Don't pelt me with rocks and garbage, but...

[Arrow]

I think for the first time in my life, I'm going to blanket a horse. And after all my fine words in the other threads...

Here's the thing...I'm not one to yield to peer pressure or anything, really--not into fads at all, not one to follow the crowd...but if you boarded with 30+ other horses at a barn, and your horse was literally the only one without a blanket, how would you feel?

Another thing--I'm now 15 miles or so north of where I was--I'm now at the southern end of the snow belt for lake effect snow. That may not sound like much, but anyone from NE Ohio can chime in that it really makes a difference. We also seem to be heading into a very nasty winter--it's been snowy and windy for days with no end in sight even if most of it isn't sticking!

Arrow's just been wet--he's in the barn in his stall from sundown to early morning, of course, but he's wet all day. At his other barn, he had round bales. At the new place the hay is a lot better, but he gets it in the morning with his feed, at noon, then at dinner and at 10 pm. So he's out there wet without free choice hay, even if it's much better hay.

Arrow's always had weight issues--maybe a blanket will make a difference, he'll won't be using so much energy to stay warm. What do you all think?

The horses at this place all wear medium-weight, waterproof turnout blankets, and they don't take them off at night. The horses just wear them all the time, in or out. Now I'll see Arrow almost every day and take the blanket off to groom and ride--but is this a normal kind of a thing? The horses just wear them all the time, even in the stalls at night? The barn isn't heated.

So what does everyone think? Other than the fact that I'll be a hypocrite, I mean. Will it make difference in his being able to maintain his weight?

[WashingtonBay]

Arenas, blankets... I tell ya, it's only a matter of time before you're posting about the virtues of lunging!
:D


Yes, it's normal for them to wear the blankets all the time. For starters, if he comes in wet from outside, the blanket will dry on him, with his heat, in a couple of hours. -But if you took it off, it will not dry by morning just hanging in a barn without heat. Putting a still-wet blanket on a horse in the morning is not good.

If it's waterproof and he's warm, he's better off with it just left on. Mine stay on most of the winter except for the rare sunny warm day.

As for your question on whether it's best for him, obviously I think it is! I think fighting the weather ages and wears on a horse, I don't think there is any benefit.

[Arrow]

I knew you'd bring up lunging! It was so slick out today--I tried to go on the trails, but couldn't, ended up in the arena. Arrow was all go, go, go--wouldn't rack slow or lope, and I thought...maybe if I lunged him, it would help him be calmer at these gaits and listen to voice commands....no, no, no!!! Must resist! Y'all won't know me anymore!:D

[WashingtonBay]

~chuckles~

[CircleR]

I think it's a fine idea. Not saying you have to or that you shouldn't. I live in a warmer climate, but to us when it gets down to 32 degrees for 3 or 4 nights in a row...that's just dang COLD!! Our old guy Noche gets a nice blanket during those winter nights. It's just like you said, I don't want him using up all his feed energy on trying to keep warm. He get's fed real well, but I just want to keep him looking and feeling good in his older years. I'm no fad follower either, so I'm with ya there!!

[cloedoll]

I live in a warmer climate, but to us when it gets down to 32 degrees for 3 or 4 nights in a row...that's just dang COLD!!

How I would kill for 32° right now. That sounds dreamy, perfect temperature, in my opinion, lol. It's around 15° at the moment, tons of snow and it isn't stopping. I <3 the winter, though and am not complaining, just saying 32° is my dreamy temperature. =P

I have been considering blanketing Keidas and Cloe as well, but am undecided so I'm going to keep following this thread. (:

Whatever choice you make, I hope it's the bestest for Arrow. xD

[lisakaye]

I would startout with a mid weight and see how he does with that. Since he hasn't had a blanket before he may not need a heavy one. I believe in blanketing because I think we have domesicated the horses and they may or may not be able to handle the elements like the wild free ones do. Just an opinion.

[vicklynn]

heheheheeee, Arrows gonna blanket her horse..hehehehe...vick ducks from flying objects.

Yes, its normal to blanket indoors too, depending on the weather, winds, ect. If its cold, its cold.

[Arrow]

Thanks for the info, everyone! Good to know when you do it, it's 24/7. I won't throw anything at you vick, I just can't believe I'm going to do it! But I am, and now I feel good about THAT. I think he'll be happier at the end of the day...well, every day.:D

So you measure along the side--from the center of his chest to his tail, right?

