Should I buy my horse a blanket?

Question

I'm thinking of buying my horse a blanket but not totally sure I need one. I live in MN where the winters are cold and harsh and where the spring can be pretty rainy. The horses are in at night, every night which makes me question if he would actually need one. Also, I heard not to buy one because his winter coat won't grow as much because the blanket would "confuse it"

Answer 1

I haven't read up on the subject of horse blankets much but in my personal opinion a horse's natural winter coat does a much better job at insulating a horse than any blanket could. It seems to me that putting a blanket on a horse would mess up its ability to regulate its own body temperature. Since your horses are in every night I wouldn't worry about using blankets. The cover of the stable and plenty of bedding should keep the horses warm.



I found this website:



http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0101coldcomfort.shtml



-----EDIT:



To sum up the website I gave you the link to:



If you put a blanket that is too heavy on a fluffy, woolly horse it will flatten the horse's coat and make it even colder. Horses coats naturally fluff up and somehow tiny air pockets collect in the horse's coat.



The website also explains how you should be careful about blankets because if the horse starts to sweat and then the temperature drops the horse could chill.



If the horse is thin-skinned, underweight, outside, and the weather is very cold then the horse would probably need to be blanketed.

Answer 2

I would. I'm from Texas where the coldest it ever gets in the winter is like 27 degrees, and we always blanket our horses. Seriously. We get a freeze warning and it's like the world's going to end. People start buying matches and jugs of water. It's ridiculous.

It's not like he'll die if you don't, but if you show or if you keep your horse clipped a blanket will be nice because his winter hair won't grow so huge. If you don't want to but a huge thick rug for him then at least buy him a turnout blanket to protect him from the wind while he's outside.. Don't ever use the blanket when the horse is wet though, that will only do you more harm than good.

Hope that helps. :)

Answer 3

If your horse(s) have a winter coat, then they should be fine. If they don't seem "wooly", then I would get them a blanket, but only keep it on them when it's below freezing, or really wet.

My TB has no winter fur and she's underweight, so she must be blanketed. Her field mates, aren't blanketed at all because they're fuzzy beasts. So, it really depends on the horse.

As long as you don't blanket them before the cold weather starts (like most people do), it won't "confuse" the winter coat. I'd wait until they have some fuzz, and only do it when the weather is completely awful.

Answer 4

I bought my mare Decemeber 2008, she had a nice thick winter coat but I didn't know better and put a blanket on her. This winter she hardly even grew a winter coat which I had to blanket her again this year. But my gelding last winter he was blanketed and this winter is coat is nice and thick. I would only blanket your horse if it is thin/hard keeper. or if it is extremely cold where i live it can get about -10 degrees and my horses without blankets are just fine just make sure that they have shelter they can get otu of the wind and snow/rain.

Answer 5

No. Horses are built to handle cold weather and it's better just ot let his coat grow out. Blankets are fine for older horses or if you keep your horse clipped, but otherwise he'll be just fine. Sometimes they do more harm than good. For example, if you put a blanket on after the horse is already wet then all you're doing is ensuring the horse will stay wet and that it will get down into his skin.

Answer 6

Load of rubbish! I easily have blankets here that are in all danger older than you. I easily have indoor ones for the horses that are in paintings, they're clipped. each and every horse had a cotton sheet, no rely if it rather is chilly I easily have a cover on good of that when which their rug. all of them have an out of doors blanket. I do have a transformation around so if the indoor rugs get very grimy then they are in a position to be washed yet frequently it is all they have and the cotton sheets are effective for the summer season if i ought to apply them. You buddy has additional funds than experience and has of course in no way heard of a needle and thread for upkeep! quite rather I easily have in no way had any lawsuits from the horses that I easily have patched their rug and it does not tournament. once I do i'm going to tell them to like it or lump it. LOL

Answer 7

I blanket mine all winter, i live in MN. During the cold cold cold winter months I had a stable blanket with a hood on one gelding, and a waterproof thinsulate sheet over it. The other horse had a heavyweight with a waterproof sheet over it. Now, one doesnt have anything on and the other has a thin waterproof sheet. You do not need to start blanketing now if you haven't all winter, and i show and ride my horses ALL winter, so unless you ride and show all winter theres no point.

Answer 8

If you haven't by now, what's the point? He will sweat under it now. It's almost Spring. I would think that in Mn, you might consider it, but not after the winter hair has come in. It depends on how warm your barn is and if your horse runs out during the day during the winter months, just leave him alone and let him grow his winter hair.

Answer 9

I think he'll be fine. He has been handling the cold just fine lately, hasn't he? So therefore I don't see the need for one. Not unless you want to keep his coat sleek, but in that case, you'd have to get a slinky too and put them on every night during the winter.

And it's almost spring. It'll get much warmer and there won't be a use for one.

Answer 10

i would deffinantly buy one! just the other day i had to bring in a little pony because he was so cold he was shivering and has frost all over his fur, i had to quickly dry him off and put on i dont know how many blackets to heat him up! i felt so sorry for the poor little guy because he has awful breathing and he doesnt get along with the other horses at my stable and he was an ice cube ! :( but he was shivering very badly!

Answer 11

I allways have a blanket handy because my horse gets really cold sometimes, but I only put it on if he is out in the rain or shivering. Its nice to atleast have handy for him.

Answer 12

For me, since I show my mare through the summer, I don't want to be spending months shedding her out, so I keep her blanketed light. I also live up in Ontario, Canada where it is probably about the same temp as it is where you are. During the summer, I don't blanket her all at.



Its just up to you.

Answer 13

yeah you should , no need to risk getting rain rot and that. It will keep it warmer. BUT it depends your breed . Does it have a thick coat normally ? research the breed.

maybe a light blanket ?

hope this helps sorry i cant help more.

Answer 14

first you need to have your horse outside when it is cold and check the base of the ears and i think were the back leg and body meet. if your horse is shivering of course he is cold also check for clear snot that's really all you have to do.

Answer 15

i wouldnt

Answer 16

Get it a snuggie