This will be my first winter owning a horse who will be living outside 24/7. And I’m pretty new to MN, so I’m just not sure what I need.
I’m starting to look for winter blanket options to see if I can get deals before winter comes, but I’m not entirely sure what I should be looking for.
What are some COTH favorites? Brands and weights? Suggestions? She’s a bit rough on them so the sturdier, the better.
When I asked the TCCT list, I heard everything from “horses do fine naked” to “two heavy weight blankets at a time.” I expect that my medium and heavy weight blankets will get use, especially that first year. I generally leave everyone naked through the winter season here in Colorado.
For brands, my preference is Rambo Wugs. Love them. They’re pretty pricy, though. I can’t afford to outfit my whole herd in brand new Rambos. I bought a couple of these and these when they were on sale and I think they will do very nicely. Bummer that they’ve gone back up to full price already. I just got mine a couple week ago.
I also like the SSTack blankets, and they are very reasonably priced. I prefer their euro cuts. I will pick up a few of those as well.
We’re really past the blanket sale season, unfortunately! My plan is to have a lightweight (shell with no fill), medium weight (~200g) and heavy (~300g) for each horse. I far prefer the wug style cut, although they can be a bit harder to find.
And this is all with not clipping. Are you clipping this winter? I’d be looking at a super heavy with a full neck (like the Rambo Supreme with 420 g) if so!
Thank you!! I get so overwhelmed. I’ll be looking for used stuff, too, not just sales.
My mare doesn’t get much of a thick coat, so I want to have something to help out, especially if we have another winter like last winter. For your sake and mine, I hope not.
I always forget about the TCCT list, guess I could log in to my Yahoo account once in a while!
I hope your move is going well, I thought about you a few nights ago as I was driving to the TCs from Sioux Falls and saw a whole lot of hay baling going on! I meant to PM you but work is nuts and none of my connections knew anything that would help you out.
We’re about a month away! OMG!
I’ve gotten some leads on the hay thing and I’m sure it’s one of those things that will all work out and I will wonder just whatinthehell I was so stressed over. Has it stopped raining up there yet? I’ve seen a lot of new hay postings on FB!
I hear you on finding used blankets. Although I’ve really found that while it sounds like a great idea, I’ve never been happy when I go that route. Waterproofing is a funny thing sometimes. I have some older Rambos that are still very sound and sturdy (seriously, they last forever) but they’re really old enough that the proofing is toast. You can use the nikwax stuff to reproof but it just doesn’t seem to be the same and I ALWAYS worry in those circumstances if the blanket is getting wet and making the horse cold. Better for my piece of mind to just buy something new where I can trust that it’s actually waterproof. I’ll still use the old Rambos, but not when there’s risk of it being wet.
This was my favorite blanket we used for Piglet last year. We bought him a few different brands, trying to do it on the cheap, figuring he would likely grow (which he did…grew out of everything by spring.) Really nice blanket, though! Fit him well, nice heavy duty shell that stood up to my bitchy mares. Kept him warm. No complaints about the proofing. I’ll probably pick up a couple more of these in bigger sizes for the crew.
I’ve also been eyeballing these. Good price! 1200D. I might do the sheets in this line for everyone.
Is there a wind break or shelter?
Even down here in Texas the winter winds from the north can be cutting… we put in a windbreak on the northern end of the pasture, it is now about 35/40 feet tall and provides about a 80 to 100 foot calm area for the horses in the winter
I forgot where your mare is from, but that does make a difference. I moved my Old guy from Norfolk to Minnesota. He is 21 Tb who is a hard keeper. I like stable blankets for layering. I think they are less bulk for the horse. Saying this, I probably went over board, but I have a sheet, med weight and a heavy weight outer blanket with a med and heavy stable blanket. Here is my general blanketing strategy, but it also depends on wind chill.
40 to 50 sheet
30 to 40 Med
10 to 20 Heavy
-5 to 10 Med + Heavy
below -5 Heavy + Heavy
The few times we got below -20 with wind chill of -40 I had him in a Med + Heavy + Heavy. I really hope this winter is not nearly as bad. He has been know to be shivering at 45 degree with nothing on him.
As far as durability, I layer with on top a Kensington Fly sheet. Those things are really durable. I finally had to replace mine after two years. In those two year I did not have one ripped blanket and I can then buy the cheap ones. Hope that helps.