[WashingtonBay]

I think if you go all the way to the tail you'll end up with one that is too big.

Go to where you want the blanket to stop.

[Joey A]

I blanket (some of) mine when it drops below 50° they're wimps. I actually gotta go throw a couple on in a few here.

I'd like to find some of those nifty 3/4 blankets that fit around the saddle for when you're riding. It seems cruel to me to take a blanket off and take them outside, but that's just me. I just wait a week and it's warm enough again. :)

[Joey A]

I measure the way Arrow described. But I can tell just by looking at them.

[JackieB]

I don't see any harm. I only blanket Buster when the weather gets really nasty, but I know WB blankets all winter and her horses are certainly healthy.

I think you kind of need to measure according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The manufacturers have sizing charts on their websites. I ordered from Valley Vet, had to return the first one, and it all worked beautifully. Use a bedsheet underneath for the initial fitting so that if you need to return, you won't get a speck of dirt on the blanket.

[luvs2ride1979]

I don't blanket mine, but we don't have that harsh of winters. It gets cold, down into the teens and 20s, but it can be up to 60 the next week! Today it was sunny and 65, last week we had a few nights that dipped down to the low 20s... And it's not even "winter" yet! I swear, Arkansas weather is really screwy.

Okay, that said, if he is lean or "perfect" now, and is known to have weight issues, then I would get him a blankie. I agree, medium weight with the highest denier count you can afford. I like the Euro style blankets that have the smaller neck opening (supposed to go up over the withers) and the gussets at the front and back legs. sstack.com has a nice selection of blankets.

To keep him warm, have them feed more hay, or add hay pellets to his ration. Cut out or down grain (I can't remember what you're feeding Arrow) and add a fat source. Grain or feed will hype him up, hay/forage products will warm him up. A probiotic might be in order too.

Once you get his blankie, you MUST post some photos for us!! :P

[Arrow]

He's on Strategy and hay. Getting him to eat a fat source is damn near impossible, this is the pickiest horse that I've ever seen when it comes to eating--he won't eat anything with oil. But the place I've moved him to has much better hay than what I had before. I think the new hay 4 times a day is better than the 24/7 roundbales he had at the old place, and they'd often go for a day without much near the end while the BOs made the horses clean up the last of the last batch of roundbales.

I'm blanket shopping tomorrow, and I'll take pics, never fear!

[natisha]

It's always OK to change your mind

[Drafthorse]

I blanket my horses.
They wear medium weight turnout blankets, all winter - inside and outside. They have had no problem going for rides on trails or in the arena in the cold without the blanket.

My smallest (2 yo) takes a 90. My biggest? We'll lets just say it's custom.

[JetLagaside]

I'd start with a Med weight one as well and yes it's normal for them to wear them 24/7. Depending on the barn some will have an indoor stable blanket and then an outdoor turnout. I don't have the time for all that so she wears a waterproof one.

I own one of those wimps :eek: she can't stand to be wet and cold. The rare times she's been in that state she will stand and shiver making everyone feel guilty :) but to her credit she doesn't get much of a winter coat for living in NE. We had bitter cold here last week and I had to drag out the heavyweight boy was she happy to see that.

[Arrow]

Thanks for all the advice! I ended up with a waterproof pretty heavy outer layer (1680 D) with a thin layer of fleece. But it lays flatter on him then I thought...I passed on the real midweight--it seemed too heavy, it had a layer of thinsulate--I worried he'd sweat in his stall. Now I'm thinking twice and wishing I'd gotten the heavier one. He has a lot of fur, a thick coat--but the blanket flattens it...Should I buy the heavier one just in case? It has to be 24/7--the BMs aren't going to change it at night.

[WashingtonBay]

Have you already gotten it dirty?

Cheapest option if you can't return it and you think it's not enough, would be to buy a liner or a stable blanket to go under it. They run a lot less than the waterproof outers.

[Arrow]

It fits too well, I think, to put something under it. Also, it's a nice blanket, nothing wrong with having two...I don't know, I'm torn! But I'm going to use this one for a bit and see how it goes and what the BM thinks.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, if money's no object, another heavier turnout is a good option too ;)

Let's see the one you bought! And turn it so we can see the liner too. I'm not sure I'm familiar with the kind you got!

[JetLagaside]

Having 2 is really nice since there are times that you need to wash one and not have to worry about getting it right back to the barn :)

[Arrow]

Pics coming, but unfortunately didn't think of doing it without horse, photographing lining etc., sorry--thread on the way...