Blanketing - WWYD

[endlessclimb]

I can’t believe I’m asking this in August, but here we go.

My Old Man horse shivers in the mornings when the night time low is in the 50s. The problem is, at 7-8-9pm the night before it’s 75-80+ out. I refuse to go back out to the barn late-late, as I am up for work at 3am and am going to bed at 9pm.

He has unlimited good quality hay. He has a shelter he can go in, if it’s breezy. He has a good coat. He’s at a good weight.

WWYD? Just throw a sheet on him even at 75 deg? Let him shiver for a couple hours until the sun comes out?

[B_and_B]

Would a heavy fly sheet work? I thinking the ones that are heavier polyester material then the ultra lightweight ones. My pony has a Schneider’s interlock mesh one with a neck and it is surprisingly warm.

[mmeqcenter]

Are you sure he’s shivering from cold? 50F is awfully high for shivering. I would suspect there’s something medically going on that either looks like shivering, or is causing him to be so cold when he really shouldn’t be.

If you wake up for work at 3am, what time do you leave for work? Would you have to take the sheet off that early, in which case he’ll be cold and start shivering so sheeting for even part of the night was silly? Down here, the coldest part of the night isn’t until 5-7 am, not sure what it’s like where you.

[trubandloki]

@endlessclimb

Just throw a sheet on him even at 75 deg? Let him shiver for a couple hours until the sun comes out?

Yes to one of these and it would depend on the horse.

With both of mine, who are easy to keep weight on and do not seem to care about being cold, I would go with let them shiver for a bit. Good hay should take care of most of the problem.

If your old man likes to be warm and cozy and you work to make sure his weight stays happy (which I know right now is not a problem you are having), I would find a comfy light weight sheet and go with that.

You have a similar issue to what I have. I do morning chores at a time that means it is still quite cold when I do my chores, versus what it will be later in the day so my horses have to be dressed at that time for the rest of the day. Not always an easy thing to balance.

[endlessclimb]

I generally leave around 4-4:30am.

He’s always been a bit of a wimp about cold (he’s a mess if he gets a bath at anything other than 75F+, even in the sun), but he grows a monster winter coat. It’s just these chilly-but-not-cold mornings that I’m surprised that he comes in shivering. He seems frantic, not lethargic.

He’s borderline metabolic, but not outright. Levels don’t indicate Cushings at this point in his life, but I’m sure that will eventually come.

@B_and_B he still shivers with his Rambo fly sheet on, which is pretty thick I think. It’s one of the stiffer-type fly sheets.

@trubandloki maybe I’ll try an overnight sheet and see if he’s happier. Him being sort of frantic and jumpy makes me think it isn’t a state of mind/body he would prefer to be in. Though some of his heavy breathing is less “cold” and more “fat kid about to be fed grain” haha

[StormyDay]

In the UK they have summer sheets for this issue. Cold enough in the mornings the horses shiver but warm enough later you don’t want a real sheet on. They are not waterproof for extra breathability later in the day so the horse doesn’t sweat. I believe Rambo sells them in the US.

[endlessclimb]

You wouldn’t happen to have a link, would you?

[Simkie]

If he isn’t sweating in a sheet, I’d just put a sheet on him.

[stargzng386]

The Rambo flysheet is actually the coolest fly sheet I’ve ever used. It keeps my heavy sweater not overly sweating on 90+ days. Find a cheaper fly sheet that clings more and is the polyester fabric. The stuff Rambo stays off their skin to let air flow.

[Renn_aissance]

Totally get that he’s a wimp about cold, but… how’s his thyroid?

State Line Tack used to make a water-resistant stable sheet that would have worked for this purpose- it was sturdy enough for turnout and I used it on 50-60 degree nights to keep a pigpen horse from being totally filthy when I went to catch him on show mornings. Depending on how much morning dew you deal with, ScotchGarding a cheap cotton sheet might be something to try.

I don’t know if you want to spend $300 on this problem, but Rambo came out with a ridiculous sheet for exactly this purpose. It’s basically a turnout sheet with integrated mesh panels to help with air circulation. If the price makes you gag, it comes with a 100g liner, so at least there’s that.

[Simkie]

@Renn_aissance

It’s basically a turnout sheet with integrated mesh panels to help with air circulation.

This drags up a long ago memory of a similar ish weatherbeeta product? I think this is the current version:

Kool Coat Airstream w/Hidden Surcingle III Detach-A-Neck Sheet - Jeffers |...

[endlessclimb]

For 300 bucks he can shiver haha. I think his thyroid was checked on the last workup he had done when he was lame/foundering. Let me see if I can dig it up.

@stargzng386 that makes sense. It’s heavy as in thick, but it is stiff and stays off the skin.

@Simkie is that a fly sheet? I’m trying to figure out what it is, and what the material is on the upper part. What is “poly cotton”?

[Simkie]

Polyester according the the WB site:

Airstream With Hidden Surcingle III Detach A Neck

I had a version of this like 20 years ago and found it to be heavier than a fly sheet but not as heavy as a winter sheet. Very breathable.

[endlessclimb]

His T4 came in just a titch lower than the low normal range. .994ug/dL.

[endlessclimb]

Well the price is more palatable than the $300 one. I’ll give it a try! Thanks!

[PaddockWood]

I’m in the same spot and appreciate this thread. My PSSM2 guy gets tooooo chilly when the morning temp is 48 like this morning. But at night it’s too warm to put anything on him.

[mmeqcenter]

I’d just put a sheet on him at night time then, if you’re sure he’s not going to get sweaty in it.
But will taking it off before you leave at 4am going to leave him cold and shivering until the sun comes up?

[StormyDay]

Rambo® Summer Series Turnout with Disc Front Closure (0g Outer with 100g Liner)

This one is specifically designed for the temperature fluctuations.

Amigo® Aussie All-Rounder

This one is much cheaper though

I’d look online for used ones.

[endlessclimb]

He would be, but that should reduce it to a few hours instead of a good chunk of the night.

[endlessclimb]

Niko got the lightest weight turnout I had overnight, and that seemed to do the trick. But…

46 degrees this morning and the other two were tail clamped but not shivering.

Blanketing in August. Someone shoot me.