Winter Blanket Tips
Animal Friends Equine Insurance would like to remind our customers that all horses are different and though it may seem that some are happy in all types of weather, even when it is really cold. Currently we have another worldwide big freeze and the fact is many horses get cold when the first cold night of fall occurs. Sometimes it is hard to figure out when your horse needs to have a blanket. Below you will find some tips to help you decide when it is best to blanket your horse when the weather starts to turn cold.
Usually if the temperature is below 10 C you should consider putting a blanket on your horse. This is just a general rule of thumb and other factors such as humidity and wind could call for putting a blanket on your horse when it is warmer. It your horse has a clipped coat you may want to put a blanket on them when the temperature drops below 15 C.
If your horse lives indoors or spends part of their time in a warm stable, they may feel the cold more than a horse that lives outdoors all the time. A horse that is outdoors full time will grow a heavy coat to protect itself from the cold. However, your horse may still need a blanket to keep out the wind and moisture in the air. If your horse s stall is drafty you might want to cover them with a blanket.
If your horse is shivering you should check him immediately to see if they are too cold. If he is shivering make sure you blanket them or add more blankets and get them into a shelter so they can get warm.
If you want to see if your horse is too warm, slide your hand under the blanket. If your horse feels sweaty then you should put on a lighter blanket or take the blanket off completely. If you keep an eye on the weather and watch your horse for signs of being cold you will know when it is time to cover them up with a blanket.
As the UK's fastest growing independant ethical insurance company, we have been dedicating our net profits to the welfare of animals around the world for many years now. We are proud to have added horse insurance to our product list. For an insurance quote on your horse, pony or donkey call our dedicated horse insurance team on 0844 57 32 100.
Do you have any advice for our readers on horse rugs, winter blankets and saddles? Animal Friends Equine Insurance would love to hear what you have to say. Please post your comments below if you would like to share your opinions with other members of AFI's Horse Community. Thank you and enjoy the blogs!
