Blanketing Weanlings for Turnout First Winter?

[Irish_Love]

This may fall under horse care…but deals with weanling body temps.

When, or do, you blanket weanlings at turnout their first winter? If you do, what’s your go-to blanket brand for first timers?

I’m in GA, so it doesn’t get too cold here, but I typically at least lightly cover my herd at freezing and below. A friend said the weanlings need to learn to grow their stylish fuzzy coats and their body temps are higher, so not so blanket them unless it’s “really cold” true or false?

I’m comparing waterproof turnouts in a 60 and 64 for my 2, but hesitate to invest too much incase they tear them up immediately or grow like weeds right out of them. Opinions?

[bornfreenowexpensive]

If they have a shed or trees where they can get out of the wind…no blankets.

[Dressage_Diva333]

I quit blanketing weanlings because they are notoriously evil to their blankets. It just got expensive too fast having to replace them constantly.

[DawnJL]

I’ve never blanketed a weanling and I’m in Vermont. They have access to shelter, free choice hay, and grow nice fuzzy coats.

This colt was born in mid-August and had a blast in the snow his first winter. (He wasn’t actually weaned until April so he was a suckling that winter.)

[Mozart]

I live on the Canadian prairie where it routinely gets to -25 and often to -30 (colder than -13 F) and I don’t know any breeders who routinely blankets their weanlings. If one seems to be doing poorly (burning too many calories to keep warm) it might be blanketed but as a matter of course, no.

IME nature takes care of the babies, it is the mature horses that get cold faster!

[MuskokaLakesConnemaras]

I live in Northern Ontario in Canada. No blankies here -40 on occasion and I just feed more hay. They all have access to shelter, so…

[Cindy_s_Warmbloods]

We are cold here as well. I find I rarely blanket in the winter even with -40 temps; however, I do blanket spring/fall when we get the rain/sleet combo. That is what really makes them cold is the being wet. As long as they are dry and can “fluff” their coats they can handle the really cold temps well. You will find foals get their best/heaviest coats that first winter and look like little wooly mammoths!

[Copilot]

I blanket my weanlings. I’m sure they would be just fine without one, but it makes me feel better when (like today) it’s cold, windy and has been raining non-stop. My current weanling will practically dress herself in this weather.

I also like taking it on and off for training purposes. Straps, material touching their sides, the general motion of draping something over their back. I find it helps later on in life. One less battle.

I will admit I also have a horse blanket addiction.

[SouthernYankee]

I’ve never blanketed my babies, never had a reason to, and they have lived out 24/7… here in Alabama we should be getting about the same winter as you. I just make sure I feed plenty of hay and they have access to a shelter, the same as with the big horses.

[Equibrit]

I live in N GA and never blanket anything. It just isn’t necessary unless you have an individual who is compromised in some way.

[rodawn]

Another Canadian prairies dweller - I also don’t blanket usually.

But . . .

Mid October to end of November, the weather is really erratic - some nice cool-warm sunny days followed by sudden drops in temperature, wind, interchanged with dry and wet rain-snow weather. None of the horses have a full-on winter coat yet and if they get wet, no amount of eating or movement is going to warm them up - they need to get dry first! In this sort of scenario, rather than blanket weanies, I just bring them inside to wait out the storm. Everyone else stay outside, but are blanketed for added water/windproofing.

As we get into December, everyone’s coats are thicker, much more windproof and waterproof, the weanies stay outside and do just fine as long as they have lots to eat and good shelter. Even though December through to March-April brings some of the nastiest, bitterly cold weather, it seems to be that they rarely get very cold at all. It all depends on the big 4 factors: Coat quality, diet, shelter, and how much wet is involved.

My horses are not clipped. Should a severe cold-wet storm come through anywhere in the northern latitudes at this time of year, some animals could suffer severe consequences simply because they are not yet prepared - As proven by the big storm that hit some of the US prairie states just a few weeks ago… many, many horses, cattle, and other animals were lost because without full winter coats they literally froze to death.

[rosebudranch]

I blanket mine, thankfully my last two babies have been good to blankets so all my 52-64 are now on their third year… But now I’ve got a 2 yr old pony and yearling filly that both wear the same size so I’ll have to buy new and my weanling is wearing blankets those two wore when they were 8 months and it’s too small.

