Well, I'm having trouble deciding whether or not/if to use a blanket on Bones. He has a relatively nice coat but, I still worry. Steve, the guy who leases George, bought Bones a brand new blanket and I feel bad if I don't use it. Lol. If you blanket your horse, do you have a certain degree that if the tempeture falls below you blanket? If it is going to snow should I throw it on him to keep him dry? His back is generally wet if it is snowing/raining but, the other day it actually had snow on it (a sign that he is warm if I am correct).
This year Ive had to blanket almost all winter due to Daya having a crappy coat. With the other horses Ive owned it all depends. If a horse has a big fluffy coat and snow isn't melting and making the coat wet I don't blanket. If the horse if fluffy but the snow is known to melt the horses coat I use a waterproof turnout blanket (usually a light to medium weight blanket) just to be on the safe side, it such a pain drying a horses winter coat when its 32 degree's outside! lol You just have to watch your horse close and be sure he isn't getting too hot in it. If its a heavy weight blanket it may make him sweat with his winter coat.
ReplyDeleteNow on a horse like mine that has minimal winter coat growth, anything under 40 degree's I usually blanket.
The guidelines I use:
*Good- Medium Winter Coat
20-30 degree's - medium weight blanket
10-20 degree's - medium weight with liner
-0- 10 degree's - heavy weight
*Bad /Short Winter Coat:
30-40 degree's - mid-weight blanket
30-20 degree's - mid-weight with fleece sheet/blanket liner
Below 20 - Heavy weight with a possible sheet/liner depending on weather conditions (snow, wind, chill factor)
I have three horses. The two seniors grow real nice coats and don't shiver so I don't blanket them. The younger gelding doesn't grow and thick coat and he shivers when the temp drops below 40F so that is my mark. When I see the temp will be below 40F I blanket him....but only at night as he will be standing around in the barn. When he is turned out during the day I don't blanket him. He can run around and stay warm. Besides my donkey will chew the blanket to shreds if I leave it on. I live in Central Georgia so I only need one mid-weight blanket.
ReplyDeleteI do blanket, but of course, the snow melted on my gelding and I had to dry him off and throw a blanket on. As said, it does depend on the horse.
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