It's hard it imagine, as we bundle ourselves in warm layers to head to the barn in 20 degree weather, that our horses could possibly be warm. So many people resort to blankets as soon as the weather turns, but why? Is it necessary? Does it really help your horse? What are the pro's and con's of blanketing? In the next few minutes we will explore these questions and answer them, so that you can make the best choice for you and your horses.
Why do people blanket their horses? To answer this question we have to keep in mind the multitude of blankets people use and wide range of reasons they use them. Most fall under 2 reasons. To keep their horses warm, or to keep them clean(or both). When people use them mainly to keep their horses clean, they tend to use lighter sheets that are waterproof, and offer little to no warmth. When people blanket for warmth, they use heavier blankets, and often have a variety of blankets for their horses that offer differing amounts of warmth.
Is it necessary? No, not usually. Horses are made with natural defenses against cold weather. When horses get cold, they have several things that keep them warm. First is their heavy winter coat, which fluffs out creating a warm air layer between the horse and the cold, which acts in the same way as a warm down jacket. The second is their digestive system. Believe it or not, much of the horses warmth comes from the energy and heat put off from digesting roughage, namely grass or hay. During the winter, you can help your horse stay warm by doing your best to keep roughage in front of him at all times. If your horse gets too fat from free fed hay, a slow feed hay net or bag can help you keep hay in front of them without over feeding. The third factor a horse has for warmth, is their instinct. Horses will naturally gravitate to sheltered areas to keep warm, or will huddle together to keep warm. These instincts keep wild horses alive and also work in your horses! There are a few exceptions to this however, as with most things. Older horses or horses who are clipped or those who don't grow thick coats, may not be able to sufficiently keep themselves warm in cold climates. These horses do often require blankets or need to be stalled during especially harsh temps.
Does it really help your horse? It can but it can also be a hinderance to your horses natural thermal mechanisms. When you blanket a healthy horse with a healthy winter coat, you can actually throw off their internal thermal regulators. This is because blankets push the natural winter fur flat instead of letting it be fluffy. When this happens the hair doesn't trap heat as well and the body can become cold. When they have a blanket on it also effects how their body regulates the heat in the extremities. As the main body warms up the horse ceases to produce excess heat, which is ok for the areas covered by a blanket, however, the areas left exposed like the legs, belly, and neck, no longer are producing excess heat and can then become cold. So the answer to this question is, unless your horse has extenuating circumstances causing it to be unable to maintain and manufacture its own heat, such as being clipped, older, or having a thin coat, then no, it actually can hinder their natural mechanisms that they use to keep warm.
What are some pro's and cons of blanketing? Con's were mostly listed under the previous question above. Another con is that if your horse becomes reliant on a blanket, it will probably continue to need one because blankets often cause the body to grow thinner winter coats thus necessitating a blanket. They are also fairly expensive to buy and replace should they become damaged, and they can be difficult to wash because of their size and bulk. Pro's are as follows...they are helpful to horses who do need an extra layer of warmth. Various factors contribute to this, both natural and unnatural. Older horses tend to have more trouble eating and maintaining weight and can develop metabolic problems that prevent them from growing a warm coat or producing heat via digestion. These horses benefit from blanketing and stalling during especially harsh weather. Unnatural causes of needing blankets are body clipping and other methods used to keep winter coats thin for horses that work during the winter where the owner wishes to avoid horses becoming sweaty and wet and getting chilled as a result. Blankets also aid in keeping horses clean in environments where people ride daily, like show barns and boarding barns. Putting a light sheet on a horse before turning it out in a soft, wet, pasture can mean having to scrape much less mud off the coat later.
So whatever you decide, remember that just because you are cold, doesn't mean your horse is. If your horse is shivering or body clipped you probably should look into a blanket for them. However, if your horse seems happy and is maintaining weight and has plenty of fur, the best way to keep them warm is to leave them alone and provide shelter and hay in a way that they can get it as nonstop as possible. Happy horsing, and stay warm!
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