For those of you who live in the southwest (primarily New Mexico and Arizona), do you blanket your horse during the winter?  This is the first winter I am going through with this horse and am unsure if I should or what kind of blanket to use.  My mare's stall is outside and although Albuquerque doesn't get super cold it has been known to drop into the teens here at night.

Thanks.

Howdy!

I live in Ontario, Canada. It gets cold and very windy here in the winter. We only blanket our horses when they are on a high line in freezing rain. At home they have shelters and can get out of the wind and rain.

I live in NW Pennsylvania and do not blanket in the winter.  My horses do have shelter from the wind, rain and snow and God gives them a thick, wooly winter coat.

I read an article in "Equus" magazine several years ago about blanketing in the winter.  They explained how a horse's natural winter coat protects them from the cold.  In the cold months you will see the horse's coat look like it is sticking straight out.....the hair is not flat close to the skin.  The horse uses this technique to trap a layer of warmer air around itself.....especially around its vital organs.  If a horse's natural winter coat is flattened by a blanket it cannot do this.  It made sense to me, especially since on really cold days all of my horses looked like giant pin cushions....and they were perfectly content....no shivering, anxiety or frost bite.  In fact even though my horses have a great shelter they were all standing outside.   The article also explained how a horse regulates the blood flow to its hooves in the winter to keep them warm also. 

I think Mother Nature has provided great protection for our horses....it is usually us humans that think we can do better.  (Even though we are well intentioned).  

I have not blanketed a horse in the winter in the entire 40 years I have owned them, even when I lived 20 years in Minnesota.  I do although provide either a stall or a covered shelter area large enough for all of them to stand under w/o getting kicked by the alpha mare.  I worry most about freezing rain, not about snow or wind. 

I also make sure to feed plenty of good HAY in the winter....the digestion of fiber in the horse's gut creates heat.....just like stoking up the fireplace with wood.  Grain provides nutrition but it is the hay that provides the heat.  (don't forget the water too).

Just my 2 cents worth....good luck to you

Blanketing has to with alot of factors. We live north of you by about 3.5 hours and it can down to -40 below for 6 weeks. The past few years it's only gotten down around -20-30 below. So anyways, we will blanket the older horses and have shelter, free feed and heated water.

The horses we use are 13, 10, 8, so as for age they don't need blankets. When we use them, we will go to an indoor and get done around 9-10 at night. So when we come out it's cold, that's when we blanket them. For the ride home, (even though our trailer can be closed air tight), then through the night. Then next day we'll pull the blanket around 10 or noon, depending on amount of sun.

Cowby

I live in the North wet and don't blanket.If I go to the hi mountains and it snows I will put a waterproof blanket on them to give them some cover from the elements.But thats only cause they have no cover.

Otherwise they don't get one.

I agree with all of the above posts.  I would think that 99% of all horses don't need to be blanketed. (blanketed, is that a word?) Anyways, there is always an acception to the rule.  Maybe some really hard keepers could use a  blanket and like someone else mentioned, a horse that doesn't really get a good winter coat.  The only time I see my herd "shiver" is when the first cold rain of the fall happens.   I myself do not blanket my horses.  My oldest horse is very arthritic.  I'm thinking that maybe this winter I'll bring her in at nights.  No blanket though.  I do find that she'll lay down in a stall for a longer period of time.  Maybe it helps ease the pain.  Not sure.

Just my 3 cents worth.

I blanket during the winter for the first time ever. Im only doing this year because i just joined an association where their first show is in January and i want her nice summer coat... the one i dont have to worry about shedding out at a show. I keep her on a tempurature regulated schedule to keep her comfortable. I also read that if u blanket them it helps them conserve the energy that they would put forth to keeping themselves warm and they can use that energy for keeping them fat. And with me thats a biggy because i have a hard keeper.

Just my 4 cents worth

Hey Ride or bust,,,,,,,,you just upped the anti!   Wonder who's gonna put in their FIVE cents worth..................the stakes could get quite high here.....

I live in western MD.I do believe in blanketing when needed.The past week the temps here have be really cold at night for this time of year.When I have brought the horses up in the very early morning.(4:45am)My 2 TB's have been shivering like crazy.They do not have thick enough coats yet to keep them warm.I use the rambo light weight turnout sheet and/or the riders from dover Cat. If I know it is going to be cold at night I put those on and they come in not shivering.It kinda takes the edge off untill they get there full coat in.They will then stay naked unless it is going to snow or rain (and be cold)I will then put thier sheets on to help protect then from the elements.

I do make exeptions when I do a full body clip.They will then need to be fully blanketed 24/7 with a very heavy blanket.I like the rambo heavy wug.It is expensive...pushing the $300 mark,but I have found you spend less $ in the long run to purchase a blanket that will last for years.Also dovers riders supreme blankets are very nice as well ,and a little cheaper on the pocket.

I also have a 3 year old warmblood TB/clyde cross she is NEVER cold.This cross is proving to be very hardy.

Hey Cowgirl, sorry I didn't answer your question,I was out of town for a while.Went to eastern Oregon for a deer hunt.Had a anterless tag and an invite from a rancher friend and went over to fill it.

Took longer to drive over than to bag a deer.15 min after I arrived my tag was filled,I took it to the barn and hung,dressed,and baged it.Next day cut it up.

If you have any questions about any place in Oregon just send Me a private message on here and I will try and answer it.I sometimes don't get back to some of these post for a couple of days.

Hope your ride was good and you had fun!

I have been all around the state,there are still some places I havent made it too yet,but when I was shooting competition pistol matches,SAR symposiums, and trail rides, I got around.