Horse blankets come in a variety of styles, sizes, colors, and materials, all of which are manufactured based upon horses’ unique sizes and individual needs. Shopping for a blanket can be a lot of fun, but it is imperative that you do your homework before searching for the perfect blanket for your horse. What Type of Blanket is Right for my Horse? There are, however, a few situations that would merit horse owners providing horses a specialized blanket to protect them from the colder winter months. This is due to their ability to grow a long winter coat, one that is capable of providing an extra layer of insulation, protecting the animal’s internal heat and temperature. But that still leaves the question should I blanket my horse? To Blanket, or not to Blanket?īelieve it or not, most horses possess the ability to withstand even the harshest of winter temperatures without any blanket at all. Today’s practices being far more humane, and far more geared towards the health and happiness of the horse itself. The Modern Blanketįortunately, research and modern-day horsemanship practices have truly worked to shed light on the appropriate role and function of the horse blanket, affording people a far greater insight into effective practices and equine health in general. Unfortunately, these types of blankets were relatively crude and often did more harm than good, preventing horses from naturally sweating, drying, and cooling off after a long day of work, preventing coats from naturally growing in length to develop the animal’s natural insulation during colder seasons, and generally rubbing and sliding on the horse’s backs, resulting in wounds, sores and abrasions that often turned into even more dangerous injuries. Carriage companies and owners of work and recreational horses alike all found themselves purchasing blankets for their horses in an effort to avoid the steep fines and other legal ramifications sought by legal authorities who found any of their animals without blankets. Subsequently, animal rights activists pushed until a bill was drafted, ordering that all horses be afforded a blanket during the cold winter months, philosophically endeavoring to protect the rights and well-being of all members of the species. Conceptually designed to help protect the carriage work horses in the larger cities, these blankets more often than not found themselves resting on the back of the recreational riding horses of upper-class Americans than city dray horses. The first cut-to-fit horse blankets were manufactured in the year 1857 by the well-known and somewhat pioneering Troy Woolen Mills in the city of Troy, New Hampshire. The practice of horse blanketing has been around for many, many years, with evidence of humans having covered their horses with animal pelts and other protective materials dating back hundreds of years. Perhaps it is useful to begin by examining the historical role of the horse blanket in understanding its modern-day use. Although the answer to this question may not be simple, the question itself is an important one to ask.
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The question many horse owners now find themselves facing is whether or not to blanket their horses. With the holidays approaching, many horses have been put to pasture, but only some of them have been outfitted with blankets. If You’re Gonna Do Something, Do it Right.Gauging your Blanket: Finding the Perfect Fit.
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How do I Know if a Blanket will fit my Horse?.What Type of Blanket is Right for my Horse?.But why is it that horses actually wear blankets, and is the act of turning out horses in the winter without a blanket an act of neglect, or is it the owner’s choice as to whether or not to fit their horses with this winter attire? This horse blanket guide serves to answer this question and many more, offering a comprehensive understanding of the role of the modern-day horse blanket, as well as its many forms and uses around the world.
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Driving through any winter countryside, it is not uncommon to see many horses having been turned out, and now clad in a variety of colorful blankets.