How to Keep Your Horse Comfortable in Winter

This is the first year that you have a horse stabled at home and you are learning volumes about horse care. You have established a perfect feeding schedule; farrier, horse dentist and vet care schedules are under control. But how about keeping your horse cozy and comfortable when it turns freezing cold? His coat is thickening already and it's barely October. Winter is not far off.

By nature, a horse is actually quite comfortable in cold weather - his coat gets dense and lengthens. He fluffs up his lush fur coat to conserve body heat and to protect himself against the elements. However, other factors influence how well he survives - human interference, housing conditions, weather elements and even nutrition affect his natural ability to endure in winter.

Examples of horse stable/turnout conditions and what to do (in winter) for each

1. Is your horse turned out, in open space or free range (with a thick grove of pine trees or natural rock formations as the only shelter)? Nowadays, this may be rare. If the answer is yes, however, then he should NOT wear horse clothing, nor should he wear a halter, so he is not encumbered in any way. Hopefully, he is turned out with a herd or a companion horse to shield and huddle with during rough weather. Nature adjusts - he may be uncomfortable at times - but he'll get by.

2. Is your horse turned out day and night in a pasture but he has a shelter or lean-to where he can seek refuge against the elements? Does he come "in out of the rain?" Horsemen always say that you can predict the weather based on your horse's behavior - if rain is of short duration, the horse will seek cover to remain dry and warm; if rain continues for hours or longer, he'll just turn his rump into the wind and wait it out under the skies. Having said that, do you really want your horse to tough it out? For his comfort and benefit, consider letting him wear a waterproof turnout blanket during particularly inclement weather.

The thing to bear in mind -- monitor temperatures; remove heavy horse blanket(s) if they are wet or too warm for conditions. Also, remove the blanket when temperatures get milder or less blustery and permit your horse's natural coat to spring back up to serve as his protection.

3. Does the horse live in a cold stall or stable? If temperatures drop below 50oF , a prudent practice is to blanket the horse. A sheet or lightweight blanket won't do; that will only chill him more since hair loses its insulating ability under compression. Rather, use a good quality, insulated blanket to keep him comfortable. If the thermometer dips into low teens or approaches zero and water freezes in the drinking buckets, pile on additional insulation. The most important point to remember is to use a correctly measured and sized horse blanket, adjust it properly on the horse, monitor him often and layer according to temperatures.

4. Is your horse always stabled and gets his exercise primarily during training or riding? Is the barn routinely temperate? Your horse will prefer remaining unblanketed unless the temperature drops 60o or a lower. Monitor temperatures and dress him in a medium stable blanket until it warms up.

5. Is your horse stabled in a heated or warm barn? This is the time to protect him against chills, drafts and cold. Blanket him if temperatures fluctuate, doors are left open, there are drafts, etc. Remember, a horse in a heated barn gets chilled quicker than a horse that has acclimated to colder conditions.

6. Is the barn drafty but otherwise not too cold? Drafts can prove to be problematic and you'll need to provide warmth without excessive insulation.

7. Even though your horse is in a shelter or in a stall, does he appear cold, rundown, is he shivering? Get him warmed up by adding a horse blanket, possibly more until he warms up, stops shivering, appears comfortable. Then monitor! Do not pile on the blankets and go away for long stretches of time. It is imperative to monitor his comfort level and get him warm; do not let him go into a sweat.

8. Is your horse body clipped? This one is a no-brainer. Always blanket! Same rule of thumb as before: One blanket in coldest temperatures will not be adequate unless it is well insulated. Read the manufacturer's recommendations and act according to temperatures and stable conditions. Never turn your horse out into ring or pasture if he is body clipped without adequate clothing. Exercise your clipped horse in a quarter sheet; after training or exercise dress your horse in a cooler and permit his body temperature to go back to normal; then reblanket.

Three important horse care rules, especially in cold climates:

a) Absolutely never give him free access to water if he is heated or sweaty;
b) Never put him away sweaty without cooling him;
c) Do not blanket him without first cooling him down until he is no longer wet or moist; then rub him down.

Horse clothing for specific temperatures

The Old Gray Mare has several general suggestions. These are guidelines only and vary by geographical region based on humidity, winds, drafts. They may also vary by your horse's condition and individual constitution:

60-65F - Stable Sheet OR Turnout Sheet

48-62F - Lightweight Stable Blanket

38-50F - Medium Insulated Turnout Blanket OR Stable Blanket

30-40F - Heavy Insulated Turnout Blanket OR Insulated Stable Blanket covered with Stable Sheet

15-32F -- Heavy Insulated Turnout Blanket over Liner; OR 2 Medium Weight Insulated Stable Blankets

Below 15-20F - Heavy Blanket over Quilted Liner or Stable Blanket

You need a full hood for the clipped horse or light coated horse. It is practical to place a durable but lightweight horse sheet over the winter horse blankets to cut down on blanket laundering.

To summarize

Measure the horse for correct size. Adjust the horse blanket/turnout on your horse. Monitor temperatures and fit of horse blanket frequently; adjust as necessary. Layer during adverse weather and remove layers if temperatures fluctuate. Don't let horse overheat and, likewise, don't let him get too cold. In very cold weather, one blanket may not keep him warm enough.

Stay on top of weather conditions, use your head and judge by your own comfort level to maintain your horse's well-being.

This article and other horse-related or horse care articles by The Old Gray Mare can be found on www.DressYourHorse.com.