Winter Tips for Blanketing Your Horse
Winter is officially in full swing and for many horse owners that means pulling out their horse’s blanket. Knowing when to start blanketing your horse can be a delicate dance - and there’s no one-size fits all answer. Your region’s temperature and climate, as well as your horse’s age, body condition, and living situation, all factor into the equation. Clipped horses in full training will have different blanketing needs than a senior horse used for light trail rides. Likewise, a stabled horse will have different needs than a horse who lives in a pasture with shelter.
Knowing when to blanket your horse won’t just help them stay warm, it will help them stay healthy and comfortable. To help you out this season, we’ve put together a few easy to follow guidelines so you can determine when and how to blanket your horse when the temperatures drop.
Blankets and Clipping
Clipping a horse’s coat is a common winter practice, and one that’s meant to help a horse cool down faster and prevent excess perspiration during a workout. Many riders find clipping an easier route to take during cold winter months because it lessens the possibility that the horse will be blanketed while it’s coat is still wet. Blanketing a wet horse can cause shivering and ultimately result in the horse’s body temperature dropping to an unsafe level.
There are a number of different body clipping styles, and every rider has their own preference, but no matter how your horse is clipped, keep in mind he will always need more blanketing than a horse that has a full winter coat.
For more information about different types of body clipping, and which style is best for you, take a look at this article from USEF.
When to blanket a clipped horse
Clipped horses are more sensitive to cold weather because they lack all or some of their winter coat. These horses require blanketing whenever temperatures drop below 50℉.
A good rule of thumb as to which blanket a clipped horse requires is:
● 40℉ - 50℉ - sheet or light blanket
● 30℉ - 40℉ - mid-to heavyweight blanket
● 20℉ - 30℉ - heavyweight blanket
In temperatures below 20℉, the clipped horse will need a little extra protection to stay warm. On especially cold winter days, be sure to add a sheet underneath your horse’s heavy winter blanket for maximum insulation and protection against the elements.
When to blanket an unclipped horse
Provided weather conditions don’t involve a temperature-dropping windchill, unclipped horses with access to shelter and in good body condition can safely withstand temperatures between 25℉ - 50℉ without the help of a blanket. Depending on the horse and the weather, you may want to consider providing a light blanket around 30℉. When the temperature drops below 20℉, it’s time to pull out a mid-to heavy weight blanket. Any temperature below 10℉ always calls for a sturdy heavy weight blanket.
If your horse is unclipped and lives in a pasture, be sure to purchase a waterproof turnout blanket, which is designed specifically for outdoor horses and can withstand running, bucking and rolling.
Should I take my horse’s blanket off during the day?
Because temperatures can fluctuate dramatically during the day, blanketing can sometimes require a little advanced planning. A morning that starts out at 20℉ can quickly increase to 35℉ by the afternoon. Keeping your horse in their heavy blanket when temperatures increase can lead to a horse sweating under their blanket, and that sweat, mixed with the cold weather, can quickly turn to shivering and chills.
To help keep their horses comfortable during daytime temperature changes, many owners purchase more than one blanket. Horses turned out during the day, but stabled at night, will likely need a waterproof sheet or light blanket while they’re outdoors, and a heavier blanket while in their stall.
If you notice steam coming from underneath the blanket, this is a sure sign the horse’s body is warming (and sweating), and it’s time to switch blankets, or completely remove it - depending on the temperature.
