09/28/2026
Blanket the horse in front of you, not the imaginary horse online.
The nights are getting colder, and the days are getting shorter. This is bringing back the long time argument- Blanket or No Blanket?
My opinions on blanketing have changed quite a bit over the past few years. I’ve learned that you can’t just pick one side of the argument. There are also many other factors when deciding whether to blanket or not.
At some point you will likely find yourself in a situation where the horse is obviously more comfortable even if it goes against your beliefs (on either side of the argument).
These horses are often really good at making us question our beliefs and continue to grow and learn.
I used to be in the boat of no blanketing except for very extreme circumstances. I believed that if horses have a proper amount of food and shelter, then they should be able to adapt and do well in most temperatures. While those factors are very important, it’s not the full picture.
Some people blanket every horse throughout the colder seasons as a standard practice.
As I’ve been dealing with some more medically complex horses over the past few years, I’ve learned that neither of those arguments, are necessarily correct.
Every horse is different and has different needs. Some horses need to have blankets starting at 50 degrees and have to stay toasty at all times to be comfortable, some only need blankets on extremely cold days, and some are perfectly happy and comfortable without blankets even during the coldest days and nights. There are also horses who fall in between those categories.
Diet, Shelter, Herd environment, Stress levels, Water access, Health, Age, Breed, etc. all play roles in if your horse needs a blanket or not.
I personally care for 3 horses that need blankets pretty consistently, 2 that do best blanketed on the colder and wetter days, and 2 that do well without blankets even on the coldest days here.
My 3 PSSM mares all have muscle issues and are much happier and healthier when they stay warm at all times. I keep different levels of blankets on them starting at 50 degrees and it helps a ton with their PSSM symptom management. They are good examples of horses with health issues where blankets are extremely helpful to maintain their comfort level. Severe arthritis, kissing spine, other muscle or bone issues, etc. are other physical issues where I could see a blanket being helpful for symptom management, depending on the individual.
I have evaluated all of the horses here and their comfort levels throughout the seasons and weather changes. Sometimes your horse might not be shivering or too cold when you first evaluate them, but looking closer, some horses end up being very tired or sluggish after a cold night without a blanket. That tells me that they are able to keep their temperature up, maybe even without shivering, but they had to put enough energy into staying warm that they are not fully rested later and are consistently playing catch up with energy and rest. These types of horses are the ones I usually blanket on the colder days but they truly do well without blankets otherwise.
Some horses are “set up” well for handling colder weather and can truly stay warm, dry, and fully rested on very cold days without blankets.
Always make sure your horse has proper shelter, forage, water, and overall environment in order to stay warm. Those factors are just as, if not more, important than the argument of blankets themselves.
Simply put:
-Don’t choose one side of the argument.
-Blanket for the needs of the horse in front of you.
-Evaluating the horse and its environment will give you a lot of insight into what that horse’s blanketing needs are, and how you can keep your horse comfortable and happy as it gets colder.
