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Location: midwest mama | My daughter has an old mare that is 30. She is thin, but fairly healthy and gets around pretty good. She has her turned out with a companion donkey and she can go out in her "pasture" or into the indoor arena for shelter. My daughter leaves the gate open all the time so they can go in and out as the weather warrants. She does get a warm mash and can still eat hay and pasture pretty well.
My question is - should my daughter blanket her or no? She has not been blanketed for the past 6-7 years, however she is thinner this year than in the past. The horse is in California so the winter nights are usually in the 40s, but can occasionally get down below freezing (27-32 degrees) for a few nights.
Any opinions? |
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 Veteran
Posts: 222
Location: Texas | We always blanket sr. Horses or thin horses. Thin horses don't have the extra calories to burn and older horses tend to have a problem regulating body temp. I would def. put one on when it gets cold. |
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 Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
 
Location: Minnesota | My old mare gets a light sheet when the weather dips below 40 degrees and when it gets below 30 she gets her big winter blanket. She deserves all the warmth she can get. She will also be getting a neck cover this year since they are predicting a colder winter than last years record setting cold winter. She, along with all my horses, have a nice round bale to eat all winter and quality grain and plenty of water. I say yes to a blanket. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | yes |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7265
| I would blanket a senior horse - I'd be afraid they would burn too much energy trying to stay warm. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Griz - 2014-11-17 5:40 AM I would blanket a senior horse - I'd be afraid they would burn too much energy trying to stay warm.
This^ My senior will be shivering to stay warm when my other younger guys seem fine- he gets a blanket and a sheet. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | I lean towards yes. but I would go by how the horse is acting. If she is shivering by all means that would mean she needs one. But the fact that she can get in and out of any weather or wind and is not used to one would make me watch and see alittle. While they have a harder time keeping warm they also would have a harder time keeping cool and I would hate for her to be too warm. I would be sure to have one handy and watch closely. |
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 Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | I am really on the fence on this one.
My 25 yr old has always been sweating easy. And she has a nice thick coat right now. I wouldn't mind putting a blanket on her (she hates it by the way...) The only problem I have is that I leave the house at 5.30 to go to work every day, and most of the times it will get even a bit colder till 7 before it starts to warm up.... so for now I have not given her a blanket.
She is on a round bale all day, can get into her stall which is 3 sided so she can get out of the wind and rain if needed.
Guess I will just keep a close eye on her with this crazy weather we are having now. Still can't believe it is in the 20's with a wind-chill in the 10's in mid-November in Texas.... |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I do everything I can to make my Sr horses comfortable and happy. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | We have a 21yo that we got a year or two ago. She shivers if it drops below 35 so she get one most of the winter. |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | cranky B4 10am - 2014-11-17 7:34 AM I am really on the fence on this one.
My 25 yr old has always been sweating easy. And she has a nice thick coat right now. I wouldn't mind putting a blanket on her (she hates it by the way...) The only problem I have is that I leave the house at 5.30 to go to work every day, and most of the times it will get even a bit colder till 7 before it starts to warm up.... so for now I have not given her a blanket.
She is on a round bale all day, can get into her stall which is 3 sided so she can get out of the wind and rain if needed.
Guess I will just keep a close eye on her with this crazy weather we are having now. Still can't believe it is in the 20's with a wind-chill in the 10's in mid-November in Texas....
That's the issue I have. I don't blanket my senior horse because I'd have to take it off before I leave for work. I'm worried I'd be too inconsistent and I don't know how detrimental it would be to blanket him one day and not the next. |
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 Star Padded Honey
Posts: 8890
Location: NW MT | here is an article (blog) that a local vet wrote that has helped a few folks to decide:
http://tritonvet.blogspot.com/2014/11/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket-common.html?spref=fb |
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 On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | My old one (32 yrs old) is blanketed, and has heat lamps and shavings. She is alone in the barn this year so there isn't a extra buddy in the barn to add body heat in there. I am hoping she makes it threw the winder ok. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | I always blanket my senior horse. Once they lose weight it is much harder to get it back on than to keep it. I try to keep them as happy and comfortable as possible. :) |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | rocky just made the link workable..
http://tritonvet.blogspot.com/2014/11/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket-common.html |
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Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | Gunner11 - 2014-11-17 9:08 AM cranky B4 10am - 2014-11-17 7:34 AM I am really on the fence on this one.
My 25 yr old has always been sweating easy. And she has a nice thick coat right now. I wouldn't mind putting a blanket on her (she hates it by the way...) The only problem I have is that I leave the house at 5.30 to go to work every day, and most of the times it will get even a bit colder till 7 before it starts to warm up.... so for now I have not given her a blanket.
She is on a round bale all day, can get into her stall which is 3 sided so she can get out of the wind and rain if needed.
Guess I will just keep a close eye on her with this crazy weather we are having now. Still can't believe it is in the 20's with a wind-chill in the 10's in mid-November in Texas.... That's the issue I have. I don't blanket my senior horse because I'd have to take it off before I leave for work. I'm worried I'd be too inconsistent and I don't know how detrimental it would be to blanket him one day and not the next.
I think it is better to not blanket in our case. Don't want her to get used to the blanket and then yank it off of her while it is still freezing.... or leave it on and have her sweating underneath because it warms up during the day. Nature made it so they can regulate pretty good. Obviously if she starts to loose weight I will have to rethink this... but for now I will let her be.
I do soak all of their grain in water. So I know they at least get some fluids in them. And even the couple of hours a day she is in her stall for feeding time I will have free choice hay and alfalfa for her. |
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