To Blanket or Not to Blanket?

This week’s weather has a lot of people asking the same question: should I blanket my horse or not? When temperature dips after such warm weather, it’s a good time to revisit what actually matters.

Like most things with horses, there isn’t one right answer. Regardless of temperature or conditions, the first thing to consider is what your horse is telling you with their body language. Are they shivering? Tucked up? Standing hunched against the wind? Or are they relaxed, eating, and moving normally?

If your horse is dry and not shivering, they’re often doing just fine. Horses are built for cold weather. Their winter coat consists of a thick, fluffy double layer of hair that traps warm air, insulating them against the elements. With sturdy shelter and steady access to high-quality hay, they can regulate their body temperature surprisingly well. But during the spring, horses may have already shed this coat, leaving them more vulnerable to temperature swings.

Hay matters more than many people realize. Digesting forage generates heat, so keeping hay in front of them is one of the best ways to support them through colder snaps. That said, there are times when a blanket makes sense.

You may want to consider blanketing if:

• temperatures drop below freezing and there is rain or wet snow
• your horse is older, underweight, or a harder keeper
• your horse has already started shedding and has less natural insulation
• your horse is a thinner-skinned breed, like a Thoroughbred

One important caution: Do not blanket a wet horse. Blanketing a wet horse is dangerous and detrimental to their health.

If a horse is already soaked from rain or snow, putting a blanket on can trap moisture and actually make them colder. If you can, bring them into a dry space to warm up (with a buddy) and dry them off before blanketing.

Blanketing when temperatures are too warm (40 degrees+), can also cause horses to sweat. And remember, a sweaty horse counts as a wet horse! Let them cool out fully before putting anything on.

When drying them isn’t an option, adding calories can help. For many horses, a flake of alfalfa can provide extra energy to stay warm. Just be mindful of horses with metabolic concerns, minis, younger horses, Mustangs, or easy keepers where extra calories may not be appropriate.

At the end of the day, blanketing is a tool, not a rule. Paying attention to your horse’s condition, the weather, and your horse’s resources will guide you better than any single temperature number.

And for our human community, while we’re still in this stretch of unpredictable spring weather, it’s worth appreciating these cooler days. Fly season isn’t far behind!