And remember to keep quality hay in front of her, horses are called hay burners for a rrason. Also to encourage drinking in the winter i like to drop an apple in the water bucket. The horse has to bob to get the apple and inadvertently drinks.
Simkie, the rain has stopped! We are supposed to get some storming this week though, but overall it’s much drier.
clanter- she will have shelter! We do get wind, but one thing I like about the winters up here is that they’re generally pretty still. It’s a nice change from windy Chicago and even Columbus OH.
sheltona- She’s from Iowa but wintered in OK and TX every year until last year. Thank you for being specific, it helps!
MunchingonHay- Thanks for the apple tip- thankfully she’s a heavy drinker, but we’ll see how that is, when it’s 15 degrees outside. She will always have hay.
We will be at a very respected, very quality barn so I definitely don’t worry about the care/access to hay and water. I also feel confident that if she needs something (ie is cold or too hot), I’ll get a call.
Thanks for the info!
Kels–
I have been caring for horses in WI winters for 7 years where there is no heat and the barn is open. The horses are not clipped. There are many factors, as alluded to above including:
age, haircoat, amt of work, availability of hay 24/7, and the actual climate.
Some years I don’t blanket at all. Last winter all of the horses except the yaky pony wore blankets for 30-60 days.
There is no simple formula. But, IF YOU BLANKET, have back ups in case of wet weather, pasture playing, etc.
I would start with a Medium weight and an unlined turnout sheet. Layering is your friend, just like for people.
[QUOTE=Kels;7675754]
![/QUOTE]
yeah the winters are so rough here in North Texas LOL … my daughter’s buckskin came from North Dakota … he never puts on a winter coat here
But if you see the birds began flying south earlier than usual, beavers begin collecting more wood than normal for the winter ahead, and some cattle putting on thicker and shaggier coats… you better head south also
I haven’t had a horse out 24x7 here but I’d be looking for layering options. Rambo is the brand I’ve had the best luck with on two different shaped horses. I’ve found some of the tack shops allow discounts to be applied that makes them more affordable. I’m sure you’re aware of the tack sale in the fall where you may be able to find something. I’d also try a want-to-buy on TCCT as there are people like me who are too lazy to take things to sales.
You could just send her to me for the winter. No blankie required.
I bet she’d like Florida… can I come too? We can share a stall.
Can we ALL go to Florida for the winter?
I forgot to mention, I do ride all winter in a heated indoor (40ish degree) so he is traced clipped and he is a weeny about the cold. He spent most of his time in Tn and Va.
Horses around here (Twin Cities) can do fine with shelter & no blanket, as long as they are otherwise healthy, fed well, etc. There are a few exceptions, but most are fine. Mine was out 24/7 the first 10 yrs of her life, no blanket. She now wears a blanket b/c we ride in a heated (humid) indoor arena & she gets too hot with a full winter coat.
If I didn’t have to deal with overheating concerns, or getting her dry after riding, I would never put a blanket on her. I worry that she is not warm enough with any blanket, no matter how heavy, versus her own wooly coat. Of course, once you put the thing on, you have to keep it up, and worry about the correct weight for the temp, etc. It is a butt-pain
your tax dollars at work: U of MN extension provides research based info:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/horse/care/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket/
[QUOTE=sheltona01;7677900]
I forgot to mention, I do ride all winter in a heated indoor (40ish degree) so he is traced clipped and he is a weeny about the cold. He spent most of his time in Tn and Va.[/QUOTE]
This is super, super helpful. Thanks Ann!
[QUOTE=Hippolyta;7677915]Horses around here (Twin Cities) can do fine with shelter & no blanket, as long as they are otherwise healthy, fed well, etc. There are a few exceptions, but most are fine. Mine was out 24/7 the first 10 yrs of her life, no blanket. She now wears a blanket b/c we ride in a heated (humid) indoor arena & she gets too hot with a full winter coat.
If I didn’t have to deal with overheating concerns, or getting her dry after riding, I would never put a blanket on her. I worry that she is not warm enough with any blanket, no matter how heavy, versus her own wooly coat. Of course, once you put the thing on, you have to keep it up, and worry about the correct weight for the temp, etc. It is a butt-pain
your tax dollars at work: U of MN extension provides research based info:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/horse/care/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket/[/QUOTE]
This is also very helpful! She doesn’t get a super thick coat, but I do ride in a heated indoor and she gets really hot, so I’d like to trace clip her like I did this year.
Thanks for the link!
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