tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post5834940790147787537..comments2023-05-27T11:53:06.487-04:00Comments on Memoirs of a Horse Girl: Blanketing Question for the BlogosphereValhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-42098004565037274362011-11-24T10:17:21.179-05:002011-11-24T10:17:21.179-05:00allhorsestuff- You must be strong and healthy to t...allhorsestuff- You must be strong and healthy to take care of your horse (and yourself) so your reasons for blanketing against mud are very practical. No judgments here. :)<br /><br />I agree with your optimum, which also puts Harley at a close second choice for turnout management. He does not get free choice hay. He is fed his meals on a schedule. We tried a slow feeder, but it was a failed experiment. That is a story for another time. Thanks for stopping by and adding to the discussion.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-79604500957414323432011-11-24T01:15:08.638-05:002011-11-24T01:15:08.638-05:00Hi Val!
This was a great post and discussion!!
I...Hi Val!<br /> This was a great post and discussion!!<br /> I may.be a bit selfish in my reasons to blanket. Mud, and a mare who can get it embedded everywhere!! Everyday more and more.<br />I've got problems with my nerves in my arms and hands, so the repetitive movements of demuddifying her makes me go into painful bouts of swelling and weakness.<br /><br />Plus, she looses weight too easy. The <br />30's- 40' with wind/rains are too brutal here for bare horses that may go 8 hours without hay. That's not the norm but, it happens far too much at my facility, they work long hours.<br /><br />Calm, forward's critical is mine as well. I have an arsenal of weights for blankets!! <br />The one you got is excellent!<br /> <br />You are so wise to be on top of what was occurring in the stall situation!! I think 24/7 with a run in shelter and hay in a slow feeder is OPTIMUM! <br /><br />Mine mare has my second choice for stabling. A 12x14 stall that is never closed. A covered porch to a fine gravel 50 foot run , to another 100 foot run that goes under fir<br />trees.<br /><br />You have got it good !! I have my blankets professionally cleaned once a year , if more than once ,then I waterproof them again ( they do it).allhorsestuffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05301081722884351021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-32582925190552609692011-11-23T18:27:21.692-05:002011-11-23T18:27:21.692-05:00smaz- Yes it would!
Scientific or not, Gwen is bei...smaz- Yes it would!<br />Scientific or not, Gwen is being very clear in her communication. :)Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-71245324690975773442011-11-23T10:28:54.508-05:002011-11-23T10:28:54.508-05:00Well she shivers, looks miserable, clamps her tail...Well she shivers, looks miserable, clamps her tail up close against her hindquarters, and nickers at her blanket when she sees me bringing it out. That's not scientific at all, but that's all I have to go on.<br /><br />It would be so much easier if they could speak sometimes- of course that would open up another can of worms...smazourekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03029180368325070266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-11995299175317062402011-11-22T16:26:24.643-05:002011-11-22T16:26:24.643-05:00Thanks for stopping by, Amish Stories!
HammersArk...Thanks for stopping by, Amish Stories!<br /><br />HammersArk- Thanks for checking back. I wasn't sure if there was such a thing as a "rain sheet" or if it was just a "no fill" blanket. Now I know!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-15149720739047907922011-11-22T10:44:17.422-05:002011-11-22T10:44:17.422-05:00I use a "no fill" turnout sheet for both...I use a "no fill" turnout sheet for both. They both seem to be happiest in their blankets, but in a climate less wet and windy, I wouldn't blanket.<br /><br />Oh! I should also state that when I know it's going to be a nice day, I remove their blankets and let them run "au natural"... hence the muddy pony in my first set of pictures of my new pony :)hammerhorseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07144749417680923288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-54779255497738807022011-11-22T09:27:23.990-05:002011-11-22T09:27:23.990-05:00I'm visiting new blogs today for the first tim...I'm visiting new blogs today for the first time, so i also thought id wish you a Happy Thanksgiving to you and your readers. And i hope that the day is spent generating positive memories for years to come. Richard from Amish Stories.trumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14379869475899318079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-38425603356630752862011-11-21T17:53:36.699-05:002011-11-21T17:53:36.699-05:00Calm, Forward, Straight- Thanks for the link!
