Jessi Lohman Manager of Equine Marketing

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The Winter Dilemma – To Blanket, or Not To Blanket

From Michelle in Virginia Beach, VA

Q: My older horses that aren’t in work stay turned out 24-7 in the winter. Should I blanket them?

A. Hi Michelle,

In short – no, I wouldn’t blanket your horses. Horses naturally grow a thick, dense winter coat that does a good job of keeping horses warm and relatively dry during harsh weather. Moisture often stays on the outer coat and rolls off. The most important thing is to make sure they have a run-in shed or break of trees to back up against on extremely windy days. Now if you have some finer-boned, lighter-coat breeds like Arabians or Thoroughbreds, they may need blankets when temperatures dip near or below freezing.

From Wendy in Lancaster, PA

Q: I foxhunt every Saturday in the late fall and winter, but my mare doesn’t warrant a full body clip. She has a blanket clip. What are the best blanketing options for her?

A. Thanks for writing Wendy!

Since your mare still has a full coat covering the majority of her back, your best bet is to invest in one medium weight blanket for colder days (40 degrees and below) and one lightweight blanket for days when temperatures are milder (40-50 degrees). If you can find one, get a medium weight blanket that has a removable hood. Your mare will appreciate that, as a blanket clip takes the hair off her neck.

From Amy in Baltimore, MD

Q: I show my hunter year round. I compete her throughout the winter, thus she gets a full body clip. I work during the day and can’t be there to switch blankets around if the weather suddenly gets warmer or colder. How do I handle blanketing for all types of weather conditions?

A. Great question Amy!

Rule of thumb: Always better to under-blanket than over blanket. Most blankets are lined in nylon, which doesn’t “breathe”. So when a horse starts sweating under a blanket, that nylon is going to make her even hotter. Then, should it get cold when the sun goes down before you get home from work, there’s a strong chance your horse will get chilled and possibly sick. So your best bet is to watch the weather in the morning before you head out the door, and then dress your horse on the off chance that it will be 10 degrees warmer than the weatherman (because they are never wrong you know!) has predicted.

From Lee in Owensboro, KY

Q: Some blankets run in even sizes (76”/78”/80”) and then others run in 3” increments (75”/78”/81”). My Quarter Horse gelding normally wears a 76”. Am I safer to go with a 75” size so that it will be a little snugger and thus warmer?

A. Hi Lee!

Actually, you’ll want to go with the 78”. It’s better for the blanket to be a little roomier, so as to not constrict movement in the shoulders. Quarter Horses tend to be broader in the shoulders than other breeds. A blanket that is too tight in that area could cause nasty sores right on the points of the shoulders that will make wearing a blanket of any kind uncomfortable for them.