To blanket or not, in the south

[@sheriharader2566]

My horses came from a warmer climate to Montana, so the first winter, we did blanket them during the extreme cold. Once we built the barn, only our senior mare was blanketed. They are never locked in the barn, always free to come and go. Most horses in Montana don't have shelter and are never blanketed! That can tug at your heart when it's subzero and the wind is blowing.

[@DulceGarcia-Morman]

I live in the Albuquerque NM area and most mornings we're in the 20's during winter. I don't blanket my horses, and they have the option to stay in their barn stalls during windy conditions. I only blanket my senior horse (30yo) if it's in the teens and windy (he's a hard keeper), and blanket comes off during the first morning feeding. Horses have been evolving for over 50M years -they've got this!

[@micheller1426]

Blanketing changes the way the natural, non clipped, hair lies. When you blanket it flattens out, for cold weather their hair needs to be fluffy and be able to stand up. Even when it rains, their undercoat is fluffy and dry. That being said, in our bad ice storms (TX) I do blanket my horse, but it’s so that I can sleep. His turnout has access to a stall. He will ask for the blanket and walk into it if I hold it up, but who knows what that’s about, he may like it for ten minutes then want it off again, it may just be a novelty. I probably only blanket once or twice a year, again, it’s for me, so that I can sleep.

[@rhondab9792]

I owned my horses in Colorado. Tennessee Walker, OTB, and two ranch Quarter-types. They had access to a barn but very seldom went in. They preferred standing in their pasture in the sun. During a blizzard they would be butt to the wind with snow piling up on their back. Even down to one horse, same. Never sick. Never lame. Never blanketed.

[@gaylemanion6869]

Once you body clip a horse there is a responsibility to provide temperature appropriate clothing. If you can't, don't body clip.

[@SAR-f4o]

Amen!! Thank you for this video!!

[@claudias4601]

From Texas to South Dakota, never ever put a blanket on a horse or saw one with a blanket on. During blizzards the horses would all stand with their butts to the wind or find a ravine to get down in. My Arabian got a bad leg injury from a mountain lion in late December. My vet wanted the wound sprayed with a hard stream of cold water for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day while debriding the wound. I'd be layered up in long underwear , Carhartt insulated overalls, a down coat, face mask and gloves and mittens on top of rubber kitchen gloves. I'd still be freezing and yet my horse just stood there and accepted that cold water without moving or being tied.

[@lydiagould3090]

In the South UK the weather in Winter is quite mild compared to many areas of the US. I have native ponies who have thick woolly fur and I very rarely put a blanket on. Persistent rain and wind is the worst because they don't dry out, so I have a lightweight rain sheet I can use which keeps them dry. Many people here clip their horses, particularly if they go hunting ,or compete in Winter. I have to keep my training sessions short ,and limit my faster work during the winter as she can overheat. They have 2 big stables with compact hardstanding area outside and are open all the time so they are free to come and go as they wish. The entrances are 12ft wide so a horse can't get cornered inside.

[@timandersonhorsetraining]

Staying wet is more of a problem than the cold where I am also.

[@BoMcCool-b8b]

Our friends in Wyoming do not blanket until it gets to zero degrees, temp and wind on the older horses. I feel if the combined wind, temp and moisture is below 15* here in Louisiana, we put on blankets.

[@PiggyLong-zz6uw]

Sreally great info

[@Sine-gl9ly]

IMO, it's only important (with a healthy, full-coated horse, of course) to use rugs/blankets to protect against unrelenting rain (especially with wind), not against cold temperatures per se. I had one pony who'd simply lie down in the corner of a hedge when the weather was cold, wet and windy. I crouched down beside him several times and he was always in a prime position for shelter and protection. So I'd just leave a slice of hay beside him and hope the wind didn't shift before he got the chance to eat most of it! He'd stay there rather than go into the bedded-down shelter that was available to him ...

[@Angels1here]

if we clip the winter coat, yes

[@laurakerley8774]

Down to the teens in CA but still don't blanket. 18 yr old PRE stallion. Has a barn to stay in when he wants. I do feed extra over night in real cold. weather

[@406dn7]

When my horses are at home, they aren't blanketed, ever. I live in Montana, and last winter we had a couple of nights down to -30F air temperature. They can get in or out of the sun, shade, rain, snow, etc, as they choose. When I am hunting with them, I will take blankets. If there is snow and cold, I will blanket them. If they are ridden and won't dry off, before nightfall, they get a blanket. If a horse has free access to shelter, it does not need a blanket.

[@fairwood100]

I was hoping that you would address the blanketing of clipped horses in the South. Going from a cold climate with huge winter coats to a warm climate (FL) and clipping various styles (bib, trace, full body, etc.). We went from 30' up north to 80' in FL so clipping was necessary. Now we have 35' nights in FL. How much cold can clipped, pastured horses withstand? Age dependent, of course.

[@jamesrhodes3871]

We do not blanket ours until it is actually below 40 and only if it will get below 40 for more than 2 hours. Blankets come off when the sun comes up. Also it is SUPER important to supply hay. Horses regulate their body temperature by eating long stem ruffage.

[@annbrown7042]

Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 I only ever blanket overnight when the temp is going down to -15C

[@joannehuttenhoff2701]

Grew up in Winnipeg and never blanketed a horse. First time seeing a blanketed horse was when I moved to southern CA 😂

[@yessabell1707]

❤❤❤

[@rosiebeeeeebb]

At what temp should I blanket my morgan mix that doesn’t get clipped? I usually put a thin blanket for when it’s 30degrees or less… for minus 10 or more I do have a thicker blanket?

[@roc-r6x]

I see the problem of horse owners NOT removing a blanket for hours and the entire day. I do not blanket unless the day time temp vs. night time temp has a fast drop of 20 degs or more.

[@SandraBrooks-m5q]

No sound. 😢