Blanketing! What layers do you use for the entire winter?

[ChestnutArabianMare]

Here, winter temps average 10-30 degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes colder, with occasional wind and lots of snow. My relatively fluffy, unclipped Arab X mare lives outside w/ a netted round bale, a buddy and a 3-sided shelter that she uses during horrible weather.

I have a turnout sheet and a 250 g midweight from Schneider’s for her. She’s been blanketed a grand total of 3 days with her rain sheet this fall, when we had 2" of 35-degree rain in a little over 24 hours. Otherwise, she’s been naked and rewards me by liberally coating herself in dirt every day. The midweight goes on if it drops below zero or it’s a terribly windy blizzard… but I think that’s probably more to make me feel better than because she needs it. She undresses herself if she doesn’t want to wear the blanket. It’s really very handy.

It’s interesting because I bought her in February '17 from several hours further south and she barely had any winter coat since she’d been blanketed and stalled… she took about a week to adjust to living outside and after she removed her rain sheet twice and tore a hole in a another one in a week, we decided she was done with blankets for the year. She was much fluffier the next winter and even fluffier the next winter.

[Simkie]

@Palm Beach

Wow some grinchy grinchers needing some Christmas spirit here! I guess that if snarkiness makes you feel better, have at it.

So what were you trying to convey with the study you shared? Maybe you’d like to tell us?

Denmark is = to USDA hardiness zone 7-8-9, btw. A vast portion of the US is much colder. If you were trying to express that horses in nordic countries could be naked and be okay, that’s not really shown there, with the whole very temperate climate and heated compartment thing.

Tampa is also zone 9. Austin is zone 8. Nashville is 7. Those aren’t really what I think of when I think “nordic.” Maybe you have a different visual.

[JB]

LOL, I had visions of Denmark being a lot colder! You’re right though - a fairly warm climate, similar to here in NC and warmer.

What’s also interesting is that it’s farther North than NC is, which means fewer daylight hours in the Winter, which typically translates to more coat growth. It’s on par with Quebec-ish. So, more coat, a milder climate.

[Bedina]

I’m in Northern Virginia, and last year was the first winter with my mare. I left her unclipped, although she never got particularly fuzzy. She wore an Amigo rain sheet with a removable neck from about 30-45 degrees F (a bit higher if very wet outside), and a medium weight Wug if colder/snowier. She came into her stall on brutal days, but spent most of her time turned out in paddocks will little wind break and no shelter.

This year, she’s much fuzzier and still unclipped. She now has a small three-sided shed, which she adores - if it’s wet or particularly windy, she spends her time there. She’s not worn the rain sheet nor the Wug at all. I did put a hand-me-down light Hug (100g?) on her the few days over Thanksgiving when it was very cold with sustained winds, but she likely would have been fine without (as an aside for those of you searching “blanket fit” and “draft cross”, I’ve found the Hug to be a much better fit in the neck and shoulders than either the Amigo or the Wug).

Last year, I spent a lot of time researching blanketing practices. This year, I’m more concerned that I might cause her to overheat by blanketing her unnecessarily.

[Palm_Beach]

@Bedina

Last year, I spent a lot of time researching blanketing practices. This year, I’m more concerned that I might cause her to overheat by blanketing her unnecessarily.

Most of the most valuable horses in the world go out with nothing more than a nice healthy coat of hair.

https://www.facebook.com/CoolmoreStud/photos/a.639703819426008/2059579434105099/?type=3&theater

[Simkie]

@Bedina

Last year, I spent a lot of time researching blanketing practices. This year, I’m more concerned that I might cause her to overheat by blanketing her unnecessarily.

It’s amazing how breathable the newer blanketing materials are. I worried last year when the horses were unusually cold and wound up wearing much heavier blankets for the temps than I would normally use. But the materials today are so much lighter and more breathable than before, it wasn’t a problem at all, even when temps unexpectedly rose. Really changed my whole outlook and approach.

[JB]

@Palm Beach

Most of the most valuable horses in the world go out with nothing more than a nice healthy coat of hair.

https://www.facebook.com/CoolmoreStud/photos/a.639703819426008/2059579434105099/?type=3&theater

I’m curious how you know this, and how that picture is evidence?