eve...Calm, Forward, Straight- Thanks for the link!<br /><br />eventer79- Four winters and counting? That's what I like to here! Thanks for the hair coat info., too.<br /><br />smaz- In a way, it is good that he did show clear signs that it was not working for him. It makes it easier to justify changing his routine when I must ask others to do stuff for me. My horse never looks cold. I have never seen him shiver in the least and I have seen him on some very cold, windy, snowy days. My vet recommended not blanketing until the teens.<br /><br />How does Gwen let you know that she needs a blanket?Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-27436506370935084432011-11-21T14:44:00.099-05:002011-11-21T14:44:00.099-05:00Stalls are bad news for horses in general, my two ...Stalls are bad news for horses in general, my two will never live in them again. They didn't develop coughs or stall vices but their minds suffered terribly- and that was with turnout nearly every day!<br /><br />I think having a blanket on hand is a good idea, that way if you need it you've got it but chances are you won't need it as often as you'd think especially if his pasture has sufficient wind breaks and he can move around to keep warm.<br /><br />I've recently been rethinking blanketing my guy, I didn't put one on him unless it was 14F or below but I'm wondering if he really needed it. Gwen does, but she's a hothouse flower.smazourekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03029180368325070266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-40596318245229116032011-11-20T19:51:01.158-05:002011-11-20T19:51:01.158-05:00That's the exact same blanket Solo has and it&...That's the exact same blanket Solo has and it's going on its fourth winter, I LOVE it.<br /><br />As for when to blanket, my rule for unclipped Solo is below 35 or 40 if it's rainy. We get a cold wind and the windbreak helps.<br /><br />Also, your BO is just flat wrong about the hair. A blanket causes no damage to the hair coat and insulates very well, the horses are far warmer to the touch with it than without on a cold day. When you take it off, the hair can fluff up just fine. <br /><br />Blankets are not a Bad Thing. They are not spandex; there are plenty of air pockets around the horse as they move and the blanket shifts. High tech insulation does a far better job keeping them warm on wet windy days than hair ever could. I don't want my horse shivering his weight off (especially Encore!) so I help him out.eventer79https://www.blogger.com/profile/03160817772061132147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-46136553359934604622011-11-20T10:00:36.109-05:002011-11-20T10:00:36.109-05:00Val -
Here's the link to Melissa's post a...Val -<br /><br />Here's the link to <a href="http://paradigmfarms.blogspot.com/2011/10/winterizing.html" rel="nofollow">Melissa's post about blankets and re-waterproofing</a> :)Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-65032262395736556662011-11-20T08:04:49.875-05:002011-11-20T08:04:49.875-05:00Kate- Thank you so much for your follow up on the ...Kate- Thank you so much for your follow up on the hair coat and the rewaterproofing. I will be stopping by Paradigm Farms to read Melissa's post!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-28875271337786902292011-11-20T08:02:08.140-05:002011-11-20T08:02:08.140-05:00Annette- I am so relieved that you have had good l...Annette- I am so relieved that you have had good luck with my blanket choice. Thanks for telling me that.<br /><br />My vet suggested very conservative blanketing, not until the teens or when rainy/windy. Harley would definitely be hot if I blanketed him at 40 degrees F. He was warming up when I just tried it on for the pictures.<br /><br />About the hair coat (C,F,S and Annette)...my barn owner is very concerned about this one. She says that once I start blanketing, I must continue to blanket for the remainder of the winter because Harley's hair will be unable to fluff up and keep him warm after that. The vet said that I can remove blankets as necessary, which is what I will do. I was wondering if anyone else had the impression that once I blanket I must continue to do so.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-43523064407897550532011-11-20T07:56:38.911-05:002011-11-20T07:56:38.911-05:00Calm, Forward, Straight- Protocol is exactly what ...Calm, Forward, Straight- Protocol is exactly what I am looking for. Your comment was perfect!<br />I am trying to develop a plan for Harley. Something that I can write down and the barn owners can follow. they want it to be my decision when he wears the blanket and when he does not.<br /><br />Thanks, HammersArk- Do you use a "no fill" waterproof blanket as your rain sheet? We have a shed, which keeps Harley dry, but the vet did mention that rain and wind are worse than just cold temperatures. Makes sense.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-54411229405933222982011-11-20T06:14:41.040-05:002011-11-20T06:14:41.040-05:00Putting on a rain sheet does flatten the hair, but...Putting on a rain sheet does flatten the hair, but so does rain - a thoroughly soaked horse loses its insulation. Wind plus cold can also cause a loss of insulating value. The hair flattening only becomes an issue if your horse is blanketed constantly - otherwise the hair can fluff right back up when you take the rain sheet or blanket off.<br /><br />Rewaterproofing - some tack stores offer this as a paid service. You can also do it yourself - at a laundry that has large heavy duty washers (and won't complain about smelly horse stuff). There are special rules - there are special blanket detergents you can buy (idea is not to use soap which removes the waterproofing) and some people don't use soap at all. After air drying you have to thoroughly spray the outside, sometimes more than once, with an appropriate rewaterproofing spray. Melissa at Paradigm Farms had a blog post recently about rewaterproofing where she mentioned the sprays she uses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-59815077941092073702011-11-20T00:05:35.657-05:002011-11-20T00:05:35.657-05:00Our winter night time temperatures get into the mi...Our winter night time temperatures get into the mid 20s on a regular basis, dipping into the upper teens once or twice. I read somewhere that horses do well without blankets down to about 14F. We do not blanket unless: The wind is howling; the