Posted 2009-12-16 7:40 AM (#114311) Subject: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Quick question.... would you blanket a cold, WET horse? (of course trying to dry her as much as I can.) It's 46 degrees here and raining.. Eve has an overhang to get underneath, but she is sure to be wet and the ground there is very sloppy muddy from the drip off of the roof edge.. She had been through worse before I got her.. Cold wet January rain with NO shelter while she was very, very thin.. I'm not even sure that I have one that will fit her..I usually don't blanket, but ........
Posted 2009-12-16 7:55 AM (#114315 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
I'm worried about the wet part.. Seems I've read somewhere about not blanketing a wet horse or allowing a blanketed horse to get wet because the blanket will keep the wet in and further chill it.
Posted 2009-12-16 8:40 AM (#114319 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
I did this with my filly after she went through the ice last winter and it worked great---go ahead and blanket but stuff the blanket with hay. It stuffs easier than straw, doesn't poke as much and allows her to dry while providing warmth and insulation.
Posted 2009-12-16 9:02 AM (#114320 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
I would consider a water proof blanket only. Otherwise the blanket would eventually get wet making it worse. As long as the horse is in good shape,has access to good hay and is not shivering, then I wouldn't put a blanket on. If the horse can get inside she probably will be okay left unblanketed.
Posted 2009-12-16 10:46 AM (#114325 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
If she can get under something and stay dry, with wet legs you should blanket. Blanketing a wet horse isn't your problem, the issue is what happens when the blanket gets soaked. I treat my blankets with scotchgard so that the water runs off, any water repellent would work.
In a pinch you can cover a blanket with a lightweight tarp or plastic trash bags if your horse will tolerate this kind of "alien attack."
Posted 2009-12-16 11:26 AM (#114326 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
We are assuming this horse is distressed as a result of being wet and cold. The horse just might not be. We would but horses are different. Unless the horse is in bad physical shape ( thin and/or old) and is shivering, I'd let the horse alone. Give him a good supply of hay( digestion generates heat) to munch on and let them go. Living in a cold climate, I know how much a horse can tolerate and its quite a bit.
Posted 2009-12-16 7:07 PM (#114332 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 544 Location: Claxton, Ga.
Heck, mine are begging to get out in the pasture in that weather, no blankets needed. So, I let them out.....LOL if I don't mind getting wet..... They come in a few hours later. After a while all I get is,,,, Put me up!!!!! hurry hurry hurry.....LOL.
Posted 2009-12-16 7:18 PM (#114333 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 792 Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth
No. I would not blanket a wet horse, she may not dry and will be even colder.
When you blanket a wet horse, the hairs are laid flat, no way for her to build up heat.
Also, is your "blanket" a weather proof turn out? Or a quilted stable blanket?
Do you have a polar fleece cooler? If not, get a polar fleece blanket off your bed, use that to dry your horse. Once she's dry, then blanket your horse.
Give her all the hay she can eat!
If you feel that you have to blanket her, try stuffing some hay under the blanket to dry her off and create a warm air barrier.
Everyone should invest in a polar fleece cooler, they are the best for keeping a horse dry and warm. Even when the cooler is wet, the horse stays warm and dry.
Posted 2009-12-16 10:02 PM (#114336 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Let's see, Last week it was around Zero most of the week. My horses were standing out in the snow storms. Often with 1" of snow on their back, neck and ears. As it melted it soaked their back. They stood with water runs running off their sides.
They have a run in shed they can go to any time they want. But they choose to stand out in the blowing snow.
So No, I don't think a horse needs a blanket if they get wet. But wet doesn't mean cold even during cold weather.
I do think a horse needs a blanket if they are cold. if they can not get out of the weather and get shelter, if they haven't been able to get their normal feed, if you have clipped the horse, or been using blanket and the horse has not haired up. Then Yes, A blanket is appropriate.
