horses, 3 ponies and donkey I blanket one older OTTB who is the biggest wuss of them all and will colic if he gets cold. (that usually means anything under 50 degrees F) and will double blanket him in the dead of winter on those frigid, windy days and nights. He is believed to have intestinal cancer (vet dx'd) so I pamper him a bit, too. I also blanket my older mare who has metabolic issues as well as other physical issues that drain her immune system. Right now she has a shaggy, long, silky coat that's doing the job. But again, in the frigid temps with sleet, rain, wind I'll throw a blanket on her just so her body doesn't have to work so hard to stay warm. The donkey is, of course, not a horse so doesn't have the natural coat protection that horses have. He's almost 50 years old so he gets his little blanket when the temps drop into the single digits or its nasty outside. He gets stalled during these days and nights, too, so the ponies won't push him out into the weather as they tend to do. All are out 24/7 with free choice shelters/stalls.

Other than that, from 3 year olds to 12 year olds all are left 'au natural'. IF I feel one is compromised somehow from a bug or illness of some sort then I will blanket but other than that nature does a good job of providing internal heat processes to keep the cold nasties at bay. The constant supply of hay ensures internal heating through digestive processes and movement ensures body heating through the energy created. Those combined with the undercoat and a unique thermoregulatory system of the horse keeps them well protected during cold and inclement weather.

[DieBlaueReiterin]

this year has been a learning experience for blanketing for me! since i moved to the east coast (this will be my 5th winter here) i have clipped and blanketed. this year, however, it seemed to get cold early and my horses sprouted wooly mammoth coats pretty much over night. the gelding is not ridden so he's just naked, but i gave my mare a high trace clip and intended on just sheeting her when it was cold (to my mind, 40-50's during the day and 30's-40's during the night).

well, the weather has been nicer and hasn't really gotten below 35* at ALL since i clipped her (of course!) and i haven't blanketed her at all since then either. she lives in a field directly across the street from my house, so i see her all hours of the day and night, and i haven't found her shivering or appearing cold; in fact she is always warm to the touch, even on her clipped bits.

now of course i'm wondering if i've been overblanketing all these years...even though i've always tended to err on the side of too little rather than too much...now i'm thinking even too little was too much! going to see how it plays out this winter...may only sheet the gelding when it's freezing rain and blanket the mare when i finally break down and clip her the rest of the way...

[Bogie]

I trace clip my horse and then blanket him when the temps are below 45 or if it's raining.

He's out 24/7 with access to a stall but mostly prefers to be out.

[pines4equines]

My horses are stalled at night in the winter. These past two winters I have not blanketed.

I did notice that you do have to feed a weensy bit more feed and hay to keep the weight on unblanketed. My TB/QH/Perch cross got obese with a blanket on in the winter. Without he doesn't bulk up weight wise as much.

THe reason why I blanketed the above horse was he never seemed to grow a winter coat. Well, it turns out he was affected by the light outside his window. We had it on a timer so it went off at 11pm. This year, I just turned it off and his coat is very thick.

Just a thought if some of you have horses who are not growing coats. What is the lighting situation? I know breeding and some show barns will leave lights on in the winter until 11pm to trick the horses into thinking it's summer. So my outdoor light was affecting my guy's coat growth, who knew?

Anyway, naked this year and wooly!

[CosMonster]

I blanket my old skinny horse but none of the younger ones. He's always had a fine coat and a very difficult time putting weight on so he's been blanketed pretty much since I got him (plus I used to clip him in the winter because he stayed in heavy work). I tried to not to one year and within two weeks of the first freeze (and keep in mind, it's not like it stays frozen here) he had lost about 100 pounds. :eek: We didn't repeat that experiment. :lol:

None of my others are working hard enough right now to clip, and our climate is so mild I think it would be beyond silly to blanket a healthy young horse with a good coat.

[appychik]

Thanks everyone for your responses thus far. I'm glad to see that my reasons for blanketing are other CoThers' reasons too.

I've got a skinny, older, arthritic horse who is a hard keeper with metabolic issues (Insulin Resistant). He' been blanketed his whole life (least the last 10 years, since I've had him - body clipped and blanketed the last 5). And he's a wuss in cold weather. This winter is his first one wintering out 24/7. And we're talking MN here, not FL, GA, CA ;).

My other boy is naked and loving life. He's got a full wardrobe too... but I doubt he'll need much of anything, unless we get those bitter subzero degree days again (like -30 without windchill factored in).

Please, keep your opinions coming! :yes:

[deltawave]

Yes, if the horse needs it. No, if they don't. Of course it depends on age, temperature, precipitation, body condition, tolerance of cold, etc. etc.

I have four in my care right now. Two are working full time and are wearing sheets because it's cool and rainy, one has a partial clip and the other will soon, and frankly because they're easier to keep clean if they're wearing clothes. The Shetland has a partial clip ON PURPOSE because she's exceptionally furry and tends to get fat and I want her to not be QUITE as warm and toasty. She won't be blanketed. The last is a pregnant mare who's a bit thin and although I haven't had to blanket her yet, I may if she seems to tolerate the cold poorly. I don't know her well enough yet, but I'm ready to blanket her if it looks like she needs it.

