Tip of the Month
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As Oprah might say, "These things I know for sure." You cannot control the temperature of your horse with a blanket, shelter is a good thing and water freezes at 32° Fahrenheit. Remember, a big part of horse communication is understanding your horses needs and the things that make him comfortable. I realize that everyone has an opinion on these matters, so I would like the opportunity to give you mine. Please keep in mind that all my conclusions are based on many years of personal observation and experience, along with the acknowledgment of many university studies.
The blanket... There are situations where you might need to blanket a horse. However, in most cases the blanket does more harm than good. I am not talking about a horse that has a problem generating his own body heat, but even then, you must regulate the horse's temperature throughout the day and night. The horse was not born wearing a blanket, and I am sure he thought it to be strange the first time he found himself wearing one. There's absolutely no possible way you can regulate the temperature of a horse when his body is not allowed to adjust to the outside temperature naturally, When you put that heavy blanket on your horse, it will cause him to perspire. When this happens the horse gets wet beneath his blanket and once again gets cold. If you put a light blanket on a horse, it will actually make him colder by flattening down his hair coat and reducing his R (insulating) factor. If you happen to get it just right and the time comes to take the blanket off, the horse will once again be cold because now his body has lowered its temperature to compensate for the warmth of the blanket. The continued use of blankets can damage the hair follicles and when left on continuously (especially if they're waterproof ) can cause fungus and rot. This practice can confuse mother nature and he may lose the ability to grow a winter coat altogether. His long winter coat (that most don't want him to have) helps him in many ways. Here's one you probably haven't heard. The long hair on the horse works much like the fringe on an Indians jacket. It wicks the water away from his skin which allows him to dry (next to his skin) much faster. His own body will heat the air space between the dry skin and the wet hair, once again providing insulation and warmth. "It's not nice to fool mother nature"
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Shelter... Your horse does not live in the wild so he cannot find his own shelter. Natural shelter, such as certain types of trees are sufficient cover for the horse and give him blockage from the wind, but if you don't have any natural shelter, it only makes sense to build a three sided building faced away from the wind with plenty of room inside for your horse or horses. This will give them the option to come in out of the weather if and when they feel the need. If your horse has plenty foliage to eat,( lots of good quality hay) can block himself from the wind and get dry, he can stay warm in extremely cold weather. You won't have to worry whether or not he is to hot or too cold, he will take care of that for you. Based on my experience with horses, a dry place to get into out of the weather, not only has benefits in keeping him warm, but many other benefits as well. One example would be his feet. It is a fact that anything that continuously stays wet (other than things meant to live in the water) begins to soften, weaken and rot. Moister is the breeding place for bacteria.
Water... Your horse will need every bit as much water in the cold weather as he does in the hot. Actually, due to his increased food intake, he will need more. Frozen water buckets and troughs are not only a pain, but limit your horses from having full time access to water. It can also be hazardous for you to remove the ice from their containers. Frostbite and hypothermia are two very common dangers accompanyed by this chore. Just in case you weren't aware, they make deicers (heaters) for your troughs, and heated water buckets for your stalls. They range in price from about $25-$50 and they seem to last a lifetime. You will never have to break ice again, and because of the increased temperature of the water, your horse will be encouraged to drink more, your fingers won't break off from the cold and you will be able to sleep well knowing your horse has plenty of drinkable water. "These things I know for sure."
Be good to your horse Dennis | |||
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