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Post by schwung on Aug 22, 2008 11:13:11 GMT -5
That's also a good point Laurie. I don't know if there is evidence to prove this, but I would think that the horse would burn less calories keeping themselves warm if they are blanketed and could, theoretically, cut down on your feed bill during the winter. And with the price of hay this year, that might be a good thing!
On the flip side I have to be very careful, since I have 4 horses and only a couple of them get ridden, that I at least take the blankets off and groom the others on a regular basis or at the very least put my hand under the blanket and make sure they are not losing weight. I remember one year I put a blanket on my always-an-easy-keeper warmblood retired mare and also put her on a diet since she was too fat, and then got busy and didn't take it off for several weeks, and when I did, she had dropped too much weight, and I hadn't noticed. I felt terrible, and lesson learned. Fortunately, she IS an easy keeper so the problem was easily fixed.
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Aug 22, 2008 16:38:48 GMT -5
When i lived in southern oregon(klamath basin) we didn't blanket our horses unless it was a HORRIBLE storm. They put on huge, thick, coats and always had shelters. They stayed dry up under all that hair and stayed warm. But, here in W. Washington - when they stand out in the rain all the time it is hard on them. Even my easy keepers would start to shiver. And - personally - i don't like to feel so cold I shiver - so figure neither do they I don't figure the average person needs to blanket the way I do lol(I know, I may have a problem!) but, I think that during the winter months to at least have a waterproof blanket along with shelters to get out of the wind is really important. IMO blankets need to be checked DAILY. Even if they don't get groomed under daily - they need to be pulled back and checked. I delt with a case last year where the very well meaning owner put a winter blanket on her horse at the place she boarded(pasture board) and left for a week to go out of town knowing the barn feeds and whatnot. Well - when she got back, the hrose had gotten a piece of blackberry vine up under the blanket and it had litterally burried into the skin. It was a HORRIBLE wound - similar to what I have seen from barbed wire. By the time she found it, it was infected and the horse was very sick. She had thought she was ok because there is no wire fence and the pastures are pretty much clear. In another situation, a horse tore the lining up under the blanket and the owner didn't notice for about a week or more - well, the way it tore, it pinched up a piece of skin and caused a nasty owie for the horse. so - even if you don't have time to change and groom - at least check your kids daily..... It is important. how would you feel if you had something hurting you up in your pants and you couldn't get it out of there? Sara
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sunrisestables
New BB Member
there is no such thing as a free horse
Posts: 34
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Post by sunrisestables on Aug 31, 2008 17:08:54 GMT -5
I have a boarding facility and I encourage my borders to get sheets for spring and fall and medium weghts for winter and a fleece liner for those occassional freezing nights ,but before turnout we check every horse to make sure that they are not too hot and if so take their blankets off but it is the responsibility of the owner to come and groom and reblanket their horse , even my minis get sheets to stay dry. Janean
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Post by lbanimals on Aug 31, 2008 21:57:09 GMT -5
I'm not gonna lie, one of the best things about moving Ms Foxy to my house is that this winter I can BLANKET. Whoo! It got down to the single digits here a few days last winter and although Ms Foxy had her winter coat and was kept in a barn during the cold nights....I still wished I could keep her blanketed. This winter all holds are off.....I've got a light rain sheet and a heavier sheet, a stable blanket and a medium weight turnout, not to mention a nice soft jersey blanket to put as a liner if need be. Oh boy oh boy oh boy, I can't wait......
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Sept 2, 2008 14:30:59 GMT -5
Another nice perk to the blankets is that it keeps the coat clean and nice - this is great when you want to go for a winter ride. Saves grooming time by coming to find a nice clean horse Sara
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