What is a horse blanket? Does your horse really need one?
When the cold weather comes around your area, some owners automatically take out their horse blankets. Horses, however, have winter coats that provide much more warmth than any horse blanket. Unless the horse's coat has been cut, it is outside in the wind, or it had been moves to a colder climate than what it is used to, the horse may be just fine outside without winter horse blankets.
In the winter, horses have longer coats and that hair traps the heat against the horse's skin. The tiny muscles under the skin will help to raise the hairs and that will heighten the amount of insulation the horse gets. Flattening the hairs on the horse by adding a horse blanket can actually make the horse colder.
If horses are not used to blankets, the animals can even get overheated and start to sweat. The sweat can cause dampness which can lead the horse to become chilled. This chill can cause respiratory infections and even pneumonia. If the horse wears waterproof horse blankets during the cold, morning hours, make sure the blankets are removed once the sun is out and the temperature rises.
Because of the potential danger, it is important to pick horse blankets that are appropriate for what the horses actually need. Wool blankets are not as resistant to weather and are considered old in style. Modern winter horse blankets, however, are much warmer and have insulating fibers between their layers. These blankets are lighter in weight and will not flatten the horse's hair.
It is important to make sure that the horse blanket fits the horse, no matter what type of horse blankets are used. If the blanket is too tight, it may rub against the horse and cause sores. If it is too large, it can slip down around the horse and lose its insulating abilities. The blankets need to be put on properly and fit just right.
Each horse needs to have a blanket of its own. Sharing blankets can spread skin problems and the blankets should be washed often in cold water using disinfectant soap. A horse should be blanketed if it is visibly uncomfortable in the cold; if it is old and tired; if it is young; if it has clipped hair or does not have a good enough coat; or if it has just moved to a colder climate.
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