I live in a mild region and the temp rarely gets below freezing. Lately nights have been about 45 degrees, days can get up to 70. My horse was clipped in October and has been blanketed nights since then. He has a stall with bedding and a small paddock attached with the door always open. I do all my own blanketing before and after work, and it’s a PITA 
At what low temp do you guys think it’s ok to leave the blanket off?
Well, horses are most comfortable at temps between 50 and 60 degrees. Since your horse was clipped in Oct, even with blanketing, he has hair growth. So, personally, I would not blanket him if it is going up above 60 and only down to 45.
For the past ~2 weeks, our temps have been somewhere between a low of 45 and night and a high of 85 during the day (very odd mild end of winter/early spring weather), and mine (age range 4-22 yrs, and all sporting hunter clips (hair just left on face and legs)) have all been outside naked. Better to have them be a bit cold, and have hay to eat, then have a sheet/blanket on and be overheated. Mine have all been very happy.
Im in the same vecinity as Sidesaddlerider. My guy also has the hunter clip and goes wihtout a blanket the last couple of nights and hasnt had any problems. He however is just as grumpy as I about the abnormal “summer” season we are having so early!!
Enjoy the warm weather!!!
I haven’t been blanketing some nights (in CA as well) since it really isn’t getting that cold. I think we had one night last week where it was freezing in the morning, but otherwise they’ve been pretty mild. Especially if he’s been in a stall, I probably wouldn’t worry about it.
However, do have your rain sheet handy since its supposed to be coming back this weekend, at least in my area 
Cool (literally - LOL). Some people go blanket crazy where I am and it’s really not that cold. Plus he’s out of the wind and can curl up on shavings. I feel better now!
Not looking forward to that rain forecast KateKat, the last one happened on the weekend too!
Hi Whistler:
I’m in your area and do my own blanketing for the old guy in town. I have stopped this last Tuesday but will start up this weekend and check the temps from there. I only have to put the blanket on since all blankets are taken off in the morning when the guys feed.
My mare just got clipped last week(hunter clip as mentioned by SSR) I sheeted my mare for about 4 nights just so she could adjust, but has been naked the last few nights(mid 50’s) and has been fine.
My horses have been naked for almost this whole month!! One I clipped in December and the other one was clipped end of January. They have been super happy. They are only turned out during the day so the barn is most likely toasty at night with everyone in.
Do not blanket- it is way too warm for that. If he has hay to munch on and a windblock, he will be fine. Most tend to overblanket. Only time I would blanket is if it is cool and raining- in that case a lightweight sheet (no fill, just waterproof) will work.
I showed up for my lesson today at 4pm. My horse was in a sheet and blanket and sweating like a (fill in the blank) since it was 77 degrees!!! I was there an hour before lesson time and let him stand stripped in the aisle where there was a breeze or I’d have been putting a saddle on a wet horse.
It’s supposed to be going to a low of 40 tonight, but its 1:25am now and according to my thermometer, it’s currently 55 so I don’t know how much lower it’s going to go.
I’m in California too. I’ve been alternating between blanket and a sheet for the last few weeks depending on the weather forecast. It’s that time of year… in another few weeks we can wash those blankets and put them away for the season!
I am still blanketing, but watching the weather forecasts every day. My horse is starting to shed out what remains of his winter coat (he was clipped around Thanksgiving), so I don’t feel I am overdoing it, even when it’s into the low 50’s. The guy who blankets checks the forecast also and will just throw on the sheet if it’s above 55. I have a lighter stable blanket and a heavier turnout (my horse lives in a pipe corral with no windbreak), so I rotate those in and out of use as the temp dictates.
I stop if the day time temp is around or above 35/40. Definitely when its above 45 consistently for a low.
I tend to be more conservative and as long as they stay dry I would rather have them too cold then hot.
I would likely put on a rain sheet if its windy and rainy, horse is trace clipped and hasn’t grown back hair yet.
Basically I try to put away blankets since by March I’m sick of them LOL.
The problem with asking “at what temperature should I blanket” is that the real answer is “it depends.” For a horse that has spent the winter in Chicago 50 degrees might feel really warm, but for one that lives in San Diego that’s going to be a chilly. Also 60 degrees feels pretty cold that first day in the fall and we all get out the sweat shirts, but the first 60 degree day in the spring feels wonderful and warm and we strip down to short sleeves. I know that my horse is comfortable at colder temperatures than I am, but I still use my comfort level as a gage. If I’m happy in a t-shirt or long sleeved t-shirt they can be naked. If I need a sweat shirt I’ll throw on a sheet and if I need a coat they get a blanket.
The other thing I do is feel the horse’s ears. If their ears are cold they need warmer clothes.
I’m also in CA. Lately we’ve just been sheeting at night even for the clipped ones. Horses seem do be doing fine. We leave them naked at anything above 55.
[QUOTE=fourmares;6216438]
The problem with asking “at what temperature should I blanket” is that the real answer is “it depends.” For a horse that has spent the winter in Chicago 50 degrees might feel really warm, but for one that lives in San Diego that’s going to be a chilly. Also 60 degrees feels pretty cold that first day in the fall and we all get out the sweat shirts, but the first 60 degree day in the spring feels wonderful and warm and we strip down to short sleeves. I know that my horse is comfortable at colder temperatures than I am, but I still use my comfort level as a gage. If I’m happy in a t-shirt or long sleeved t-shirt they can be naked. If I need a sweat shirt I’ll throw on a sheet and if I need a coat they get a blanket.
The other thing I do is feel the horse’s ears. If their ears are cold they need warmer clothes.[/QUOTE]
I also check the ears. I stopped blanketing a month ago, had switched my mare to a waterproof breathable sheet for one week, and she has been naked the rest of the month. Location is Kansas City, day temps usually 55 - 70 which is unusual for March, and night time temps in the 40-50 range. She is indoors, in a barn and one or 2 of the 3 barn doors are left open now that the temperatures have risen,
It will be 34-55 in texas. Is it ok to keep blanket on if temp rise to 55
@fourmares While I completely agree with your “it depends”, I beg to differ with using your comfort level to apply to horses.
Your barely-hairy body is hella lot more sensitive to cold than horses’ (unclipped)undercoat & guard haired selves.
Besides ears, I check brisket, belly & flanks.
If all feel warm, no blanket needed.
I don’t clip & Midwest Winter has some brutal temp swings.
This weekend had single digits & below zero wind chills along with high winds.
Blankets went on as my 3 - teen horse & pony, 5yo mini - are not stalled. They have free access to stalls from pasture 24/7.
They stayed in, their choice, until wind abated & temps got into the 20s.
Blankets came off yesterday morning.
They will go on if we get another deepfreeze or if snow is heavy & wet.
Even then, if snow is piled on their backs , not melting, no blanket needed if my 4-Point check shows they are warm.
I overfeed hay, rather rake out wastage than have them with nothing to stoke the furnace.
Of course, any sign of shivering & blanket goes on.
I have only midweight - 200g fill - waterproof turnouts.
Bought each a rainsheet, used them once.
They will come in, on their own, before getting soaked.
