The Madden Method - Blanketing or Not

[@kerry3546]

This information is awesome for beginners and also dog people. It’s the famous quote “if you’re cold so is your animal”. A lot of dogs love the snow because they have that double layer. Also with a double coated dog, because a husky has a bunch of hair doesn’t mean it can’t thrive in 70 degree heat. My TB mare, thin skinned never could go without a blanket, her coat just never materialized enough to keep warm, while her stablemates were fine. This is a great example of how to explain their needs. :)

[@Pfericks]

Also different breeds of horses have different needs. Our Halflinger runs from her blankets, but our OTTB will ASK for his. And so, we work accordingly.

[@lilik6945]

we had an imported PRE over here in germany.. i accidentally put the wrong blanket on her and went to take it off, she chased after me as i was walking away with it to get the right one 🤣

[@Helena-rd4im]

My haflinger got cold years ago in -45° +the windshield with freezing rain so I brought her in the barn and toweled her dry a few times. She always had a marvelous natural wither coat

[@lynnes11]

I agree with the premise of this video--that horses naturally can deal with the cold and wet. HOWEVER, it is not good for horses to work hard with their winter coat. It is like exercising in a sweater. Further, the horse becomes quite sweaty, which takes a long time to dry out and the horse can chill. She suggested drying your horse, but I have tried using coolers and towels to dry my unclipped, sweaty horse after work and she just doesn't dry, takes way too long. Therefore, I only see a need for blanketing if your horse is clipped (and you would only clip if they are in work). Blanketing a horse with a full winter coat does not make sense. Basically agree with everything she says. Thoughts? :-)

[@aesedgwi]

I think it's important to mention other factors to take into consideration regarding blanketing. Underweight horses, older horses, and sometimes just wimpy horses often need blanketing when the weather is cold. If you see them shivering, they're too cold. Sometimes free choice hay and a shelter isn't enough. Even healthy horses in good weight with a good coat can struggle in the cold. Im at a barn of about 10 horses the Upper Midwest at any given time there are several who can comfortably stand out in a blizzard and a couple who are shivering and miserable when it's 35 and windy.

[@karenmiddleton3649]

I love this video! I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (home of Spruce Meadows where we LOVE Beezie!!) and my horse lives outside all year round, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It gets very cold here in winter - in fact we are expecting lows of -25 Celsius (about -13 Fahrenheit) in the next few days. My horse is not blanketed at all and does just fine. She gets a nice, thick coat and as you mention in the video gets really fuzzy when it's cold. Fortunately here it's a dry cold (lots of snow but it's usually like powder) so as long as she has access to as much good quality hay as she wants she seems happy to me.

[@Kimberlyk12]

I loved that explanation. Didn't really know that's how their hair works with water. My horse is only cold if he gets too wet. It was a literal -60 without wind chill last winter in MN and my horses were perfectly fine outside without a blanket. The only reason I blanket some winters is to have a nice clean horse and if I have to put a slightly sweaty horse back out, I can put his fleece on for a bit and then his blanket.

[@jwallace5630]

Thank you for being smart, taking great of the horses and for letting them be horses.

[@MeladoriMagpie1984]

Authentic ❤️ Thank you for the video! Would love to see one about teaching horses ground manners!

[@bonblue4993]

Thanks for the fascinating information. I really dislike seeing horses in a field with a rug on, especially when they want to roll.

[@laurajohns3095]

I kept a TB in interior Alaska. I always impressed on my PCers to let horses grow a coat in the fall, no blankets. TB grew such a thick coat, snow did not melt when it fell on his back. He did great at -50, just lots of grain and full time hay.

[@NoThankUBeQuiet]

I think this is true for cold weather horses. But when you get to hot climates tbe discussion on clipping getd more interesting

[@texasalb]

Authentic 🥰🥰 What a good pony!

[@sskonefal]

he looks like a very happy Olympian :)

[@EleanorNeville618]

Great video, thanks. Authentic 😍😍😍

[@equestrianna13]

YES! Guard hairs.

[@emily-jobell3352]

Great video and explanation, thank you for sharing. I've learned something new today! I have 2 horses, and we live in Atlantic Canada. They are field horses, with a run in shed with shavings. I currently blanket them if they are wet and it's going to dip below 0 Celsius OR anytime if it's going to go below -10 Celsius. Is this unnecessary? What would you recommend? (They are both chunky QH crosses, ages 13 and 20, good health, not clipped at all). Thank you, Emily

[@dianereiser6417]

I have one horse that doesn’t get a thick coat during winter, she will shiver when it’s cold, wet and windy, she gets blanketed.

[@jessicapersonal9678]

Do the show horses that travel from the north in summer to the south in winter get a chance to grow in their full winter coat before they transport to the warmer weather and get clipped? How does that effect their coat if they are working in warm weather, sweating, etc (but nature is telling them the days are shorter}?

[@Robin-sb7vu]

Thank you so much for this detailed explaination! I have horses that are turned out 24/7 unless there is inclement weather. Then they come in. I would love a video on after riding a field horse what are the steps you take with the irish knit etc. I find your videos such a great training tool for me. Can I share this on my FB page for my horse friends?

[@Jumping4Fun54]

She said you rub them down with a towel then leave them in the barn with the Irish knit until they are dry, pretty self explanatory

[@Steffybernier]

Do you guys also apply the same rule to a horse affected by Cushings?

[@rachealsingell3857]

A horse I attained has been blanketed most her life here in eastern NC. Can I train my horses hair to grow or be natural so one day I won’t have to blanket? She’s 15 yr old. Thanks so very much.

[@andiee4163]

if you decide to do a full body clip (head and neck and all that), but the horse gets daily turn out- are they fine with layered blankets that DONT cover the neck? Or would at least one blanket need a neck cover? Would they lose all their body heat out through their neck enough to possibly cause harm to their health? Stables Ive ridden at have always done trace clips but that’s something Ive always wondered about!

[@johnmaddensalesinc]

andiee - Great question and thanks for watching! It probably depends on the temperature, conditions and how long they’re out for. We would suggest checking them, as Becky demonstrates on their chest, to see if they are staying warm or not. A neck cover can help one that’s been fully body clipped, but again, make sure to check regularly for rubs!

[@andiee4163]

@@johnmaddensalesinc I guess that's what I was wondering- is if checking their body by touch is proof enough of body warmth if the neck is exposed. I'm in WI, where we often have days that they stay inside regardless due to how cold it can get (except so far our winter days have been relatively mild, we don't even have snow right now!) but everyone's temperature limit for turn out seems to vary and I suppose that's where the uncertainty comes in as far as whether or not to cover the neck. Thanks for the response!

[@feywhite3541]

I am a big advocate of not over rugging, but this will not work for all horses. Many breeds (thoughbreds, arabians etc) will not grow a thick coat like this simply because of genetics.

[@raphmaster23]

I think its more individual, my Arabian grows a really nice thick coat in the winter..

[@humanityandloves]

Hi from oz your videos are great every paddocked / field horse needs a rug i agree with what your saying but they need a rug .