[saddleup]

Yes. My 27 year old needs all the help he can get to keep his weight on.

My 20 year old has never grown much of a winter coat, and will stand there shivering if it's under 35 degrees.

My 7 year old just gets a very light blanket, mostly to keep him clean. He wallows in the mud at every opportunity, and he's a Paint with 50% white.

My rule of thumb is to blanket if it's going to be 40 degrees or less. Now it's in the low 20's at night and barely 40 during the day. If it's windy I leave the blankets on, but if it's sunny and 40 I'll pull them off.

[LauraKY]

Freezing rain or ice storms also take the horse's ability to insulate away (hair gets so wet it cannot stand up, or gets frozen down so it cannot stand up), so in these situations, at least a blanket will provide insulation where the horse could not provide naturally.

Agree. Have all variations on needing blankets. One TB has a nice coat but shivers if he gets wet below 50. Other guys vary. I blanket if the high is not going to be above 40 and is windy/cloudy. Kind of play it day by day. Some are clipped, some not, so each one gets an individual decision. They are in a night, don't blanket unless is goes below 25 to 30.

[magicteetango]

Normally I'm not a big blanketer, but my two that are out 24/7 have been wearing blankets any time it gets below 40... And they seem to be more comfortable and keeping weight better so far. My hard keeper always loses weight every winter, so I'm doing what I can. And the other is 18, but thinks he's older so he gets one as well.

I board my mare still, and she just has a sheet for rainy days, but she is stalled in the evenings and not put out in nasty weather. I'm hoping to go mostly au natural with her, but thinking she may soon be acquiring a midweight of her own.

[Ride4Life]

I ride 6 days a week in our indoor arena and my mare lives in a run with shelter. I have to clip or else I would be there for hours cooling out! She has a high trace clip so I blanket. Pretty much if it is 20 or below I do the heavy weight with a fleece under, 35 & below a medium with a fleece under. Then light sheets or nothing if it's warm enough.

Our coming 3 year old is out to pasture with his buddies & a shelter. He doesn't get blanketed no matter what the weather and does just fine.

[saultgirl]

My horse sweats like crazy and is ridden 6 days per week, so he is partially clipped and blanketed. He lives out 24/7.

If he wasn't being worked, there is NO WAY I would go through all this trouble!! Which blanket to put on today, making repairs, clipping, uggh!!

[mhtokay]

Rarely. I've had them with icicles clicking off their sides and they don't care. But they can get out of the wind.

[IronwoodFarm]

I mostly have Norwegian Fjords and they love nothing more than cold weather. Rolling in slush is one of their favorite things to do. I also have Oldenburgs and they are perfectly happy to be blanketless. The only way I would ever blanket was if the horse was clipped or had a thin coat. That is not my problem! :lol: I do think much of the desire to blanket has to do with humans projecting their discomfort with the cold onto their horses. My herd lives out 24/7 and keep plenty warm with free choice hay and their own hair.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I do think much of the desire to blanket has to do with humans projecting their discomfort with the cold onto their horses. My herd lives out 24/7 and keep plenty warm with free choice hay and their own hair.

I think so too.

OTTB gelding, hard keeper, in work is blanketed. This is for my convenience. He is bib/belly clipped to dry out faster and has already been wearing his heavy blanket. The blanket also keeps him cleaner/smooth coated.

Preggo WB mare is naked. She's a wooly mamouth.

If it is truly horrid out (like 30+ below, windy and hurts to breathe) they will stay in otherwise they are outside on pasture 24-7 with hay available.

Wanted to add they do get grained 2x a day as well--so they get a "break". Also have a wind break.

[matryoshka]

My horses are on 24 hour turnout. There is a run-in shed, but horses low in the pecking order are often forced to stand outside. I don't blanket until January, though I might throw a rain sheet on before then if it is wet and windy.

This year, the TB and the Arabian will be blanketed. It will save me on feed, and I don't have to worry about them being stuck out in the wind. As temps warm up toward spring, I take the blankets off. I put the blankets back on when it is wet and windy but take them off when the weather event is over as long as it is relatively warm.

[ddashaq]

Both my horses live out 24/7. The TB is currently in a sheet and will upgrade to a midweight here in another month as he is a harder keeper. My arab grew up in the midwest and the winters here do not penetrate his yak-like hair. He stays naked otherwise he overheats and gets miserable.

[buschkn]

The horses I keep in work over the winter get blankets, and usually clipped. The horses who aren't getting ridden stay naked. They have 24/7 t/o with shelters, free choice quality hay, and grain 2x/day. I've never seen any of them look cold. The blanketing of the riding horses is necessary otherwise they get too hot too quickly and never dry out with their shaggy coats.