Blanketing

[JBM]

Hi my horse is turning 20 and has a trace clip
I currently have a 100g blanket which she is wearing and a 250g blanket for colder weather
She was clipped in December so some hair is growing back but not much but was just wondering at what temperature you guys would use the 250g blanket
Thank you

 

[Equi]

There is no one answer..it depends on the horses tolerance, amount of feed/shelter available, what condition the horse is currently in, if they have any medical conditions etc.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Where are you in the world and what is the weather like? Using the terms blanketing and blanket makes me think you could be in North America somewhere? Does your horse have access to shelter? Are you stabling at night? Are they a hot or a cold horse? Do they have ad lib forage?

I know that looks like a lot of questions but there are so many variables when it comes to putting the correct weight of rug on a horse.

I like a horse to be warm but not toasty under a rug. If they are cold they get a warmer rug on and if they are too warm they get a thinner rug on (or no rug). I would class 250g as a medium weight rug and I don't usually use those unless it is low single figures (I use centigrade) or there is a big wind chill factor. My old girl often gets a warmer rug than the two younger ones because she feels the cold more. When it is properly freezing with decent ice on the water trough then the heavyweight rugs come out. I find they cope better with cold, calm and dry weather compared to cold, wet and windy, so the weather can make a difference to whether I put on warmer rugs or not.

Sorry that's a bit of a rambly answer but I hope it helps.

 

[JBM]

We have around 500 acres so she has access to grass 24/7 cuz she stays out and she gets a good pile of haylage once a day
Shelter in the form of trees and tall hedges
I live in Ireland so can be a bit of all types of weather rain wind and sun
I haven’t felt her be cold yet but I don’t see her much at night as she’s impossible to find in the dark due to her dark coat
She gets ridden quiet often so she’s in good shape nice weight and all
Just wondering for a rough estimate cuz it’s going down to about 0 over the week at night

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I end up doing a lot of swapping at this time of year. So sometimes it is naked during the day if it is sunny and then rugs on at night when the temperature drops. Cloudless nights can get quite cold.

I have a couple of rugs with reflective strips on and they are brilliant for finding the horses in the dark, I keep meaning to sew reflective tape on some of my other rugs but haven't got round to it yet.

 

[JBM]

I end up doing a lot of swapping at this time of year. So sometimes it is naked during the day if it is sunny and then rugs on at night when the temperature drops. Cloudless nights can get quite cold.

I have a couple of rugs with reflective strips on and they are brilliant for finding the horses in the dark, I keep meaning to sew reflective tape on some of my other rugs but haven't got round to it yet.

Okie thank you a bunch

 

[Equi]

500 acres in ireland?!

See what the weather is like tomorrow. Could be snow, could be blistering sun. just have to play it hour by hour here im afraid.

 

[JBM]

500 acres in ireland?!

See what the weather is like tomorrow. Could be snow, could be blistering sun. just have to play it hour by hour here im afraid.

Ya we have a big dairy farm
Will do!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Its just play by the day! yesterday was sunny 12 degrees so mine were out naked during the day and they have just been clipped, they have 100g rugs on over night at the moment it was 1 degree tonight.