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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
   
Location: North Dakota | If you always travel with all the windows wide open on your trailer (or have a stock trailer), at what temperature do you blanket your horse?
Assuming the horse is not clipped and is healthy with a good coat.
And for which temperatures do you use which weight blanket (grams)?
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  The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | Never. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | I'll use a cooler or a sheet if it's below 45 or so. |
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 Go Your Own Way
Posts: 4947
Location: SE KS | if it is 50 degrees or less. That wind can be cold.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | I was always taught you don't blanket them while trailering because it can get caught and cause them to panic or if you get into an accident it can cause problems (I pray no one ever does get into an accident). But I also have never trailered throught the snow or extreme cold. Just up and down the west coast and up into Canada. Curious too know what other people do. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I blanket just like I do at the house with one horse who gets blanketed below 32 degrees. |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I am curious because I have another thread where it's being suggested I always haul with EVERYTHING open on my horse trailer always. I have a 3 horse slant load and so that would mean to drop down all the windows and open everything I can.
I usually adjust the windows based on the temperature. If it's below freezing or below zero, I'll only open the ceiling vents a little and the back window, so that they still have air flow for the humidity, yet they don't have cold air blowing down their backs. Of course, when it's hot out then everything is open as wide as I can get it.
I've never even owned a blanket. My horses are always fine in the North Dakota winters, living outside 24/7. However, they do have shelter.
It's a little different story when I lock them in a trailer and could potentially have a very cold wind blowing on them while we are driving down the road, that they can't get away from. I don't haul too much in the winter months. Mostly to local jackpots within or my farrier, which both are only about a 20 minute trailer ride.
But even in the spring and fall, it can be rather chilly in the morning, less than 30*F.
So just trying to figure out IF they need to be blanketed when it's cold out and I'm hauling, and if so, what weight.
Of if they should be fine and I'm being overworried?
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| r_beau - 2015-04-15 11:51 AM I am curious because I have another thread where it's being suggested I always haul with EVERYTHING open on my horse trailer always. I have a 3 horse slant load and so that would mean to drop down all the windows and open everything I can.
I usually adjust the windows based on the temperature. If it's below freezing or below zero, I'll only open the ceiling vents a little and the back window, so that they still have air flow for the humidity, yet they don't have cold air blowing down their backs. Of course, when it's hot out then everything is open as wide as I can get it.
I've never even owned a blanket. My horses are always fine in the North Dakota winters, living outside 24/7. However, they do have shelter.
It's a little different story when I lock them in a trailer and could potentially have a very cold wind blowing on them while we are driving down the road, that they can't get away from. I don't haul too much in the winter months. Mostly to local jackpots within or my farrier, which both are only about a 20 minute trailer ride.
But even in the spring and fall, it can be rather chilly in the morning, less than 30*F.
So just trying to figure out IF they need to be blanketed when it's cold out and I'm hauling, and if so, what weight.
Of if they should be fine and I'm being overworried?
So - I understand your bitter cold - I lived in SD and then WY for 8 years between the two. I have an open stock trailer that I put plexi in only when it's rainy or super cold. I only blanket, even now in KS, under a couple of conditions.
1) - If the horse can't get into/under real shelter.
2) If the horse is compromised some way; sick, hurt, etc
3) If the horse won't grow squat for hair.
Things to think about - If your horse has a nice hair coat, it fluffs to insulate their bodies and they won't need a blanket, even in a trailer. If you do blanket, you can then compress said hair coat and it won't act like it supposed to which is a major reason why people should never blanket a wet horse. Also, if you tie your horses in the trailer, make sure to give them enough length to move their heads out of the wind to be comfortable (obviously not enough that they'll get into trouble). |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 494
| I have drop downs on both front and back with sliding screens. I never blanket mine ever in the trailer. If it's cold I just keep everything closed up(vents, screens,etc) Many times Ive hauled with others who have blanketed and their horse comes out a soaking mess. It is too hard to gauge the temp change in the back when you're driving so leaving them off in the colder months is the best. If it was a stock trailer in the winter, then I would consider blanketing. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Freezing or below. And only if it will stay that temperature for awhile. If it'll warm up within a couple hours I'll usually leave it off and close the front windows and crack the rears. |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | epoh - 2015-04-15 1:47 PM I have drop downs on both front and back with sliding screens. I never blanket mine ever in the trailer. If it's cold I just keep everything closed up (vents, screens,etc) Many times Ive hauled with others who have blanketed and their horse comes out a soaking mess. It is too hard to gauge the temp change in the back when you're driving so leaving them off in the colder months is the best. If it was a stock trailer in the winter, then I would consider blanketing.
But here's my thing: It is being suggested to me that my horse may have a respiratory problem (vet will be checking) and I have been recommended to ALWAYS have all my windows open, even when it is COLD, so there is the best air flow possible.
Thus would then necessitate a blanket to keep my horse warm, due to the cold wind the trailer would create by having all the windows open, if hauling on cold day. |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | hammer_time - 2015-04-15 1:53 PM Freezing or below. And only if it will stay that temperature for awhile. If it'll warm up within a couple hours I'll usually leave it off and close the front windows and crack the rears.
But again, if you HAD to keep all the windows open no matter the temperature??? |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | r_beau - 2015-04-15 2:56 PM hammer_time - 2015-04-15 1:53 PM Freezing or below. And only if it will stay that temperature for awhile. If it'll warm up within a couple hours I'll usually leave it off and close the front windows and crack the rears. But again, if you HAD to keep all the windows open no matter the temperature???
Edited by Bibliafarm 2015-04-15 2:35 PM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Bibliafarm - 2015-04-15 2:31 PM r_beau - 2015-04-15 2:56 PM hammer_time - 2015-04-15 1:53 PM Freezing or below. And only if it will stay that temperature for awhile. If it'll warm up within a couple hours I'll usually leave it off and close the front windows and crack the rears. But again, if you HAD to keep all the windows open no matter the temperature???
I agree with all that Bibs said here, its common sense. If you dont have shavings in the trailer and its cold then close most windows leave a few cracked for little air flow. With no shaving's you wont have all that dust floating around. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| I didn't read all the posts, but I saw in the other thread where you have a 2 horse. I also have a 2 horse slant, and if it's chilly, but the horse would be too warm in a cooler/blanket, If I'm only hauling one horse, I'll put them in the front slot, and drop the window on the 2nd stall. That way they have air circulation, but not right in their face.
Also, as far as blankets go, if they're sweaty, I try to let them dry and cool down before loading. If they're dry and it's cool, I may put a cooler or light sheet on them. I also consider how many other horses in the trailer and how far the haul is. If they are alone in the trailer, it's only their body heat in there. If I'm hauling with my friend with 3 horses, I'll likely not blanket, because theirs plenty of body heat to keep them warm. I may leave windows up, open vents and butt side windows (not dropped, just sliding windows) for air flow. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1479
Location: rabbit run | Never. But then my horses don't wear blankets. And yes it gets real cold here.
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | if they are sweaty or wet they will get a cooler and a sheet. If they are wearing a blanket regularly they will have one in the trailer. I keep my windows dropped down most of the time |
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Location: Great Places Great Faces | I blanket mine with either a pht mag blanket or BOT blanket, I've never had any issues.
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When do you blanket your horse while trailering?