blankets?

[Lisann]

I'm guessing that some of you blanket your weanlings/coming yearlings. Will I be able to get one size to work all season? April 2008 filly. I usually put turnouts on when it's quite cold and yucky, maybe early Dec to late March.

[ratherrapid]

if you ask the horse it will probably tell you to please take it off. blanketing has its place in extremely limited harsh circumstances. to leave a blanket on a horse over a season approaches cruelty for several different reasons.

[Mikki79]

I agree that not all horses require blankets, MOST horses do not need a blanket. Out of all of mine I have one (and he came from FL) that needed a blanket and that was only in extreme conditions. Usually the horse will tell you if it does want one. Not sure i'd say it's cruelty to horses but I don't agree with blanketing them unless absolutely necessary.

In fact I just read on a website where a horse had to be euthanized because it freaked out when the person tried to blanket it..... I'd say classic example of the horse telling you to back off!! Unfortunately the owner didn't listen and the horse ended up getting injured and having to be put down.

[LB]

None of ours are blanketed. The weanlings/yearlings stay in at night during the coldest weather (Jan, Feb) but that's about the only concession we make. They grow big woolly coats and are perfectly happy outside.

[Lisann]

if you ask the horse it will probably tell you to please take it off. blanketing has its place in extremely limited harsh circumstances. to leave a blanket on a horse over a season approaches cruelty for several different reasons.

I did not say I would leave the blanket on all season. I am asking if the same size blanket would work, or if she would likely outgrow it.

I use turnout blankets on days where it is colder than my horses can tolerate without shivering and days where cold precipitation may fall (ie 35 degrees and drizzling) to enable turn out.

Thanks for the snarky comment. You can go back to eating your ice cream made with breast milk now.

[pokeyman]

Lisann,

Check Scheiders. I remember they had adjustable blankets and that may be a better option for you.....

If you measure from the middle of her chest around her body to her tail that will give you what size she is now. Scheiders has an adjustable shoulder on most of their blankets so you may be able to go a bit longer in length to account for her growth.....

Or, you can check ebay and pick up a couple of different sizes cheap.

I, personally, don't blanket but my horses all have run in sheds or overhangs to go under in nasty weather. BTW- I am in New England and it can get nasty! I do give tons of extra hay (2nd cut orchard grass) on cold days.

However, I have a lot of friends that blanket so they can turn out during crappy weather as their horses don't have access to shelter in their turnout paddock.

I would definitely go with schneiders and get a waterproof (not water resistant) and breathable turnout.

The way i look at it...I would rather see a horse blanketed and turned out than stuck in a stall!

Hope this helps......

[Tiz]

Their prices are great.

[teb]

I wouldn't blanket babies really. I'm always feeling sorry for them in the crap weather but they do fine. When things get really bad here we bring them all in to a cattle shed at night. It's big, airy, and they are all together.

I do blanket my mares, however, because I like them to stay out in all weather. But when I say blanket, I use a Rambo waterproof sheet with no lining that keeps the weather out. As I live in Ireland, the CONSTANT wet conditions really suck.

And as for the blanket phobia story mentioned above, I don't believe it was telling the owners to back off, but a definite phobia. I have such a horse, but her phobia is with a twist. She will wear a rug at night when she comes up to an all weather pen, she can wear a rug while lunging (trying to work out phobia), she can wear a rug in a stable. She cannot, however, where a rug in a field. And as I do not want to have a broken leg incident, she goes without.

Terri

[Mikki79]

I was planning on moving to Ireland if Hilarie Clinton was voted President!!

I have a horse that will tell you to "back off" if you try to blanket him and he doesn't want one on. When I bought him his previous onwer told me when the first frost hits he begs for his blanket. Well the first frost hit so I trying to be a good new mom got a blanket for him and when I tried to put it on he kept turning his behind to me. I in tern backed off, he kept inside darn near 24/7 minus workout time and turnout so if he's telling me he doesn't want one, i'm not going to force the issue! I didn't have to blanket him one last winter!!!! I have one weanling and he's already a ball of fur and has access to shelter so I won't blanket him either.

I read on Alex Brown forum that story of the horse who had to be euthanized and this person tried not once but twice to blanket that horse and both times she bolted. The second time was fatal. That is an unfortunate accident that was avoidable.

I believe (only my opinion) that as long as they have somewhere they can go to get out of the weather, they don't require a blanket. If you feel it necessary to blanket the horse, you want to make sure they will accept the blanket. As for whether it'll fit the whole season,I think that depends on what type of blanket you purchase x how fast the yearling grows. Best of luck with your babies !!!!!!!

[teb]

I agree with you as well. It's just so darn strange not to be afraid of the rug except when she's in a field.

Most horses come up to all weather pens at night in the winter as it keeps them out of the mud. Shelters are great, but I have seen the weaker horse in the bunch being hurt whilst getting cornered.

So for my filly, no rug during the day, and very happy to have it on when it's tanking rain and she's in her pen. But I most certainly won't force her to get over her phobia which could end her life. Her situation is workable.

Terri