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Lee Canning
Member
Username: Leec
Post Number: 22
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - 2:17 am: |   |
Hi all,
I purchased a 4 yr old QH mare in mid December. When I bought her she was turned out blanketed during the day unless it was snowing or raining and at night she was kept in a stall blanketed and under lights. I decided to keep her on this program and continue to board her where I bought her, so I could ride all winter in their indoor arena. A week ago I brought her home. Her coat is about 3 weeks 'ahead' of horses who have been kept out all winter without a blanket, so I have kept her blanketed day and night. At what temperature would it be safe to stop blanketing her? The blanket she has on is one that came with another horse I bought and it is only water resistant, not waterproof and tonight it started raining... She has a run-in shelter available for her (I don’t have a barn), but she is choosing to stand out in the rain (it is 40F). This is the first horse I have ever blanketed and admit I have no experience with it. It is not something I plan to continue doing in the future, so I was hoping to get by without the expense of buying a waterproof blanket. If it rains enough to soak through the blanket and then stops raining, am I better to leave the blanket on her and let her body help dry it, or would it be better to take it off and leave her 'naked' until the blanket dries? If it does not stop raining and I have to buy her a waterproof one tomorrow, would it be okay to put it on her while she is slightly damp? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Lee C |
LL
Member
Username: Frances
Post Number: 230
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - 3:28 am: | |
Hi Lee
In my opinion it's not a good idea to leave them with a wet blanket on, and nor is it to leave them soaked without one if it's still chilly/windy when the rain has stopped.
I think it would put your mind at rest if you got hold of a waterproof blanket - maybe a friend has an old one you can borrow, or you can buy one secondhand - or buy a new one and sell it when you're sure you're not going to need it any more? And personally I would do my best to dry the horse before waterproofing up - not easy without a barn and if it's still raining, I know!
Lynn |
Lee Canning
Member
Username: Leec
Post Number: 23
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - 11:56 am: | |
Hi Lynn,
Thank you for the feedback - you confirmed my gut feelings... Her blanket is soaked through this morning, so I'm going to go get her another as soon as the tack shop opens. She is soaked as well, but is not shivering and does not seem concerned. I will leave her wet blanket on until I get home with the replacement, as I think she will be worse off without it if the wind comes up. There really isn't anything secure in her shelter to tie her to until she dries off (it is still raining), so I will towel dry her as best I can before I put the dry one on. Dr O, can you answer my question as to what would be a safe temperature to stop blanketing her altogether?
Lee C |
Lori
Member
Username: Maggienm
Post Number: 136
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - 12:01 pm: | |
Good suggestions LL
It happens to all who blanket at some time. The horse is wet, how do I put a blanket on a wet horse?
This is what I do. I put a thick terry type blanket(old blanket from my bed) or a wool cooler on under the waterproof (or whichever blanket)I will leave the horse in the corral for a few hours then go out and remove the 'under' blanket.
This has worked very well to dry and warm the horse and using this method I have never had a chilly horse.
I don't fasten the under blanket so once in a while it has come off and I find it laying around usually trampled and pooped on.
I wouldn't leave a horse in the rain with a blanket that isn't waterproof. The horse will get wet and the blanket will hold the water. This will make the horse cold even in warm spring conditions.
If you find she is chilly in the rain with no blanket would you be able to put up a gate to keep her in the shelter? |
Lee Canning
Member
Username: Leec
Post Number: 24
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - 3:54 pm: | |
Okee-dokee - Have now replaced wet blanket with dry blanket. Hanah is a bit nervous in her shelter, so I was not comfortable locking her in there. Maybe because she is used to a big barn with a box stall where the rain is not so loud on the roof. So, Lori, I used your idea - I took my husbands favourite couch blanket - kidding! I found an old blanket and put it on under her dry one after I dried her as best I could - it worked great! I have one more question... Her new blanket does up a little differently under the belly - the old one just had a strap at the girth, the new one has two straps that criss-cross from just behind mid belly to girth. I am afraid if I have them too loose, she might get a hind foot in if she lays down, but if they are too tight, they might rip or cause her discomfort as her body changes shape when she lays down. Where the two straps cross, is there a rule of thumb as to how many inches they should 'hang' from the horses belly?
Lee C |
Fran C
Member
Username: Canter
Post Number: 454
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - 4:06 pm: | |
Lee, the rule of thumb for the crossing straps is that they should hang about a hands - width below the belly - aprox 4". This is the way I was taught and I also have since read it in several articles in magazines such as Practical Horseman. |
Lee Canning
Member
Username: Leec
Post Number: 25
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 - 1:03 am: | |
Thanks again to all of you for your advice/ideas. Fran, I went out and checked the fit after I read your post and all was well.
Lee C |
Fran C
Member
Username: Canter
Post Number: 456
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 - 8:13 am: | |
Lee, I would just recommend that you occasionally check those straps to make sure they stay at that hand's width distance from the belly. I've noticed with newer blankets in particular, the straps will likely lengthen a bit over time as your horse puts "stress" on them. My mare is blanketed all winter since I clip her and I check those straps each time I buckle her back into the blanket. |
