I live in Chicago and recently got a horse a few months back. He is already starting to grow his winter coat and is quite fuzzy. He is inside 75% of the time. Barn is not heated. What type of blanket should I use? I don't want him to be too warm. Any ideas? Thanks!
He's in the barn 75% of the time ... im guessing if its to cold outside he'll be in the barn i personally dint think he needs one. The toughest part of the horse is there rump when its really cold he will have his rump turned towards the wind, other times if he's cold he'll go into the barn/outdoor shelter. They have thick hide and hair for a reason.
What are your goals? To try and create a show coat (its too late for that), or just to keep him comfortable? I am assuming comfortable, and outdoors under supervision, and will go with that. I would look for a blanket labeled "stable blanket," pick the heaviest gram fiber fill, and heaviest denier for the outer shell that fits in your budget. I live in Florida, so the idea of winter in an unheated barn, makes me shiver , but really, horses are OK with NO blanketing if well fed and hayed, especially inside, out of the wind and dry. Its the way nature intended. Me, on the other hand, buys a "heavy weight" winter blanket, and use it when the temps are below 65 degrees. I'm a wimp. I have had the same horse living without a blanket, growing his winter coat, and I only blanketed when the temps were expected to be below 32.
I would maybe get 2 blankets. Since he is in the barn I would recommend a heavy blanket for when he goes out because even if the barn is not heated it is warmer and protected from the wind. I personally do not think he needs one inside. However I am sure there will be some cold nights so maybe a medium weight blanket would be nice also.
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I would check with other people where you board your horse and the barn manager. They will know what works best for the weather and what others have worked.
He would need a different blanket for when he is inside then when he is outside . What are you temps in chicago?
Here are some that i think would work.
Inside-
http://www.statelinetack.com/item/defend ... Outside-
http://www.statelinetack.com/item/kensin ...
I would not blanket him ...... let him get fuzzy, that is what horses do. He has the barn, that is plenty. Out here in New Mexico, our guys are pasture 24/7 & have a loafing shed ... that is it. They are healthy ... in the winter they look like fuzzy bears ........... I have to break the ice in their drinking water during the winter. Unfortunately ... you will not listen to me, because horse blankets are a fashion statement ... and what you girlfriends think is WAYYYYYY more important than common sense, So go out and buy the most expensive blanket you parents will buy for you ............ K?
