28/12/2016
Don’t overheat your horse. When you touch a horse with your bare hands in winter, it will feel cold to you.
In reality, the horse's coat and body heat do a wonderful job of insulating the horse and keeping the warmth directed into the horse.
Some experts recommend that blankets only be used on horses with special needs, such as clipped horses, old horses, sick horses, thin horses, rescued horses, horses which seem cold by nature, and horses without shelter.
However, this should be balanced against the severity of the weather. In snow and ice, any horse will need to be given a blanket or preferably be brought indoors.
If you do use a blanket, keep using it. The horse adapts its temperature regulation to wearing a blanket.
Keep in mind that your idea of cold is not your horse's idea of cold. Don’t add too heavy a blanket or too many. Follow the recommended uses of the blanket by the manufacturer according to its weight.
Wet cold is worse than dry cold for horses. A good quality waterproof rug is a great investment.
This helps to keep your horse dry and reduces heat loss. It is possible to have a rug re-waterproofed, so be sure to keep your equipment maintained and in the best order.