So does your four-legged equine friend need a horse blanket when it’s cold outside, or not?
It’s a simple question, but the answer is not always so. There are a lot of parameters to deciding whether or not to blanket your horse, and some of the questions you need to ask yourself are:
Is the temperature below 50 degrees F? Is the horse very young or very old? Sick or thin? Is the horse outside? Does he have access to a shed or shelter? Does the forecast call for rain, sleet or snow? Is the horse shivering?
This humorous yet informative flow chart might help:
The infographic was created by Dr. Betsy Wagner, an equine scientist and associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University. Passionate about science and research, and a lifelong horse lover, Wagner is the University’s go-to expert for everything related to horses and enjoys helping the average horse owner make informed decisions through scientific evidence.
If your horse needs a blanket — or a lightweight sheet — be sure to check out Jeffers Equine’s extensive selection of horse blankets, sheets and turnouts, many of which are now on sale.