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Blankets for Horses: When Are They Really Necessary?

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As temperatures drop, it’s instinctive for many horse owners to reach for a blanket to keep their horse warm. However, it’s important to recognize that horses have a very different comfort zone compared to humans. With their thick coat and substantial muscle mass, horses are naturally equipped to handle cold weather much better than we are.

When Does my Horse Need a Blanket?

Horses are highly adaptable to changing environmental conditions, and in most cases, they don’t require a blanket depending on their sporting activities. Their natural coat provides excellent insulation by trapping air between the hairs, which helps to keep them warm. This is especially true for healthy adult horses with a well-developed winter coat. However, there are certain circumstances where a blanket might be necessary:

  • Young or Elderly Horses: Very young or older horses may have a harder time regulating their body temperature and could benefit from a blanket in colder weather.
  • Underweight or ill Horses: Horses that are sick or underweight might not have the energy reserves to stay warm without extra help, so a blanket might be needed. (Mejdell et al., 2019).
  • Clipped Horses: Horses that have been clipped lose their natural insulation and ability to regulate body temperature effectively, making a blanket essential to keep them warm.

Why We Use Blankets

Despite their natural adaptability, many horses in training will sweat more due to their winter coat. For that reason riders choose to clip their horse, which makes it easier for the horse loose heat during training and cool down after training. It also reduces the need for long grooming sessions after training. For that reasons a lot of riders  use a horse rug. However, once clipped, the horse loses its natural protection and will need a blanket during the day and when being outside in winter to stay warm.

Choosing the Right Blanket

If you decide to blanket your horse, it’s best to start with a lightweight one and when temperature drops add another layer to increase insulation. Similarly, when temperatures rise, you should remove a layer of blanket. The easiest way to determine if your horse is comfortable under the blanket is to place your hand under it near the withers. If your horse feels cold, you might consider a thicker blanket. If they feel clammy or sweaty, it’s a sign they’re too warm and need a lighter blanket or none at all.

Factors like the horse's age, coat thickness, and whether was clipped or not need to be considered when deciding if you want to blanket your horse. Also the weather including temperature, wind and rain play a role in this decision.

Conclusion

While it’s natural to want to keep your horse warm and comfortable, it’s important to remember that horses are naturally adapted to handle colder temperatures. However, how cold it is depends on ambient temperatures, wind, humidity, shelter, age of the horse and health. Most horses do not need rugs until temperature drops under 5 -10 degrees Celsius. overnight. In most cases, they don’t need a blanket and horses can grow their own winter coat as protection, but there are situations where blanketing is necessary, such as with clipped horses, very young, thin or old horses. When choosing to blanket, start with a lightweight option and adjust with layers according to the weather and your horse’s comfort. Always remember, your horse’s well-being is the priority, and ensuring they are neither too cold nor too warm is key to keeping them healthy and happy.

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