At what temperature do you move your horses from their fields to the the barn?

[sid]

[QUOTE=IronwoodFarm;8441332]
My horses live out 24/7 regardless of the weather. Just because I am cold does not mean that they are cold. I have sheds in all my fields – the horses rarely use them in the winter; it’s a summer thing for them. I do not clip, so no need to blanket. Putting a horse in a barn is not necessarily a warmer situation. I have found that my horses do better moving around, especially the older ones, and eating free choice hay. I have heated automatic waterers in all fields. My horses thrive during the winter, in fact, I think they prefer the lower temperatures and lack of bugs.[/QUOTE]

Same here.

I’ve managed my horses from birth to old age this way and they’ve been robust, healthy and well-adjusted (i.e. no vices from too much stall confinement).

The only time they come in during the winter (other than for work, farrier or vet, etc) is if we have ICE that they cannot maneuver safely on. It’s rare, but it does happen occassionally.

[Montanas_Girl]

[QUOTE=Linda;8446992]
I am thinking that if I am cold, so are they…but apparently that may not be so. I tend to blanket when its in the 40’s…[/QUOTE]

This is a common mistake. The thermoneutral temperature zone (those temperatures at which the body doesn’t need to burn extra calories in order to stay warm - or cool) for horses is 40-60 degrees Fahrenheit. While you may be cold at 40 degrees, your horses (if they aren’t clipped) are just happy someone finally turned the heater off!

[Linda]

Ok - so a further question. When I go down to the barn for night check, and its 40 or below (and they are blanketed and in the barn) they are not hot…just comfortable. No sweating.

So even though I may be “over reactive” from a blanketing perspective, its really not a problem unless they seem hot or sweaty,right? So long as they aren’t overheating (as in sweating) I figure that they are set for the temperature to drop later in the night.
thoughts on that?

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=Linda;8448728]
Ok - so a further question. When I go down to the barn for night check, and its 40 or below (and they are blanketed and in the barn) they are not hot…just comfortable. No sweating.

So even though I may be “over reactive” from a blanketing perspective, its really not a problem unless they seem hot or sweaty,right? So long as they aren’t overheating (as in sweating) I figure that they are set for the temperature to drop later in the night.
thoughts on that?[/QUOTE]

Because it’s so much worse for a horse to sweat in a blanket (and then be at risk for catching a chill) than for the horse to be a little cold, I always aim to err on the side of under-blanketing.

[Wonders12]

As long as they aren’t sweating (or even just humid/moist/damp) you’re ok. But as the above poster said, over blanketing is far worse than over blanketing. But as long as you’re able to unblanket if/when the temp rises, you’re ok.

[Xanthoria]

[QUOTE=Linda;8448728]
Ok - so a further question. When I go down to the barn for night check, and its 40 or below (and they are blanketed and in the barn) they are not hot…just comfortable. No sweating.

So even though I may be “over reactive” from a blanketing perspective, its really not a problem unless they seem hot or sweaty,right? So long as they aren’t overheating (as in sweating) I figure that they are set for the temperature to drop later in the night.
thoughts on that?[/QUOTE]

I blanket for the average temp over the next 12 hours (or however often I’m there) so if it’s 40 at 6pm and 20 at 2am I’ll blanket for 30 and change blankets in the morning if temps are going to go up.

[Palm_Beach]

[QUOTE=Xanthoria;8448863]
I blanket for the average temp over the next 12 hours (or however often I’m there) so if it’s 40 at 6pm and 20 at 2am I’ll blanket for 30 and change blankets in the morning if temps are going to go up.[/QUOTE]

I blanket for the warmest temperature. Horses deal with cold much much better than heat, and a horse that gets hot under a blanket gets very uncomfortable.

[saje]

For me it depends on the horse.

My guys live out with access to the barn 24/7. The ponies are unclipped and unblanketed, the younger guy (well, he’s 15 now but he’s still the youngest!) is clipped and blanketed but I let him be a little chilly rather than too warm. My 28+yo TB I keep warm because he gets cold easily and drops weight in a flash. He does much better well wrapped, despite being unclipped, so for him I don’t mind if he’s a little toasty under a blanket.

And I take into account too how long the temp will be at its lowest. If it’s going to hit 30 the minute the sun goes down and stay there requires a different strategy than if it dips at 5 am and the sun comes up at 7.

I wish I didn’t have to blanket, but here in SC I just can’t ride and compete a fuzzy horse, and it still gets cold enough that the old man needs it. I swear it was easier in Maine - either leave them furry or leave them covered 24/7!

[DancingArabian]

I start blanketing at 55 (my horse is clipped) and I bring him in at night when it hits 40’s.

[arlosmine]

In my experience, the horse is TOOO hot before they start sweating. I think by the time they start sweating, and we’ve found it, they are already overheated, the blanket interior is wet. Clammy. Yuck.
Unless your horse is clipped, there is not compelling reason to use more than a waterproof sheet (especially if it’s loosely fitted and they can fluff up) if the temp is above something in the neighborhood of 40-ish.

I have been told by many vets to under rather than over blanket if in doubt. I feel (dry) ears. Of they are warm, the horse is fine. I currently have two ponies living in a pasture with a shed. They are in sheets, and are happy. If I had a heavier blanket on them, they would be way too hot during the day, and I’m not going to do blanket changes twice a day on them. If it’s going to be cold at night, they get an extra flake of hay in the evening.