[Simkie]

@Palm Beach

Most of the most valuable horses in the world go out with nothing more than a nice healthy coat of hair.

https://www.facebook.com/CoolmoreStu…type=3&theater

Oh?

https://www.facebook.com/CoolmoreStu…9979764398403/

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:"https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/28576444_1689979741065072_7387422916724683907_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=cf6a46d770d027bc26ea9d771a6f2d16&oe=5C8C5639)

[Simkie]

Ha, how fun–WinStar is doing Christmas give aways. Check out Tiznow picking a winner! (Nice original Rambo he’s sporting, too :lol:)

https://www.facebook.com/WinStarFarm…8015353947405/

Ooooh, and Pioneerof the Nile playing!

https://www.facebook.com/WinStarFarm…9856318243918/

We’ve also got Chrome rugged up over at Taylor Made (can’t place that brand, maybe Shires?):

https://www.facebook.com/taylormadea…type=3&theater

[Texarkana]

Ashford Stud rugs their stallions HEAVILY. Heavy fleece-lined stable rugs in the barns (which I’m pretty sure are climate controlled anyway) and heavy weight turnouts outside. Some of them get clipped, but not all of them.

It was well above freezing this day and everyone was wearing two stable blankets: [ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:“Click image for larger version Name: GC.jpg Views: 2 Size: 14.0 KB ID: 10298522”,“data-align”:“none”,“data-attachmentid”:“10298522”,“data-size”:“full”}[/ATTACH]

I don’t know of a single farm in Kentucky who doesn’t blanket their stallions. Mares are a different story; some do, most don’t. Definitely more of an “as needed” thing, as there are a lot of logistical considerations like lights or nursing foals.

[JB]

And have you seen how heavily a lot of the most famous reining/cutting horses are blanketed in Winter? :eek:

I bet Carl Hester’s horses are pretty upper level and valuable
https://www.facebook.com/www.carlhes…8713624242085/

Uta Graf and her horses aren’t any slouches either
http://www.eurodressage.com/2010/11/…-kingdom-horse

[Palm_Beach]

@JB

I’m curious how you know this, and how that picture is evidence?

Because I’ve been there many times in winter. Only the stallions get blankets, the mares, foals, yearlings, etc are running around out in the fields all day and night with no blankets. FYI, horses that are in work are usually clipped hence the blanketing.

[RInurse_Rider]

I just ordered new sheets and polar fleece liners for my 2 girls. Teeqi is low on the pecking order and sometimes pushed out of the run-in. Her sheet will have a neck cover. Cassie never wore a blanket before I got her, but she tends to lose weight in the winter and doesn’t grow much of a winter coat. She loves her blanket. Midnight is a hairy yak and winter means he doesn’t need a muzzle to keep his weight down. No blanket for him. All 3 share a run-in and plentiful if not free-choice hay. I opted for the fleece liners so the mid-weight blankets can be warmer when it gets below zero. NE here, wet and windy this year so far.

[JB]

@Palm Beach

Because I’ve been there many times in winter. Only the stallions get blankets, the mares, foals, yearlings, etc are running around out in the fields all day and night with no blankets. FYI, horses that are in work are usually clipped hence the blanketing.

Where is “there”, and how does that translate to "Most of the most valuable horses in the world "?

Kentucky? So if I get that right you’re saying that KY has most of the most valuable horses in the world (not that Dressage horses don’t sell for a couple million or anything, in Europe), and only the stallions ever get blanketed (because…they’re in work, and clipped?), and the mares are more valuable than the stallions (because “Most of the most valuable horses in the world go out with nothing more than a nice healthy coat of hair.”)?

Got it.

[Palm_Beach]

@JB

Got it.

It’s about time.

[BruBoy]

A 200 gram fill, high denier count blanket with a removable neck and a 100 gram fill Amigo Insulator (love not having the additional leg straps) gets our crew through the majority of the winter. I live in Canada where temps can reach lows of minus 40. They mainly wear the 200 gram blanket but when the temperature drops the neck cover goes on, and when the temperature really drops, the Amigo Insulator goes on under the blanket and hood. We do have 400 gram heavy weight blankets with necks but in two years they’ve wore them maybe twice.

