The million-dollar question is … to blanket or not to blanket?
Unfortunately, there are no quick answers to this question. And, most times, there are no wrong answers. There are several factors when choosing whether to blanket or not to blanket your horse. And, as always, important to discuss this topic with your veterinarian to determine the best course of action for your horse.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What is my horse's breed and body type? Different breeds can have different reactions to the colder weather. For example, an off-track Thoroughbred might need a sheet or blanket starting in September versus a Shetland pony who seems to double in size with his furry winter coat, thus never needing a blanket.
What is my horse's body condition? The body condition of horses based on the degree of fat cover is a good indicator of a horse's general health. The body condition score (BCS) allows one to access if the horse is too thin, too fat, or about right. You can download one version of the Henneke Equine Body Condition Score for your records.
If your horse’s condition is lower than a 4, is older and/or may not have access to shelter to protect against the wind, you will want to consider weather-resistant turnout blankets.
Is my horse body clipped? If you keep your horse's body clipped throughout the year for one reason or another, your horse will need to be kept blanketed. However, if you want your horse to grow his coat naturally for winter, avoid using a blanket to allow the hair to grow.
A horse's coat is naturally strong to protect from nature—long and thick enough to block the wind while helping to insulate. This process is called piloerection, when the smooth muscle that attaches to the lowest point of your horse's hair follicles is contracted, causing the hair to stand up on end, thus creating a fluffier, more insulated coat.
Does my horse have access to forage throughout the day? A horse stays warm from the inside out, and having a healthy diet of high-quality forage throughout the day and night helps to keep the internal combustion process going. Slow hay feeders in the stall and/or outside in the pasture can be helpful when fresh grass isn't readily available.
If your answers pull you towards blanketing, you’re not done with the decision-making quite yet! There are multiple types of blankets, outer shell strengths and poly fill weights to consider. It can be absolutely head-spinning.
Let’s role-play a little:
You live in the Midwest and own a 30-year-old Quarter Horse mare in good health, but she doesn’t grow as thick a coat as the younger horses. She's inside at night but turned out most days (pending inclement weather). During Fall, when the temperatures drop at night, she might be more comfortable with a sheet or a fleece cooler when she’s stalled, just to keep her cozy during the cold nights and help her acclimate to the dropping temperatures. However, during the day she goes out without a sheet or a cooler. When winter arrives, she may still be comfortable with that set-up of a lightweight cover at night and nothing during the day, but temperatures at or below freezing will require a turnout blanket of at least 250 grams.
On the flip side, you have a 10-year-old Miniature Horse in good health that’s been body-clipped for one more autumn show. A turnout sheet would be needed during the day if he’s turned out during cooler temperatures, and a lightweight blanket to wear overnight. But only until the show season is complete. Then, you can allow the Miniature Horse to turn into a woolly mammoth, his coat is so thick you practically lose your hand when you penetrate the hair. A blanket is no longer needed for the winter until the show season starts back up.
Blanket Dedication
If you decide to follow the route of blanketing your horse, be ready to dedicate some time to the cause. Don't just put on and forget; daily checks should be given to ensure that blankets aren't wet and that there aren’t any signs of rubbing, causing discomfort to your horse.
Owners should plan to remove the blankets often to check over their horse's body condition (blankets are good at covering weight loss) and give a good brushing to rough up the hair that's been smoothed down flat. Keep an eye on the weather to ensure that the blanket your horse is wearing isn’t too heavy or too light and be prepared to switch blankets or remove the horsewear altogether.
Wondering what a lot of the blanket terminology, such as 1200D and 250g poly fill, means? Learn blanket terminology with Blanketing 101.
