When the cold winter weather first arrives, many horse owners bring out the horse blankets without thinking about it. They fail to realise that a horse’s normal winter coat is much more insulating than a blanket and the horse will usually be warmer without a blanket unless it has been clipped, is outside without a windbreak, or has been moved to a colder climate during winter months. The longer winter coat helps to trap the body heat against the skin and tiny muscles in the skin raise the hairs, creating air pockets that heighten the insulating effect. If you flatten this ‘fluffed-up’ coat by adding layers of light blankets, or even one heavy one, it can actually make the horse colder.
It can put the horse at increased risk if it is not accustomed to being blanketed. If the horse becomes overheated it will begin to sweat. This dampness causes it to become chilled later, which then increases the risk of pneumonia or other respiratory infections. If it is necessary to blanket a horse in the colder temperatures of morning, make sure that you or another responsible person is there to take the blanket off when temperatures rise later in the day.
It is important to choose a blanket that is appropriate to how much extra protection from the weather that the horse genuinely needs. These days blankets are much warmer and resistant to weather than traditional wool blankets. Modern blankets use inner and outer shells with an insulating fiber in between. Outer shells are usually made of water repellent synthetics and are windproof. The inner lining is smoother than wool so it doesn’t chafe against the horse’s skin. The filling between them provides warmth with much less bulk than older blankets. This means the overall blanket is light enough not to flatten the horse’s coat, and is more durable than their wool or cotton predecessors.
The outer shell is normally made of nylon fiber which will not snag or tear. It is treated with a waterproofing that also makes it resistant to rot and mildew. This waterproofing also helps to hold heat in. However, in the most extreme cold the waterproof coating might crack. The filler is normally foam particles or fiberfill which is light and has insulating properties.
It is important to make sure that the blanket fits the horse properly, regardless of the blanket type. A blanket that is too tight will irritate the skin and put the horse at risk of developing abrasions and sores, while a blanket that is too large can slip down under the horse’s belly. This could cause the horse to be seriously injured if its legs get tangled in the blanket straps. It will also result in the loss of almost all the blanket’s insulating ability. ,
Ensure a good fit by putting the blanket on properly as follows: Place it well forward towards the withers, then slide it gently back into position to keep it from pulling the coat the wrong way.
For hygiene reasons each horse should have its own blanket. Sharing blankets can facilitate the spread of skin problems such as girth itch, ringworm, and other fungal infections. Even if no horses in the stable have known skin problems, fungal spores can cling to the blankets and be spread to other horses.
If the blankets are used often during the winter they should be washed at least twice, using cold water and a disinfectant soap. Rinse the blankets well to make sure that no soap residue remains otherwise it might irritate the horse’s skin.
It is better to wash a blanket in cold water rather than dry cleaning it. Dry cleaning will not remove odors, and the heat and chemical solvents can dissolve the waterproofing and shrink the bindings.
