12/03/2025
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 🐴❄️☃️
Winter is once again upon us, and with it comes the annual flood of divided posts and strong opinions about the controversial topic of blanketing. So I apologize in advance for adding to the noise, but I think a little science might actually help provide some clarity and allow horse owners to make informed decisions.
I’ve posted before about how horses stay warm in the winter, and it’s true, most horses are incredibly good at it! But winter horse care and blanketing is not a one-size-fits-all management practice. Horses need the right tools to thermoregulate effectively which includes things like access to shelter, a dry and functional winter coat, and a healthy condition. When those natural tools are not available, horses may require additional assistance, and one way is through blanketing. So let’s break down when a horse may benefit from wearing a blanket to help guide decisions this winter!
🌧️ 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝 & 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧
A study in Norway evaluating horse preference for blanketing found that when temperatures were under 50°F and it was either rainy or there were wind speeds greater than 18 mph, horses preferred a blanket. This makes sense considering a wet coat loses almost all insulation and wind accelerates heat loss. Both of these weather conditions limit the effectiveness of piloerection and the horse has to expend more energy to stay warm.
🏠 𝐍𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫
One way to combat the aforementioned weather conditions is through access to a shelter. Winter studies have shown that horses choose to use shelters primarily when it is windy or wet, regardless if they are already wearing a blanket. The common rule of thumb is if the wind chill is lower than 5°F in northern climates, horses without a shelter need a blanket. However, I think this rule is equally, if not more, important when it is windy or wet outside!
👶🧓 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐎𝐥𝐝
Another consideration is age as foals and seniors aren’t as efficient at regulating their temperature in the cold. Specifically, young horses have a lot of surface area compared to their body mass, which makes them more efficient at dissipating heat than conserving it. In comparison, older horses may not be as efficient at generating heat when compared to a mature, healthy horse. This could be a result of common health problems that impact seniors, such as PPID or dental problems that may diminish their ability to consume hay. However, there is a lot of variability within these age demographics which needs to be considered when making a decision.
🌡️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝
Sudden cold snaps or horses who have recently relocated from a warm to cold climate may struggle until their bodies can adapt. For example, when we get unseasonably cold weather in October, my blanketing decisions are much different than when we get similar weather in January. By then, a horse will have a longer hair coat and be more adapted to the cold, which often means they are more equipped to handle the colder weather. Similarly, horses relocating from a warmer, southern climate may struggle when they are suddenly moved to a colder, northern climate. Many suggest if a horse is relocated to a colder climate prior to the fall equinox (September 22/23), they should grow an adequate hair coat for winter in their new geographical location. Anecdotally, I have not found that to be the case for every horse. I have a horse who was born and raised in Texas and then moved up in 2021 and she still struggles in a Wisconsin winter. I was also born and raised in Minnesota and I am not a fan of cold weather but could sit in a sauna all day (and enjoy it). This proves there is so much individual variability that should really be taken into account.
✂️ 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬
Partially or fully body clipping horses is a relatively common practice for performance horses in the winter. This practice can help them more efficiently thermoregulate to properly cool down, which can be difficult with a long winter coat. However, clipping removes the natural insulation which means the owner is now responsible for replacing that lost warmth either through their housing or the use of a blanket.
⚖️ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬
I often work with thin horses and we are trying to encourage them to gain weight and get up to a healthy body condition score. This is especially important moving into winter months as a low body condition means less fat insulation and fewer calorie reserves. As a result, blanketing can be extremely beneficial for this demographic as it allows horses to conserve their energy and direct it towards weight gain rather than having to use it to stay warm. This can help horses reach an ideal condition much faster than without a blanket.
🐴 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮
However, the most important part about making these decisions is to work with the horse in front of ! I cannot stress this enough that every horse is highly individual and we need to tailor our management practices around their specific needs.
Shivering or weight loss are critical signs that a horse needs more assistance, and while a blanket can help, it is also important to evaluate their entire lifestyle including access to adequate, quality forage, overall health (dental, deworming, etc.), herd dynamics, stress, and housing situation. Only then can we make the best decision for our horse.
On the flip side, many horses who have adequate forage and are at a healthy body condition, do not require blanketing. And I often recommend that owners who have overweight or obese horses do NOT blanket as a way to help their horses lose weight naturally.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
As we move into the colder months and blanketing conversations start circulating again, try to set aside the noise and focus on what feels right for your horse. Weather, coat quality, age, body condition, and their overall health all matter more than any hard rule. If we can shift the conversation from “should you blanket?” to “what does this individual horse need to stay healthy and comfortable?”, we’ll all make better decisions and have healthier, happier horses!
Cheers!
Dr. DeBoer
