01/09/2025
Finally the new blankets I ordered for the foals have arrived! Now before anyone jumps down our throats and says foals don’t need blankets please allow me to educate you in a few things.
At birth, foals lack the fully functional thermoregulatory systems present in mature horses. Their ability to regulate body temperature through mechanisms such as shivering, sweating, and adjusting blood flow to the skin is not fully developed. As a result, foals are highly susceptible to hypothermia in cold environments (and overheating in hot conditions). Their small size, relatively large surface area to volume ratio, and limited fat reserves further exacerbate their vulnerability to temperature extremes.
Blanketing foals is crucial in our climate and environment (keeping in mind we live in Canada - it gets COLD and WET here - both which is a very bad combo for a foal). Blanketing mitigates the risks associated with inadequate thermoregulation in foals. By providing an extra layer of insulation the blanket helps conserve the foals body heat in colder weather, preventing hypothermia. Additionally, blankets can offer protection from wind (not unheard of for wind guts of 60-120km/hr here) and moisture (we can easily get 5-50mm of rain in a day or mixed perception with freezing rain and rain). Blankets enhance our foals comfort and well-being.
We are trying a new style - it’s a miniature horse blanket with a hood to give the babies a bit of added protection. This will allow us to get them turned out more often and for longer period of time which is important to their health and well-being. The last thing we want to do is keep them cooped up in a stall for days or weeks on end.
