11. Did you know most horses prefer to be outside and not in a stall?
Horses are prey animals. That means other animals hunt them for food. They are also claustrophobic animals, meaning they don’t like tight places they cannot escape easily. So humans domesticate horses and condition them not to be afraid. For example, we teach them to be in a stall, tied to a tree, or in a horse trailer, even to wear a blanket.
So, a horse has learned to be in a stall. That does not mean it is a horse’s preferred location to spend the day or night. I am in full belief that a horse needs to be put out in a safe pasture area with his pasture mates during the night and day. This pasture should have a safe place for the horse to go if they get out of the weather. Maybe a lean too or open stall in a barn. But that should be their choice. I had 20 horses at one time, and I would say that only a few of them chose the lean too over the elements such as rain or snow.
12. Horses in winter eat hay to keep warm
Eating hay is a way horses keep warm. While the hay processes inside their stomach, it is manufacturing heat to keep them warm. So their body is like a furnace. My horses always had round bales to continually munch 24/7 during the cold winter months.
Horses need a lot of roughage like hay to keep warm, and they will always have full access to a water source. There are trough warmers that will prevent the water from freezing or being too cold to drink.
13. A fluffy winter coat keeps a horse warm in the cold
As long as a horse is in good condition and has its winter coat, a lean-to, water, and lots of hay, it can withstand below -40 degree temperatures with no blanket.
In early September through fall, horses grow a thick winter coat of hair and a layer of fat under the skin. A horse’s hair puffs up in the cold weather and separates from its skin. The horse’s body warms the layer of space between the hair and the skin. This layer is the insulating layer protecting them from the cold, wind, and moisture. Even with 2″ of snow and ice on top, their winter coat still can keep the layer of warm insulated air between the hair and skin. Blankets could interfere with this natural way a horse warms itself.
14. Light controls when horses get their winter coat
A horse’s winter coat will grow according to the light. In late August and early September, the light starts diminishing. So the horse is not exposed to the sunlight for as long during the day. Nature tells the horse’s body that it needs more hair to keep warm during the coming winter nights. So the temperature does not control the horse’s winter coat. The lack of daylight does. Coat length varies per horse.
15. Do horses get cold in the rain?
A horse shivering in cold rain is chilled, and its body is naturally trying to warm itself up. I’ve seen horses shiver during the rainy fall season because their winter coat is not fully grown out. Its hair may get too soaked to provide the insulation they need. So they begin to shiver. Shivering is nature’s way of attempting to release the water-soaked hair that sticks to their skin and leaves no room for an insulating layer. Letting nature take its course is usually the best alternative. As long as they have a place to hide from the rain, they will go in when they need to.
A blanket may help. But, the horse should be dry before putting it on. It is usually better to take the horse to a dry location to eat hay, drink water and warm up naturally. Blanketing a wet horse can cause overheating or chilling. If you put a blanket on a wet horse, it can heat up too much and begin sweating, then overheating. Also, hair saturated with rain or sweat traps the moisture against the body. Which also could cause the horse to chill and not overcome the cold.
If the horse is prone to shivering when it rains, it might be helpful to use a rain sheet instead of a blanket. It is lightweight and will keep the water from soaking the hair.
16. How to tell if a horse is cold and when to blanket a horse
A practical test to see if a horse is cold is to feel its nose and ears with your bare hand. If those body parts are warm, typically, the horse is warm. If they are cold, they might need a blanket.
If the horse is already wearing a blanket, place a bare hand under the blanket at the shoulder. If the horse is sweating, it is too hot. The horse is good to go if it is toasty warm with dry hair. But, if it is chilly under the blanket, it may need a heavier blanket. Or, just like for humans, layering blankets will make it easier to take a blanket off when multiple layers aren’t needed anymore.
Here are 7 conditions that may need a horse blanket
- A thinner horse breed, like the Thoroughbred or Arabian Breed
- A horse that does not grow a winter coat
- An older horse or a horse that is too thin
- A foal, or baby horse
- A horse that has moved from a warmer climate
- A horse that has no shelter or building to hide from the frigid winds and rain
- A clipped horse*
*Horses in training or those that show during the winter months can be clipped to prevent them from sweating and getting chilled. Clipping will also avoid a sweaty, salty build-up on their coats, which is hard to get rid of with just a brush. The salt build-up can prevent their winter coat from fluffing up, which keeps them warm. It’s hard to give baths in the winter, so clipping is the next best alternative.
There are many types of blankets for many kinds of weather and other conditions. An owner may have a few blankets for the different types of weather. But, if the horse has a good winter coat and is healthy, there may be no need for a blanket.
Do you have any questions about the weather and horses or anything else? Please feel free to comment below.
Please read my other facts about horse posts here. Basic horse facts