How would you blanket your horse shipping this week from Midwest 5-10F to Florida 55F?
I was thinking a heavy weight 400g Rambo and the shipper will remove the blanket mid way, but concerned that he will be too cold if he will start sweating before they remove it… would 300g wug be better?
Thank you for your input!
Amy other horses on the trailer? Honestly, I’d put a wool cooler on, if anything. It gets surprisingly warm in a horse trailer, so unless it’s an open stock they can generally be naked.
I hauled WI-NC around those temps and a cooler was too much for my one horse by himself. He’s a bit of a nervous hauler though so YMMV
If the horse isn’t clipped, I’d ship naked. Or I’d consider a wool cooler or another good one. I find my Rambo Newmarket one to be second best to my wool cooler.
I do find that horses generate heat while hauling.
A huge factor is how many horses will be on the truck, and the size of the rig. Nine or ten horses together on a tractor trailer will throw out a lot of combined body heat.
Interesting! Thank you! There will be 2 other horses (at least part of the way) on the trailer. He is fully clipped and seems to run on the cooler side…. It’s a 4 horse goose neck for the first 8hrs -10hrs and then box stall in a large semi rig.
Yes, one 1980’s year a big rig hauling home from QH Congress or Worlds, can’t remember, all horses were blanketed and windows shut. All horses died. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation!
For a clipped horse with a couple of other horses, I wouldn’t do anything more than something like a Baker sheet. Gosh, we haven’t even busted out our 400g in my barn (all clipped)—I can’t imagine putting that on one to haul.
With a fully clipped horse that runs cold (which mine does too) and generally ships well, in 0-15F weather I might do at the heaviest a 100 gram stable blanket. But agree they run warm when they ship and you won’t need the fill you would if he was just standing in a stall.
Have to agree with the others recommending horse ship naked or the lightest, BREATHABLE sheet on him. As mentioned the horses in the trailer will put out a LOT of heat. Especially when moving, horses will be working at balancing himself which also creates quite a lot of body heat.
We haul in a stock trailer, cover the slot windows in winter to cut drafts. Usually horses haul naked, get breathable cotton or Baker sheets when temps drop below 20F. They NEVER wear any kind of nylon/synthetic coverings in a trailer because horses get lathered under them!
Sheet. And the shippers will murder you if it has leg straps.
Warmer than your situation, but just as a data point: I hauled my fully-clipped mare who tends to run a bit chilly alone in a 2H GN from MD (20 degrees) to FL (70 degrees) last weekend. Had her naked with plenty of hay, started off with all vents and windows closed, stopped and opened stuff up as the temps rose. Had her on the camera most of the way and she was totally fine, zero issues, came off the trailer fresh and comfy.
I wouldn’t. Send enough hay for the trip. They stay warm in the trailer , plus they are working while the trailer is moving so will also generate heat. Better to be a little cool than too warm
I would leave naked if it’s not a stock trailer. That is what Brookledge recommended when I shipped mine from Ohio to Florida in winter. One had a full clip, one a trace. They generate a lot of heat in the trailer. Lots of hay will help.
Reverse Commute for my WB.
Wellington to NW IN at the beginning of December.
Airride semi, arrived in 36h, wearing a cotton sheet, showslick underneath & walked off fresh & cool - physically & mentally.
Just shipped two rounds of horses a week apart from outside of Boston to Ocala (last load left on Sunday). All clipped, going down in a semi. Wore 100gm liners which got pulled about half way down and then they rode naked the rest of the way. All did great.
when i’ve done that temp swing shipping, i did a baker sheet and a baker blanket. the horse was alone in first rig to meet up with a tractor trailer.
they are better off a little cool than warm shipping. bakers breathe and they can take the layers off although shippers usually prefer nothing.
Definitely no high fill clothes like 200g or more. that will be too hot.
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