[sherian]

I blanket my weanlings - my paddocks do not have shelters and I am often not home during the day to bring them in if the weather turns nasty. I also agree with Copilot - blanketing is a great training tool, they get used to things on their body, being touched all over (especially doing up leg straps) and when the inevietable loose strap occurs they get used to dangly, flappy things.

[melhorse]

Here is some information on winter blanketing that may surprise you-

This is the result of a multi-year study done by CSU, using state of
the art thermal detection equipment. Colorado State University is
widely considered to be one of the top three equine veterinary
schools in the country: Blanketing horses is one of the worst things
that you can do to a horse in the winter. Horses have the ability to
loft and lower their coats to 17 different levels, so it’s like
exchanging 17 different thermal weights of blankets off and on them
all day and night, depending on what they need- except that we don’t
know what they need as well as they do. Their ‘self-blanketing’
process works a little like ‘chill bumps’ do in our own skin. That’s
why long-haired horses may seem fluffier on some days than on others.
Only three things make the ‘self-blanketing’ process not work:
blanketing, clipping, and wind. Not even snow or rain stops their own
thermostats from doing the job. Also horses are in ‘neutral’ (meaning
not using energy for either heating or cooling) when the air around
them is between 26 and 38 degrees. Otherwise, they’re using energy to
control their temps. So- since they’re cooling their bodies when the
temp is over 38 degrees, they’re having to use extra energy to cool
themselves when blanketed in temperatures over that. Any time a horse
that is outside and has a long coat is shivering, it’s because the
horse has opted to shiver to warm itself, instead of using the option
of moving. Moving generates a considerable amount of heat for a
horse, but they sometimes stand and shiver while napping, etc. It
does not mean that they need to be blanketed. However- a horse MUST
have a way to get out of the wind in order for their
‘self-blanketing’ abilities to function fully.

It turns out that blanketing is done more for pleasing the human, than to fill a needof the horse. The horse blanket industry has done a great job of
making us think that their product is a necessary part of good
horse keeping- when it is actually an item that is very seldom needed.

[rosebudranch]

[QUOTE=melhorse;7242121]
Here is some information on winter blanketing that may surprise you-

This is the result of a multi-year study done by CSU, using state of
the art thermal detection equipment. Colorado State University is
widely considered to be one of the top three equine veterinary
schools in the country: Blanketing horses is one of the worst things
that you can do to a horse in the winter. Horses have the ability to
loft and lower their coats to 17 different levels, so it’s like
exchanging 17 different thermal weights of blankets off and on them
all day and night, depending on what they need- except that we don’t
know what they need as well as they do. Their ‘self-blanketing’
process works a little like ‘chill bumps’ do in our own skin. That’s
why long-haired horses may seem fluffier on some days than on others.
Only three things make the ‘self-blanketing’ process not work:
blanketing, clipping, and wind. Not even snow or rain stops their own
thermostats from doing the job. Also horses are in ‘neutral’ (meaning
not using energy for either heating or cooling) when the air around
them is between 26 and 38 degrees. Otherwise, they’re using energy to
control their temps. So- since they’re cooling their bodies when the
temp is over 38 degrees, they’re having to use extra energy to cool
themselves when blanketed in temperatures over that. Any time a horse
that is outside and has a long coat is shivering, it’s because the
horse has opted to shiver to warm itself, instead of using the option
of moving. Moving generates a considerable amount of heat for a
horse, but they sometimes stand and shiver while napping, etc. It
does not mean that they need to be blanketed. However- a horse MUST
have a way to get out of the wind in order for their
‘self-blanketing’ abilities to function fully.

It turns out that blanketing is done more for pleasing the human, than to fill a needof the horse. The horse blanket industry has done a great job of
making us think that their product is a necessary part of good
horse keeping- when it is actually an item that is very seldom needed.[/QUOTE]

if you breed the thread about it… its not a real study… might wanna check back into that …

[EventerAJ]

Weanlings come equipped with the thickest Yak coat you can imagine (and ear-hair to match!). $6-figure Kentucky TB weanlings live out all winter with no blankets; so long as they have a shed or windbreak they’ll be fine. Make sure to supply plenty of quality hay, with supplements and/or grain as needed.

Weanlings only need a blanket if they’ve been clipped or under lights, or are otherwise devoid of natural insulation.

