10/29/2026
Blanketing season is back and so is the question every horse owner debates every October: to blanket or not to blanket? 🐴
Here's what the research actually says. Horses that are blanketed regularly may not develop as thick a natural winter coat because the added warmth signals the body that insulation is less necessary. That means a blanketed horse becomes more dependent on the blanket as winter progresses, not less.
This isn't an argument against blanketing. Clipped horses, senior horses, underweight horses, and horses in wet climates often genuinely need it. But it is an argument for being consistent once you start.
The bigger nutritional connection: horses that are cold burn significantly more calories just to maintain body temperature. Whether you blanket or not, make sure your feed program accounts for the increased energy demand that comes with colder weather. 🙌