[airhorse]

@Wonders12;8441493

The only time I said “no turnout, it’s too cold” was when the wind chill was below -40.

We use the same number.

No blankets, just big run in shelters.

[GraceLikeRain]

I’m in GA where it is wet and also pretty windy. Owning TBs and TBx horses over the years I’ve always been really conservative. Sheets may go on as high as the lower 60s because heck if I want to bring in a shivering panicked TB who is soaking wet and angry lol. Even in full coat I’ve never had a horse sweat being blanketed very conservatively. I also full board and overnight they get wind protection being indoors but I think the lack of movement also means they don’t stay as warm. The rare times I’ve done pasture board they start coming in at night when the overnight low dips below freezing.

[showidaho]

I modified the SmartPak guide as a general…but I always consider it 5-10 degrees colder if it’s wet or very windy.

40° F – Not clipped: no blanket; Clipped: light weight blanket
30° F – Not clipped: light weight blanket; Clipped: medium weight blanket
20° F – Not clipped: medium weight blanket; Clipped: heavy weight blanket
10° F – Not clipped: heavy weight blanket; Clipped: heavy weight blanket, liner + hood
Below 5°F, Heavy weight blanket, liner; add polar fleece and hood for clipped

I bring them in at night if it falls below 20 or is going to be below 30 and wet.

My horses go out no matter what.

[IronwoodFarm]

SmartPak is in the business of selling horse blankets. My herd is not clipped and not blanketed ever. They do just fine living out 24/7. Rolling in the snow is one of their favorite occupations.

[Linda]

Good input - thanks We are having snow and rain and the occasional ice. So at this point, I am blanketing in those conditions with medium weight water resistant blankets at night. If its cold but NOT raining or freezing, they stay outside (with sheds in the winter) and if it IS raining, but not freezing, they are still outside with blankets and they hang out in the sheds.

If it is freezing, they are in their stalls (which have a door that leads to a pipe corral outside) so its not necessarily a totally closed up barn. All seems to be going well so far. Appreciate the input - always useful to get input from others!

[sid]

One of the biggest problems is to equate how you feel re temps and falling weather vs. horses. Different species with totally different protocals needed.

As long as they have adequate shelter and windbreak, fresh clean water and forage and don’t have their coats cut off, they are well adapted. To cover a nice coat which tamps down the “loft” that changes with the temps, is begging for trouble as they can’t control their own body temps as the temps change 24/7.

[Linda]

Back in the 70’s, right out of college with basically no money, I lived in Oregon and had a horse that lived at home. When we first moved in, we did not have a barn, but I cobbled together a 3 sided shed in the garage (that back in those days had a dirt floor). One night when I went out for the evening check, that poor mare was really shivering. As I reall, it was just about at freezing then. So I got a blanket from a neighbor for the night - which worked and then bought one for her.

I’ll never forget how forlorn and unhappy that poor mare was, freezing out there…and its stayed with me all these years. And that makes me sensitive, even now, when the temps go down, so we make it a routine check in on everybody at night before bed. I just slide my hand either on their coat(if not blanketed) or under the blanket and get an immediate idea of how they are doing. My oldest is 28 and is doing fine. So far, have not had overheating or sweating but we check both at night and in the morning when we take off the blankets at breakfast time unless the weather is colder or raining. Appreciate the input!

[showidaho]

[QUOTE=IronwoodFarm;8450582]
SmartPak is in the business of selling horse blankets. My herd is not clipped and not blanketed ever. They do just fine living out 24/7. Rolling in the snow is one of their favorite occupations.[/QUOTE]

While that is a good point, you are in Virginia and your climate is significantly different from mine (it can be -50 with wind here). Also, my horses are in work during the winter…so I do use to this as a guide for MY horses. Could they live out and be fine? Probably. Does this system work better for my purposes? Yes.

[IronwoodFarm]

Totally agree Showidaho. My point is that SmartPak wants everyone to buy a blanket. It has no “no blanket” options, which suggests to me that perhaps they want to sell blankets. Their guide would have me blanketing in Virginia where winter temps can be quite cold at times. Obviously, I don’t follow their guide as my horses are unfazed by the weather.

I have no issues with what others want to do with their horses, including blanket, being naked or any situation inbetween.

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=showidaho;8450194]
I modified the SmartPak guide as a general…but I always consider it 5-10 degrees colder if it’s wet or very windy.

40° F – Not clipped: no blanket; Clipped: light weight blanket
30° F – Not clipped: light weight blanket; Clipped: medium weight blanket
20° F – Not clipped: medium weight blanket; Clipped: heavy weight blanket
10° F – Not clipped: heavy weight blanket; Clipped: heavy weight blanket, liner + hood
Below 5°F, Heavy weight blanket, liner; add polar fleece and hood for clipped

I bring them in at night if it falls below 20 or is going to be below 30 and wet.

My horses go out no matter what.[/QUOTE]

That seems like a lot of blankets for the temps listed! If you’re already using a heavy weight blanket AND a liner at 5F for an unclipped horse, what do you put on that horse at -5F, -15F or -30F??