[JB]

[QUOTE=melhorse;7242121]
Here is some information on winter blanketing that may surprise you-

This is the result of a multi-year study done by CSU, using state of
the art thermal detection equipment. Colorado State University is
widely considered to be one of the top three equine veterinary
schools in the country: Blanketing horses is one of the worst things
that you can do to a horse in the winter. Horses have the ability to
loft and lower their coats to 17 different levels, so it’s like
exchanging 17 different thermal weights of blankets off and on them
all day and night, depending on what they need- except that we don’t
know what they need as well as they do. Their ‘self-blanketing’
process works a little like ‘chill bumps’ do in our own skin. That’s
why long-haired horses may seem fluffier on some days than on others.
Only three things make the ‘self-blanketing’ process not work:
blanketing, clipping, and wind. Not even snow or rain stops their own
thermostats from doing the job. Also horses are in ‘neutral’ (meaning
not using energy for either heating or cooling) when the air around
them is between 26 and 38 degrees. Otherwise, they’re using energy to
control their temps. So- since they’re cooling their bodies when the
temp is over 38 degrees, they’re having to use extra energy to cool
themselves when blanketed in temperatures over that. Any time a horse
that is outside and has a long coat is shivering, it’s because the
horse has opted to shiver to warm itself, instead of using the option
of moving. Moving generates a considerable amount of heat for a
horse, but they sometimes stand and shiver while napping, etc. It
does not mean that they need to be blanketed. However- a horse MUST
have a way to get out of the wind in order for their
‘self-blanketing’ abilities to function fully.

It turns out that blanketing is done more for pleasing the human, than to fill a needof the horse. The horse blanket industry has done a great job of
making us think that their product is a necessary part of good
horse keeping- when it is actually an item that is very seldom needed.[/QUOTE]

No no no no, just…no :no: :no:

Not only is there so much wrong with that, it’s not even the result of a study, much less any study that CSU did.

It’s total garbage.

I did not blanket my weanling. I did not want to buy a blanket his size, even used - I tend to hang on to everything and I wouldn’t need it again for at least 10 years LOL

I brought them in for the nasty weather, which really means prolonged cold rain, or driving sleet. Cold was never a problem. I’d bring in anyway for driving sleet - that stuff just hurts.

rodawn made the best point - time of year vs weather conditions. Jan and a 40* rain is very different from late Oct or early March and 40* rain, because of the condition of the coats.

Just do what seems best for that particular horse. Nothing wrong with stalling the baby for the worst weather if you think he’s not equipped to deal well with it in your situation.

[columbus]

Don’t be silly

The only weather condition that can cause problems is windy cold rain and you should have shelters for that…and they will probably not use them. Instead you will feed extra hay when it is cold(below 20 degrees farenhite)…they are called hay burners for a reason and hay stokes the furnace. If they get cold they will start stirring around and someone will start poking at someone else and they will go out and run and play and get warm. Unless of course you have installed sofas and TVs in the shed so they live the life of a Chihuahua, horses get winter coats and have fun playing and they grow funny and get poop mats on their bellies because their hair coats are so soft and fluffy poo sticks. Let them be horses…God knows they will spend enough of their lives living in poorly ventilated stalls turned out for a few hours a day…don’t start now. PatO

[Laurierace]

It’s hilarious how much mileage a non existent study has gotten over the years. I can’t think of a single, real study that is horse related with that much buzz. Add me to the I don’t blanket weanlings camp but I do bring them in when it is wet.

[JB]

@columbus;7242456

If they get cold they will start stirring around and someone will start poking at someone else and they will go out and run and play and get warm.

Sure, I just LOVE it when they go galloping around 8 acres of rain-soaked slick red clay in an effort to stay warm. Not.

I also don’t need my mare running off calories to stay warm instead of staying in good weight.

Let them be horses…God knows they will spend enough of their lives living in poorly ventilated stalls turned out for a few hours a day…don’t start now. PatO

Mine are in for 1-2 hours a day. That’s it. Rarely in overnight. Maybe once every other year in for a whole 24 to maybe 36 hours - I think I’ve done that twice in 10 years. Barring injuries of course.

In well-ventilated stalls. So no, not every horse will spend even a portion of their life in poorly ventilated stalls turned out for a few hours a day.

I blanket to AVOID stalling the few times a Winter that I blanket.