Now that we’re hitting wintertime, the horse world is filled with debates (as it is every year) about whether or not horses should be blanketed, or when they should and shouldn’t be blanketed. Everyone has their own opinions about it, but this post will go over some things to keep in mind when you’re making your decision.
Does your horse have a good winter coat?
Some horses just don’t grow thick winter coats. Most horses do, and are therefore just fine on their own, but again, some don’t. This could be due to age, nutrition, time of year, living conditions, previous blanketing, or a variety of other reasons. Horses’ winter coat growth isn’t based on the temperature, it’s based on the shortening of days. So, if there is a cold snap much earlier than normal, horses may not be prepared with a fully grown winter coat yet. The temperature does affect how thick their coats get, but it doesn’t in itself trigger the growth of a winter coat. In addition, if horses are kept in stalls (or indoor in general) they will not grow as thick winter coats because they don’t need them when they are out of the wind and cold. In the same vein, sometimes horses that have been blanketed in previous winters will not grow very good winter coats if left on their own because their bodies have been trained not to because they were previously blanketed. There are other reasons that horses may not grow thick winter coats, but those are a few of the big ones.
Does your horse have access to food and shelter?
Horses’ biggest mechanism for keeping warm is eating. Horses in general, but especially horses in the cold, need constant access to forage in order to stay warm in cold temperatures. In the winter, this generally comes in the form of hay. If horses are just about always eating, they are almost constantly digesting, which produces heat. It’s important to note that grain does not produce the same heat as hay when digested. This is because grain is digested in the foregut of the horse (stomach and small intestines) while hay is digested in the hindgut of the horse (everything else). So grain can be helpful for keeping weight on horses in the winter, but hay is more beneficial when it comes to keeping horses warm. So, if your horse does not have constant access to forage, he will be colder than he otherwise would.
Shelter is also important, though access to forage is higher in value. It’s very helpful for horses to have some place to get out of the wind and weather (like rain). Horses can handle cold and wet conditions individually, but when it’s both cold and wet, they can start to struggle to keep warm. Shelters (like lean-tos or run-in sheds) give horses a place to go to get out of the weather, allowing them to stay dry, get out of the wind, and warm up a bit.
Is your horse’s winter coat doing its job?
Even if your horse grows a sufficiently thick winter coat, it’s important to make sure that it’s still keeping him dry and warm in wet conditions. Problems can arise when it rains at very cold temperatures or when snow melts, and a good winter coat will keep your horse dry even when faced with those challenges. Snow and ice should sit on top of your horse’s coat. This shows that the winter coat is working, because the snow and ice aren’t melting through to the horse’s skin and are even insulating him further. If your horse gets rained on and appears wet, rub a small area of his coat backwards and look at the undercoat. If the hair closest to his body is still dry, your horse is likely doing just fine. If that hair is wet, and he’s soaked to the skin, you probably have a problem.
It’s also important to see if your horse looks cold. Some horses will shiver for a few days when it first gets cold, but if shivering persists past a few days or gets severe, you may need to consider a blanket.
Finally, I prefer to leave horses without blankets whenever possible. Most will be just fine with access to food, water, and shelter. Some do need extra help, though, and may require a blanket. In the end, it’s important to do what’s best for your horse!