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Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1849
   
| I didn't grow up blanketing my horses. I have had a few horses in the past that I did blanket becasue they seemed to be cold and it helped greatly. Now I have an older horse and i bought him a waterproof sheet if he needs it! However I was reading about using a cooler after riding to help dry off the horse. or using it after a bath to help dry them. Is this something most people do and I'm just ignorant LOL! ?? Really I don't know. do tell! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | If I work a horse in cold/cooler weather and they are sweaty (as they often get in the winter with a heavier coat)...it can take them a good while to dry. I will use a cooler on them to help keep the muscles etc from tightening up from the cold air, and it will keep them more comfortable until they are dry. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | If my horse breaks a sweat in colder temps, I'll throw the cooler on them until they dry off and cool down. Then I switch it out for the blanket. It's never good to put a blanket on a hot horse, which I've seen a lot of people do. I also don't like leaving them wet to air dry in the cold. Coolers are moisture wicking and help them dry faster, like a horse towel. |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | Most race track trainers use coolers, especially in the winter months. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| Jumping on here - what kind of cooler would one look for? |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | I like the microfleece or polar fleece coolers, be sure you get one with two straps that cross under the belly and dee rings for leg straps so you can also use it as a blanket liner and it will stay put. The cooler sheets that just have the tail cord tend to slip off too easily and you can't leave the horse unattended. Those sheets are fine for racehorses that are handwalked until completely dry but I use my coolers when my horses are on the walker or tied to the trailer and its nice to not have to worry about them slipping off. SS Tack and BigDWeb have some nice ones reasonably priced. |
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Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | This one is my favorite and has lasted for a few years, still looks great.
https://www.sstack.com/horse-blankets-and-sheets_coolers-covers_fleece-sheets/adjusta-fit-fleece-leg-strap-open-front-liner/ |
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Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | https://www.sstack.com/horse-blankets-and-sheets_coolers-covers_fleece-sheets/dura-tech--polar-fleece-dress-sheet-with-braid/ |
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Location: in the ozone | I personally don't like the fleece - give me pure wool any day instead. They are not cheap and sometimes hard to find but so nice. Someone on here a long time ago suggested a wool blanket and I got a couple of them and LOVE them. They are very well made and since they have straps, they don't slide around or off & are pure wool |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | i was always taught if the horse is wet at all/steaming(during cold temps), use a cooler. It helps them cool down quicker without getting a chill and protects the muscles. I cant stand when ppl work their poor horses into a drenched sweat and then throw a blanket right back on and turn em back out. grrrr. I have a big square cooler(one size fits all) that i use the most. i also have one like what was mentioned above^^. i just prefer it to be over the neck since thats where mine tend to sweat more. |
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