horse is elderly; the horse looks cold (shivering because he chose to stand outside in the rain instead of in his stall/run in); or the horse is clipped. Jackson does best coming into his stall at night. Flash prefers to be outside 24/7. I have had excellent luck with the brand/style of blanket you bought. I don't plan to clip or blanket this winter. I also worry about the blanket squishing down the winter coat and lessening it's ability to keep the horse warm. Our boarder wants her horse blanketed in 40F weather although he has a very thick winter coat and is very happy without a blanket. It's hard convincing her he doesn't need it.Oak Creek Ranchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02875705582058188289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-66573512329107509132011-11-19T23:19:12.376-05:002011-11-19T23:19:12.376-05:00Thanks for the question. I did a little experimen...Thanks for the question. I did a little experiment a few weeks ago. I left them out without rain sheets on. It rained. They were shivering from the rain and wind combined. They BEGGED to come inside the barn. I put their rain blankets on. Similar conditions if not a bit on the colder side, they were happy as clams and did not want to come inside. I think that for the conditions my horses live in, it is much better to keep the blankets on because it's the rain and wind that gets to them, not the cold. If it's going to freeze at night, I try to bring them into my barn which has a lot of airflow, but lets them get out of direct wind and any rain.hammerhorseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07144749417680923288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-36269437766862423672011-11-19T22:40:15.571-05:002011-11-19T22:40:15.571-05:00Don't blankets with an insulating layer trap t...Don't blankets with an insulating layer trap the air, same as the hair would?<br /><br />Hope my comment wasn't tmi ;) I still feel equivocal about blanketing, so having a protocol makes it easier on me. <br /><br />And yes, Val doesn't get furry at all - plus he was blanketed by his prior owners. Also, the nearly constant wind and humidity make it feel much colder here than temps would indicate. I hate to see him lose weight over the winter...Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-60346301177658874822011-11-19T22:19:01.157-05:002011-11-19T22:19:01.157-05:00This is great! Please keep the advice coming!
And...This is great! Please keep the advice coming!<br />And if you know about the effects of blanketing on flattening the hair coat or rewaterproofing a blanket, please chime in!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-60168829283102970352011-11-19T22:14:07.600-05:002011-11-19T22:14:07.600-05:00Fetlock- You are me (sort of). ;) I did not own ...Fetlock- You are me (sort of). ;) I did not own a blanket until last week. Harley definitely gets "bear-like fur", polar bear actually, with his black skin and nose. I have increased his hay (and he is on a weight gain supp with pro/prebiotics), but his paddock mate eats much faster than Harley, which may contribute to unequal sharing. I am relieved that he is back outside. I never really stopped worrying about him being in at night.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-65298671281513781632011-11-19T22:10:08.322-05:002011-11-19T22:10:08.322-05:00HammersArk- Your rain sheet strategy makes sense. ...HammersArk- Your rain sheet strategy makes sense. This does not prevent your horses' hair coat from puffing out to create an insulating air layer? This is something that concerns me about blanketing in general. I do not want Harley to be colder with a blanket than without because his hair coat is flat. <br /><br />Anyone else have thoughts on this?Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-35095059152168875502011-11-19T22:06:42.068-05:002011-11-19T22:06:42.068-05:00Margaret- Blanketing is a mystery to me, too. I h...Margaret- Blanketing is a mystery to me, too. I have never blanketed Harley and plan to be very conservative as I do not want him to overheat.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-6241873918951778402011-11-19T22:04:11.189-05:002011-11-19T22:04:11.189-05:00Calm, Forward, Straight- Thanks for the detailed r...Calm, Forward, Straight- Thanks for the detailed routine. I am guessing that Val does not have a thick coat. I will not be blanketing above freezing and maybe even lower. My vet actually did not recommend blanketing until the teens, but Harley's coat is thick like a bear. "Wet" and "wind" seem to complicate the formula, so I am very happy to receive your input and strategy.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-57082894913358252362011-11-19T20:59:09.275-05:002011-11-19T20:59:09.275-05:00I once cared for a grand old gelding that had COPD...I once cared for a grand old gelding that had COPD, and that is a problem to be avoided at all costs. It's a tragic thing to watch an otherwise sound, healthy horse die from a preventable lung disease. I think Harley's better off outside! <br /><br />I don't even own a blanket (I probably should) but my three do really well in the winter--even in zero-subzero temperatures. They have a run-in three-sided shelter against the wind and rain, but the only time I see them using it is in high-wind situations. I do worry sometimes because my Walker mare doesn't develop quite the furry "bear" coat that the two Quarters do, but I've never seen her exhibit cold distress. <br /><br />I think access to a heated water trough is also really important for an "outside" horse. You might try just feeding him a little more if he's losing weight during the winter--I always give mine ground flax and a gut probiotic when they're on straight hay.Captain Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09294085455860971795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-44596503563659092011-11-19T20:58:11.118-05:002011-11-19T20:58:11.118-05:00I live in WA and the weather is wet 364 days a yea...I live in WA and the weather is wet 364 days a year. We battle rain rot and bacterial infections just because of the humidity. I do blanket, especially during the rainy cold season, but I only blanket with a rain sheet and nothing more. They still get lots of fur to stay warm, but the sheet keeps the wind and rain off of them.hammerhorseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07144749417680923288noreply@blogger.com