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Discussion on Will early blanketing decrease winter coat growth
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Member:
Skye
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Posted on Friday, Sep 22, 2006 - 8:31 pm:
My horses are at a new barn, and the manager has been putting their rain sheets on at night to protect them not from rain but from temps in the 40s and 30s (sometimes it's been windy, too).My horses have not been blanketed for several years, and I'd like to keep it that way.
Will these rain sheets put on at night but removed in the early morning decrease the growth of their winter coats? It's only the end of September, and we have two months before the real cold sets in for good.
Thanks
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 23, 2006 - 9:58 am:
I ran a thread on this a while ago... I think the consensus was that one or two days will not stunt the growth of the hair.
However, I also learned that horses keep warm by fluffing up the hairs. A sheet keeps the hairs from fluffing so a sheet inhibits their natural ability to keep warm. So while your BO may be trying to help, I think it's more detrimental unless the sheets have a liner as well...
I'm in California, so it may be different where you are, but I only sheet if it's really windy but still 45-50, below 45 I put a sheet on with a thinsulate liner, below 40 I put on a midweight if there is a weather incident. Otherwise the thinsulate will do to about 38. My horse has thin arabian skin, so he needs a bit more.
This year, however, I'm hoping not to blanket at all! My two cents and please take it as such.
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Member:
Cheryl
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 23, 2006 - 10:14 am:
The only time my horses have been cold with the absence of rain - was when the temps DrOpped below -20 with wind. The few times the temp DrOpped below -30 they were shivering even in the barn. At the time I couldn't afford blankets so I just poured the hay to them - My understanding is that horses handle cold a whole lot better than heat. As long as they can stay dry and out of the wind no blanketing is necessary or even healthy.
I hope - - -
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 23, 2006 - 11:34 am:
I agree with Aileen, if the sheet is too thin the horse will be chillier.
I have the understanding that if a horses' flanks shiver the horse is not 'cold', just cold enough to activate his keep warm mechanism. (So not a cause for alarm)
Perhaps Dr. O can explain this idea with proper terms.
Last week the temp DrOpped suddenly from +20 to 0(C). The horses shivered for a bit, however these same horses romp happily with no blankets during a typical winter day (-20).
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 23, 2006 - 11:40 am:
I agree about not blanketing in general but do sometimes put waterproof blankets on if it is rainy, windy AND cold. One of my Arabians shivers quite a lot in conditions like that and is the lowest horse in the pecking order so the others (who take the cold just fine) can put him in a situation where he is stuck in the wind. If horses can get out of the wind they do very well and have a fantastic ability to cope with cold. As always, there are a few horses who need extra care, and common sense helps figure out which ones -- older or infirm horses, for example. I do know of an older Arabian horse who died here in central Florida when his body temperature fell very low. He did not like blankets or the barn and expired in cold, windy conditions.
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