[outerbanks77]

I am another big fan of the 100 gram blankets. I have a thin-skinned appendix mare who would definitely choose that heated compartment. At the first drop of rain she is huddled in her stall, so I’m inclined to put something insulated on her when daytime highs are consistently <50. Normally, I’d switch to a medium when highs are staying <40, but she is currently on stall rest, so I’m experimenting with blanketing her a little lighter so that she still burns some calories to keep warm.

With my coming-3 WB filly, who has a modest coat, but thicker than the other mare, I put her in a medium when it’s below freezing at night. Just got her a 370 gram high neck that I’ll probably switch her to when we start dropping into the teens or lower.

My other heavy blankets are 400 grams with neck covers, so I reserve those for the really frigid times, though I could see them getting more use on a fully clipped horse.

Climate is dry/cold desert (Idaho)

[2DogsFarm]

:uhoh: I am starting to feel like The Most Abusive Owner EVER.
I am in the Midwest, where Polar Vortex is sometimes in the Winter vocabulary.

I own a medium-weight (~100G fill) waterproof turnout for each of my 3.
The 16yo TWH & 18yo Hackney Pony get plushy coats - you can sink a finger up to the knuckle, Mini is a complete & total yak.

They live out 24/7 with free access to stalls in my unheated barn.
As far as I can tell, they sometimes come in to nap (bedhead manes/tails) & occasionally to poop.
Never need to pick more than 3 or 4 piles from any one stall - they share, sometimes all 3 in 1 12X12.
Otherwise they are out in my shelterless fields < no trees or run-ins.
They even choose to sleep outdoors most of the time.
When a rare Eastward wind blows they will sometimes line up at the West-facing Wall of Shame where barn meets indoor & is somewhat sheltered, while being visible from the house.

I don’t blanket unless nighttime temps dip into the single digits or minus-zero #s.
Exception if we get a heavy wet snowfall that wets them down to the skin on their backs.
Then blankets go on & come off as soon as they are dry beneath so haircoats can refluff & insulate.
I check for bodywarmth: brisket, inner flanks, ear tips & unless these areas feel chilled they stay nekkid.

I feed extra hay & when fields are under snow toss some flakes out for “grazing”
So far 3 sets of geldings have thrived on this routine, including my 27yo TB.
He grew the plushy variety of Winter coats.
Everyone stays in good weight.
My WB did lose some weight, but he never grew much coat & was fine once I added a high-fat (20%) supplement through Winter into Spring.

I ride the TWH in lessons - around twice a month until cold weather (below 30F) wimps me out - & do not clip - he gets a cooler to dry out before going out again.

I have a waterproof sheet for each as well.
They have been worn exactly once, when I discovered it was only more work for me.
I did use the mini’s sheet in an attempt to flatten some of the floof before driving him in a demo 12/8.
Worked… sorta… I could still see the harness, but barely :rolleyes:
Since we had to show from trailers, it was nice to have the sheet on him for standing after driving

[Fharoah]

I have started using a high neck rain sheet and putting a blanket liner under it. We get a lot of rain here and my horse always insists on getting wet even though he has in and out stall. Then when it stops raining I pull the rain sheet off. I prefer to use a blanket liner because I can easily throw it in the wash. His of most of his other blankets are 200 or 300 gram. I find the 300 gram blanket heavy and hard to wash so the rain sheet with the liner is much nicer alternative and he seems to stay dry.

[Texarkana]

@quietann

Another question on 100g fill blankets: what might fit a horse with deep shoulders but a fairly small neck circumference and a narrow chest? Mare’s turnouts are Rambo Supremes, which are actually way too long and have a wider neck opening – but that’s what I have used since I bought her in 2008, and they have held up fantastically (though I don’t have the originals anymore.) With a neck cover, not too much water leaks through the neck hole if it’s raining.

I can’t believe I’m going to recommend this, because I have a love/hate relationship with the brand, but you might look into some of the Schneider’s blankets with the adjusta-fit neckline. An example (I know nothing about this particular blanket):

https://www.sstack.com/c_blankets-sheets_horse-blankets_waterproof-turnout-blankets-sheets/armorflex-warrior-vtek-fit-bellyband-turnouts/

They have several lightweight options with 80g fill or their fleece lining.