Thursday, April 28, 2011

To Blanket or not to Blanket

"The horse. Here is nobility without conceit, friendship without envy, beauty without vanity. A willing servant, but never a slave." ~Ronald Duncan

This time of year, Spring, is always difficult when it comes to blanketing horses. The general rule is, if the weather temps are 40-57 degrees in the Spring, use a lightweight blanket. Problems arise with the fluctuating temperatures during the day, this time of year.

You don't want your horses to get too hot under their blankets or they'll colic while eating pasture grass, and when they're brought in at night for their grain ration.

When in doubt about the weather, leave their blankets off. Mother Nature gives them extra "fur" when the weather turns chilly. It's better to have a horse who feels cool to the touch, than to have a horse feel too warm.  Colic can occur from being overheated because of a blanket. 

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