Why You Should Blanket Horses In Winter
Blanketing your horse keeps them clean and reduces the amount of hay they need.
A recent study on horse blanketing found that horses who are blanketed in winter require 8% less hay to maintain their body weight. That has a huge impact on your horse-keeping expenses.
Here are some simple guidelines that horse owners might find helpful in determining whether or not their horse needs the protection of a blanket:
HORSE BLANKET FACTS:
- Horses that are clipped or kept in barns under light to discourage winter coat production should be blanketed when temperatures drop below 60º F or when it is windy or rainy.
- Horses with a moderate hair coat can tolerate temperatures as low as 40º F. If they have a heavy coat, they can tolerate temperatures down to about 30º F. Wet conditions change these temperature limits, so keep that in mind when blanketing!
- A horse that has recently moved from a warmer climate might benefit from some external help. Once they've spent the 10-21 days being exposed to the colder weather, they will adapt and need less help, but you might find it beneficial to blanket them until the next winter.
- Older horses that move around less benefit from blanketing in colder weather. Moving generates body heat which is why we often see horses' levels of exuberance rise with cold weather!
- Remove the blanket on a regular basis--check to make sure your horse is not losing body condition, doesn't have blanket rubs or injuries, and is not developing a skin problem such as rain rot under the blanket.
- When the weather is rainy, check to make sure the blanket is waterproof--you will be fighting a losing battle trying to keep a wet horse warm with a wet blanket! Place your hand under the blanket around the neck--your horse should feel dry and toasty warm.
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD January 2009; updated June 18, 2018; updated June 5, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
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