Posted 2009-12-16 11:26 PM (#114338 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Thanks everyone for your answers.. i posted that soon after getting up this morning and getting kids to school.. I hadn't been to the barn yet.. A quick call to the barn manager and, no, Eve was not shivering, or even distressed.. She got half a bale of hay to chew through and was fine.. She HAD been through worse last year while very underweight, but it felt pretty miserable to me and I knew she was under the eves and not in a stall.. She seems to be fine.. I had read (maybe here?) something about a blanket on a wet horse kept them wet and put them at risk to be even more chilled.. The blankets I have are medium weight and turnout/waterproof.. I do have fleece underblankets, if needed, so never felt the need to get a heavy one.. Plus it is rarely cold here for very long and I don't much like to blanket anyway.. I feel that it can hurt more than help it certain situations....
Anyway.. we are OK... Thanks again for the input..
Posted 2009-12-17 10:30 AM (#114347 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
Painted, not trying to sound argumentative but where we live in Texas is a much different climate and so a much different "cold" than where you live. Here we have different humidity levels and when it is wet and cold it is a bone chilling type of cold. Much different than dryer air. Also our horses dont grow as thick a coat as horses in northern climates so if we get freakishly cold weather, specially if it is wet and or windy, it can be very chilling.
Posted 2009-12-17 3:12 PM (#114353 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
It can be chilling but too often we relate how we would "feel" rather than if the horse is really affected by it. For example- we have a dairy farm and I raise the baby calves. Most people would think keeping a calf in a warm and snug barn would be great but its not. Its better for the calf to be outside with shelter but not "warm" as we would think. Warm barns trap mositure from manure and body heat resulting in pneumonia which is deadly. if you try to take care of animals as if they are human, you usually generate more problems.Blanketing horses has its place but for the most part a healthy horse with access to shelter and feed will chose for itself where its most comfortable.
Posted 2009-12-17 3:43 PM (#114354 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Regular
Posts: 63 Location: Eagle, Idaho
I had an interesting experience with three horses last winter. During a driving wet snow storm I decided to blanket each of my three horses who were very wet. Two got fleece liners and then a water proof breathable sheet put on top of the liner. The third got a winter turnout waterproof breathable heavier blanket. All three horses were allowed indoor/outdoor access all night. The two hores with the fleece liners plus sheets were absolutely dry and happy the next morning. The third horse with the water proof/breathable blanket was a soggy, cold mess the next morning. I can only guess the key to the two dry horses was the fleece liners.
Posted 2009-12-17 4:19 PM (#114355 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Patti, I spent a year in Wichita Falls Texas. Plus I can't tell you how many days I've spent in Dallas or Houston over the past 30 years as I've travelled there for business. So I have some idea of what your humidity and temps are. I guarantee you 0* with a 10 or 20 mph wind blowing ice crystals in your face is still colder than ANY humidity factor at 40*!
Yes I understand your horses don't hair up like our horses do. But they hair up enough to tolerate your climate. The animals are extremely adaptive if given enough feed.
I'm sure that if I came down to Texas and drove across your area of the state, I would see horses standing out in fields with out barns. Using only trees and fence rows for wind breaks, And that they would also be surviving the local temps. As Farmbabe said, We as humans have a tendency to think our horses are cold because we are cold. But in reality Mother Nature takes pretty good care of them. I have no problem with blanketing a horse that has been shaved, or with a horse that is aged, not getting the feed it needs for some reason, or that has been worked to a sweat. But a normal horse giving it's own free will, can probably cope with the elements.
Posted 2009-12-23 5:33 PM (#114511 - in reply to #114355) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Member
Posts: 33
What about when the windchill is minus 10 or 20 or even 30 or more with a ripping wind? Not uncommon in Minn. I always debate this with myself when winter comes but I can't help but feel that they're more comfortable when wearing a wind breaker and some insulation. I see plenty of horses around here standing without shelter and not wearing blankets in those temps, and the horses survive, but I wonder if they're miserable.
