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  Extreme Veteran
Posts: 403
Location: Armuchee, GA, NW section of Ga | The weather has gotten increasely colder lately. I have all my horses blanketed and because it is now raining freezing cold, I have them all locked in for the night. I have radiant heaters over each stall and propane heaters in the center concrete isle. Each of my horses have good thick coats, and are chubby. I'm wondering however if I am doing too much with the heat? The weather is supposed to be about 20 tonite and a low of 8 tomorrow. How are others treating their horses in this weather?
TIA
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 Banjo and Baby
Posts: 7259
  
Location: South of Canada and North of Mexico | I know we live worlds apart (Im in MN) but as long as your horses have a shelter/lean to they get get out of the wind/rain just blankets and leaving them outside is best, if you stall them they can actually get colder if your barn is not insulated. I would never leave a propane heater on overnight. My horses prefer to be outside (I do blanket) even when its -50 with windchill. Make sure they have hay, water and a place to get out of the wind/rain. You sure dont want the horses sweating... |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Your over doing it. Horses are well equiped for the cold and all those heaters could pose a serious fire hazard. Just use heated buckets so their water doesnt freeze so they can drink. Put their blankets on and they will do very well. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Id never leave a heater on in the barn..
extra hay and blankets..when it gets in the 20s here since we are south and not used to extrme cold.. i put a sheet or cooler under blanket and give extra hay.. but at 20 the horses are fine and a heater is to much imho..
Edited by Bibliafarm 2015-02-16 8:42 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 2041
Location: home for the winter...what a dumb idea | Way over doing it......even when it -50 out in WI I didn't turn on a heater in my barn or stall my horses. They got blankets starting at -20 or if it was wet and cold. |
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 Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | To me you are WAY over doing it. Other than my babies and senior citizens all of my horses stay outside without blankets (but with good wind breaks and lots of hay) even when actual temps are -25 and wind chills in the -30/40 area. Our weather has been crazy this winter. One day it's 55 above the next it's -15 and everyone is fine. |
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10D Crack Champion
| If they are kind of woolly and staying inside there is no reason for heaters and blankets, but that's just me. |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | You're overdoing it |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| I have had my own horses for 60 years now and mine have never been blanketed. Vet told me to blanket a sick one once but that is it. The coldest that it gets around here is single digits maybe 3 or 4 but that is rare. Teens not so uncommon. They have run-ins they can get in but that is it. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I'd be scared to death I would make them sick with heaters in the barn! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 403
Location: Armuchee, GA, NW section of Ga | I KNOW you are correct in all of your observations and suggestions, believe me I know. BUT I have a OCD hubby, who is very ill himself and tends to go over board. He is ON DIALYSIS and will soon have a transplant. he is the one who spoils everyone. He bought me the radiant heaters, he bought the automatic feeders and he even built the barn. Most of these are very good to have.....believe me I fight this heat battle often. I should also note that two of my mores have health issues which I medicate daily, and pamper them for their final time they have left before I put them down. BUT all that said, I know they are only horses and with a thick coat and a wind break they will be fine, but at my age, 61, you pick your battles. So thanks for the responses, I know they will be ok without so much.
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | ThreeCorners - 2015-02-16 8:33 PM
Your over doing it. Horses are well equiped for the cold and all those heaters could pose a serious fire hazard. Just use heated buckets so their water doesnt freeze so they can drink. Put their blankets on and they will do very well.
This. You are overdoing it. Their blankets, shelter and easy access to water (heated buckets) and they will be fine. Horses actually enjoy "brisk" weather!
(Horses kept in enclosed heated barns very often develop respiratory issues.) |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I know horses can survive in any weather. But, I blanket mine when it gets in the low 40's. I just feel like they are more comfortable with their blankets on. They stay turned out except when it's wet and they don't have a dry place to lay down. When it's wet, I put them in at night whether it's cold enough for blankets or not. Whether you choose to blanket or not, as long as you're consistent with it, it's ok. As long as they don't get too warm under their blankets, you are certainly not doing them any harm. Your older ones probably need it. Mine are younger, so I don't have to blanket, but I do.
I agree your heaters are probably a fire hazard.
I like to watch survival shows and I see people build shelters or just curl up in some sheltered spot and they do survive. I'm sure they would be more comfortable with a warm coat on or in a nice warm bed, lol.
For the horses, it's just a comfort thing as far as I'm concerned. I just want to do what I can so they are comfortable so I know how the OP feels.
