Tack Time: Tips on using horse blankets

Winter can be very tough on horses. It's important to make sure your horse is getting proper nutrition, has a wind-and-water proof shelter to hang out in, and to know if your horse needs a blanket or not for extra protection.

Whether you use a blanket or not depends on many factors. Is your horse a pasture horse? Does your horse spend most of its time in a heated stall? Is your horse a show horse? Do you live in a climate with lots of snow, sleet and freezing rain? This article is mainly directed at horses that are out in pasture, living in an outdoor environment.

Generally speaking, a pasture horse is quite capable of going through winter without a blanket. Horses are natural outdoor creatures and can adapt to very cold temperatures. Using a blanket on a horse that is out in the pasture 24/7 can actually be a hindrance. The reason is that a horse's hair thickens up the colder it gets, and the heavy, fluffed up hair acts as a natural insulator. Putting a blanket on a pasture horse not only inhibits the growth of the winter coat, but it can also press down on the hair itself, reducing the hair's insulating properties.

However, even though most pasture horses do just fine without a blanket, there are times a blanket may be necessary to help your horse get through some very severe weather or unusual conditions. Here are a few instances where you should consider a blanket:

• If you notice your horse is uncomfortable or is shivering and shaking.

• If you see that snow is melting on the topside of your horse. This indicates that too much heat is escaping, and melting the snow. Normally, snow that lands on a horse's topside and does not melt shows good heat retention.

• If your horse is exposed to very cold, wet rain - even a thick winter coat can't protect against cold rain. Cold rain soaks the hair and causes it to lose its insulating properties.

• If your horse is old, weak, ill or recovering from an illness or injury.

• If your horse is very young and hasn't been through a winter before.

• If your horse is very thin.
  
  
• If your horse has not grown a nice, thick, heavy winter coat. This can be particularly common among very old or very thin horses.

• If your horse was from a warmer climate, or if your horse has been stalled in a heated environment, and is now turned out to pasture.

Most experts and vets recommend that you start to blanket your horse when you first become aware he or she is uncomfortable or shivering. It's a good idea to blanket your horse if the wind is cold and strong, or if your horse is in cold rain without access to a covered shelter

Once you blanket your horse, watch for any signs of overheating. Things like:

• Sweating behind the ears

• Absence of any sweat at all

• Heavy breathing

• Lack of energy or movement

Blankets can very be very effective tools for helping your horse through a tough winter. The keys to effective use of a blanket is to observe your horse, keep a close eye on weather conditions and not to hesitate to put a blanket on your horse at the first signs of discomfort or shivering.