Posted 2009-12-23 6:20 PM (#114512 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Iowa
I have 3 broodmares that run outside most of the winter. I'll bring them in the barn in Febuary only because they are due to foal mid March. This morning the wind was blowing out of the east and raining to top it off. Now mind you the temp this morning was just at the freezing point. The have a barn to get into. Where where they? Outside, Standing with their butts up against the west wall of the barn. I check them everyday when I feed them grain at night. Other wise they have a big round bale of hay to eat free choice. They are in great shape with no blankets. NO bodys cold either. I have a barn full of blankets. I'll seldom use them.
Posted 2009-12-24 8:23 AM (#114527 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Early in my horse-owning years we got a heavy freezing rain in Kansas. My gelding was pastured across the road from where his shed was, so I spent an hour catching him, leading him across the street and putting him in his shed. I was soaking wet and freezing and had not even gotten in my car before I looked over to find him standing in the middle of the lot, in the driving sleet. It was the last time I worried much about him in the weather.
Posted 2009-12-24 1:34 PM (#114532 - in reply to #114527) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
LOl- isn't that the way it goes terri? we think we know whats best for the horse but they have other ideas....I can recall trying to bring in the horses. if they dont' want in, they stay out.
Posted 2009-12-24 6:45 PM (#114536 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
A normal winter hair coat is much more insulating than most horse blankets.
Adding a heavy blanket or piling on several light blankets can actually
make a horse colder because it flattens out his hair and destroys the
insulating effect. Blanketing may be necessary, however, for a clipped
horse, or for one moved north during winter without a chance to grow a
heavy coat, or a horse forced to stand outside in a winter storm without
a windbreak. If a horse becomes so wet and cold he has to shiver to
maintain body temperature, he'll burn more calories and need extra
feed, or he'll start losing weight.
Horses have a normal body temperature of about 100 degrees Farenheit
(38 degrees Celcius). They maintain this temperature in cold weather
with the help of several mechanisms which include shivering, changes
in hormone levels, increased body metabolism, increased digestion of
fiber (adding more fiber or more protein to the diet can help a horse
keep warm, since digestion of these nutrients produce heat), growing
longer and thicker hair which can stand up on the skin to make a layer
of insulating air pockets, increased feed consumption, and increased
activity. Cold horses on a frosty morning often run and buck to warm up.
A well fed horse can manage at temperatures down to 30 or even 40 below
zero Farenheit
Posted 2009-12-24 11:15 PM (#114540 - in reply to #114311) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Member
Posts: 48 Location: Northern IL
I live in northern IL and I have never blanketed a horse, except when I hauled during the winter (cuz I have a stock side trailer with no pexiglass inserts, but my Dad did make some solid wood insert so the air wouldn't blow in on the horse's face) and when I showed....My horses are on pasture 24/7 with a run-in shed....They would rather eat their hay outside at the haybunk...They look like the horse in PaintedHorse's picture....They seem to get along just fine, in fact have seen them many a time standing outside the shed up against the wall...The only time I feed their hay inside the shed is if it is really snowing hard and the wind is blowing very hard....Stop and think about the wild mustangs, they have no cozy run-in shed or warm heated stall to get into...
Posted 2009-12-25 10:38 PM (#114558 - in reply to #114347) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
I moved from Kingsville, Tx to NM and for me the humidity made winter more bareable. How many times have you heard someone say the desert isn't so bad because its a dry heat? To me the "dry" makes the cold worse. Heck, during the winter I re-vent my dryer so in the mornings we can have that wet heat and it makes the house much more comfortable.
Posted 2010-01-17 10:06 AM (#115378 - in reply to #114347) Subject: RE: Quick blanketing question..HELP!
Veteran
Posts: 196 Location: WI
Originally written by CTRider on 2009-12-17 10:30 AM
Painted, not trying to sound argumentative but where we live in Texas is a much different climate and so a much different "cold" than where you live. Here we have different humidity levels and when it is wet and cold it is a bone chilling type of cold. Much different than dryer air. Also our horses dont grow as thick a coat as horses in northern climates so if we get freakishly cold weather, specially if it is wet and or windy, it can be very chilling.
Pffft! 46 and raining sounds like heaven about right now. Humidity-schmoomidity.