Edited by Nita 2015-02-17 8:16 AM
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | janjan1 - 2015-02-17 6:40 AM I KNOW you are correct in all of your observations and suggestions, believe me I know. BUT I have a OCD hubby, who is very ill himself and tends to go over board. He is ON DIALYSIS and will soon have a transplant. he is the one who spoils everyone. He bought me the radiant heaters, he bought the automatic feeders and he even built the barn. Most of these are very good to have.....believe me I fight this heat battle often. I should also note that two of my mores have health issues which I medicate daily, and pamper them for their final time they have left before I put them down. BUT all that said, I know they are only horses and with a thick coat and a wind break they will be fine, but at my age, 61, you pick your battles. So thanks for the responses, I know they will be ok without so much. I think you are fine all except the heaters due to fire risks..
we are south.. people tend to forget our horses arent acclimated for single digits.. it goes from 70 to 20 overnight.. so blankets are a must..extra hay and stalled and blankets if thats what they are used to.. do it..in wet weather it gets bone chilling cold to.. and I like mine in as well....if its dry they are out .. I blanket mine to below 45 and they wouldnt do well in single digits . I layer in single digits so its all what our horses are acclimated to.. imho
the heaters Id be freaked about though...
Edited by Bibliafarm 2015-02-17 8:23 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Delta Cowgirl - 2015-02-17 7:34 AM
ThreeCorners - 2015-02-16 8:33 PM
Your over doing it. Horses are well equiped for the cold and all those heaters could pose a serious fire hazard. Just use heated buckets so their water doesnt freeze so they can drink. Put their blankets on and they will do very well.
This. You are overdoing it. Their blankets, shelter and easy access to water (heated buckets ) and they will be fine. Horses actually enjoy "brisk" weather!
(Horses kept in enclosed heated barns very often develop respiratory issues. )
Good point about the respiratory issues. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| My vet saids the ideal temperature for a horse is 17 degrees and all horses would live up north if man had not brought them down south. Always provide fresh hay and shelter from wind and rain. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | rodeomom3 - 2015-02-17 9:48 AM My vet saids the ideal temperature for a horse is 17 degrees and all horses would live up north if man had not brought them down south. Always provide fresh hay and shelter from wind and rain.
UF says 30 .lol.. but we are down here. |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | I think this is way "messing" with mother nature. I try to stay as close to nature as I can. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Bibliafarm - 2015-02-17 9:13 AM
rodeomom3 - 2015-02-17 9:48 AM My vet saids the ideal temperature for a horse is 17 degrees and all horses would live up north if man had not brought them down south. Always provide fresh hay and shelter from wind and rain.
UF says 30 .lol.. but we are down here.
Yes, I am down south to and I think my horses would disagree with my vet they are not used to harsh winters at all |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I think in dry cold its easier to handle.lol.. right now its rainy and cold. yuck |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I blanket mine under 40. I have a huge barn with big stalls. Each stall has its own large window they can stick their heads out and get fresh air. When weather is good they get turned out everyday majority of the day but they've gotten accustomed to being inside their stalls at night to eat. I have heated water buckets in their stalls too. I do have a big propane heater in my barn aisle but I only use it when I'm in there cleaning or whatever. I'd never leave it on unsupervised. All I know is I'm ready for spring. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | In my neck of the woods, 8 degrees is not bad lol. One of my horses lives out 24/7 in a run with a good sized sheltered area and no blanket. I NEVER blanket any horse that lives out 24/7. We also have a heated barn so the horses kept inside (at night) don't grow coats like those who live out, so they get blankets when they're out during the day. If yours are fat and fluffy I don't think all those heaters are really necessary. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | I personally feel like closed, heated spaces are just an incubator for germs and do horses way more harm then good. Good old nature and fresh air makes for hearty animals and healthy immune systems. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | I personally feel like closed, heated spaces are just an incubator for germs and do horses way more harm then good. Good old nature and fresh air makes for hearty animals and healthy immune systems. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | I personally feel like closed, heated spaces are just an incubator for germs and do horses way more harm then good. Good old nature and fresh air makes for hearty animals and healthy immune systems. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | I agree!! I have yet to walk into a heated barn that a) doesn't knock me down from the ammonia b) or just the sheer humidity in it
To the OP as mentioned them being inside and blanketed with lots of hay will do them just perfect! |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | i have horses that stay out with OMG no blankets all winter....lol....i would get no sleep if i left any kind of propane heater in my barn.........my barn is very well insulated and if its -35 with a nasty wind and i have 5 horses in for a few hours its about -10 inside..............
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Cold winter weather and heated barns