12/11/2025
๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ. . .
If I had a dollar for every time someone pulled out this tired argument, I could finally build that new barn I have been dreaming about.
So I am here to set the record straight. Comparing domestic horses to wild horses is not the slam-dunk some people think it is. Rather, it falls apart once you get past the surface because it was never solid logic to begin with.
Yes, โwildโ horses, moose, elk, antelope, and whatever other critters people like to use in this argument donโt wear blankets. But hereโs the part that is conveniently left out: they survive by paying a price. There is no safety net. Nature is not kind. And when a wild horse isnโt thriving, nature removes it. And it can be a painful and drawn out process.
Thankfully, domestic horses donโt live this way. But the trade off is that they are required to live within the constraints of human expectations.
They live in limited space, depend entirely on what we provide, and do not have the ability to roam miles to find shelter, better forage, or protection from the elements. Some drop weight dramatically in winter. Some have metabolic disorders, clipped coats, low body conditions, or age-related problems. We groom them, ride them, and many have been bred for refinement and traits that excel in the show pen, not rugged survival.
And hereโs the biggest difference: our responsibility to domestic horses is not to simply allow them to survive but rather we have a responsibility to help them thrive.
I am a huge advocate for letting a horse be a horse. But it is not always that simple. Humans domesticated them so it has become our duty to manage them.
Blanketing is not about pampering. Itโs not about fashion. Itโs not about treating horses like fragile glass figurines. Itโs about understanding the individual needs of the animal in front of you. Some horses will be perfectly fine naked all winter. Others will burn calories they donโt have, shiver for hours, lose weight, or struggle quietly.
Will they survive without a blanket?
Most likely.
But will they thrive?
That depends on the horse. And as their caretakers, itโs our job to know the difference.
So stop using that lazy โwild horses donโt need blanketsโ line.
Weโre in the 21st century. We have knowledge, tools, and compassion. Use them. Do whatโs best for your horse, not what a wild animal has no choice but to endure solely based on principle.
And I want to be clear. I think MANY horses do just fine without blankets, just not ALL horses. And that is the distinction I am trying to make here.
Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer
I am also super grateful for Untamed Souls Photography (link to their page in the comments!) for letting me use their picture in this post. While I pride myself in creating my own visuals, I didnโt have anything I loved for this post and her picture captured my vision perfectly!
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