Comments on: To Blanket Or Not To Blanket http://www.regardinghorses.com/2010/02/02/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket/ Discussing the latest horse news, events, issues, and ideas. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:33:51 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jessica http://www.regardinghorses.com/2010/02/02/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket/comment-page-1/#comment-1512 Jessica Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:51:49 +0000 http://www.regardinghorses.com/?p=1050#comment-1512 This was really interesting. Presenting both sides of the argument and giving examples of when to blanket or not was really helpful. Thanks. This was really interesting. Presenting both sides of the argument and giving examples of when to blanket or not was really helpful.
Thanks.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.regardinghorses.com/2010/02/02/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket/comment-page-1/#comment-1481 Michelle Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:51:38 +0000 http://www.regardinghorses.com/?p=1050#comment-1481 Believe it or not, I actually DO blanket here in Central Florida - although not often. The problem here is that while our winters are mostly very mild, we always have cold snaps a few times each winter. It is not unusual for our temperatures to plummet 50 degrees in the space of one day, and the horses are just not acclimated to it. Tiny still has a very sleek, short coat and during our last cold spell she just couldn't get warm enough. So we always blanket (with a midweight) when it drops into the 40's - sometimes even doubled up with a sheet! Believe it or not, I actually DO blanket here in Central Florida – although not often. The problem here is that while our winters are mostly very mild, we always have cold snaps a few times each winter. It is not unusual for our temperatures to plummet 50 degrees in the space of one day, and the horses are just not acclimated to it. Tiny still has a very sleek, short coat and during our last cold spell she just couldn’t get warm enough. So we always blanket (with a midweight) when it drops into the 40′s – sometimes even doubled up with a sheet!

]]> By: Stacey Adams http://www.regardinghorses.com/2010/02/02/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket/comment-page-1/#comment-1480 Stacey Adams Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:13:08 +0000 http://www.regardinghorses.com/?p=1050#comment-1480 I have a 28yo TB who was never blanketed until about 8 yrs. ago. Unlike other TBs, he and I lived in VT (can you say REALLLLLYYYYYY cold?), then in IN and now in upstate NY so he's never been exposed to a light winter. And atypical for some TBs, he has always gotten the winter coat to make a bona fide Shetland Pony jealous. Hence, I didn't blanket. That was, until he contracted Lyme Disease in the summer of 2002. After that, we started noticing that he wasn't putting on weight like he used to and that as winter came, he was chilly (shivering). And so, while he has had a rebout of Lyme but in general seems in good health and spirits - we take no chances and he too has the fantastic Rambo blanket that covers him from his ears to his dock. I have a 28yo TB who was never blanketed until about 8 yrs. ago. Unlike other TBs, he and I lived in VT (can you say REALLLLLYYYYYY cold?), then in IN and now in upstate NY so he’s never been exposed to a light winter. And atypical for some TBs, he has always gotten the winter coat to make a bona fide Shetland Pony jealous. Hence, I didn’t blanket. That was, until he contracted Lyme Disease in the summer of 2002. After that, we started noticing that he wasn’t putting on weight like he used to and that as winter came, he was chilly (shivering). And so, while he has had a rebout of Lyme but in general seems in good health and spirits – we take no chances and he too has the fantastic Rambo blanket that covers him from his ears to his dock.

]]> By: OnTheBit http://www.regardinghorses.com/2010/02/02/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket/comment-page-1/#comment-1478 OnTheBit Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:43:03 +0000 http://www.regardinghorses.com/?p=1050#comment-1478 I blanket both boys...but more because it makes me feel better than any other reason! I think Ace looks ADORABLE in his blankie! I hope all is well with you! I blanket both boys…but more because it makes me feel better than any other reason! I think Ace looks ADORABLE in his blankie! I hope all is well with you!

]]> By: Katharine Swan http://www.regardinghorses.com/2010/02/02/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket/comment-page-1/#comment-1477 Katharine Swan Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:15:06 +0000 http://www.regardinghorses.com/?p=1050#comment-1477 Great post! I blanket Panama when it snows and under a certain temperature -- this year, 20 degrees. Last year I blanketed under 15 degrees because he had access to a better shelter (a completely open barn), but this year he has only a run-in shed that he shares with two grumpy old-timers who seem to enjoy driving him away. Panama seems to get cold faster than other horses -- he's always the first one into the shelter, and will actually give up food in favor of staying dry if he doesn't have a blanket on. He seems to grow a fairly thin winter coat, even when compared with other horses who are blanketed, which may be why he gets cold so easily. I should mention that we are in Denver, so we get snow but we also have a lot of warmer, sunny days in between. Great post! I blanket Panama when it snows and under a certain temperature — this year, 20 degrees. Last year I blanketed under 15 degrees because he had access to a better shelter (a completely open barn), but this year he has only a run-in shed that he shares with two grumpy old-timers who seem to enjoy driving him away.

Panama seems to get cold faster than other horses — he’s always the first one into the shelter, and will actually give up food in favor of staying dry if he doesn’t have a blanket on. He seems to grow a fairly thin winter coat, even when compared with other horses who are blanketed, which may be why he gets cold so easily.

I should mention that we are in Denver, so we get snow but we also have a lot of warmer, sunny days in between.

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