The question everyone in the Northeast seems to ask this question around this time of year is if they should blanket their horse for the winter. There are fierce proponents for both sides. I'm sure you know people who seem to take blanketing for the winter to a whole new level with tack trunks full of different blankets. And I'm sure you know a few horse owners who have never felt the need to purchase a blanket. As with everything horse related, the best answer I can give you is: it depends. So let's break down some of the variables in a simple scenario:
You just bought a new horse and you are contemplating whether or not to purchase a blanket for him this winter. The first question to ask is where did he come from? Did he come from down south and has never seen snow, or perhaps he came from the frozen tundra and is well versed in cold long winters? If the horse has never experienced winter in the Northeast, a blanket is a great way to soften the shock and introduce him to the low temperatures. Horses in the south don't develop the same winter coat that makes horses in the Northeast look like wooly mammoths, so to compensate for that a blanket would be needed. If he is well used to the cold weather, perhaps a blanket is not necessary. Notice how I said perhaps and not a definite "a blanket is not necessary." That is because there is many other factors to consider.
If you purchased the horse in the Northeast, ask the former owner what her winter routine was. Did she blanket the horse? If so when? Everyone has a different routine. Some may blanket only when the temperature drops below a certain degree, others may have an intricate routing involving layers of blankets that are added on or taken off depending on daily weather conditions. Or maybe the horse has never seen a blanket in it's life. If you purchase a horse in the spring or summer, it may be easy to forget about these important questions, but getting this kind of history when you purchase a new horse can help you make a more informed decision when snow starts to fly.
Consider what you are using the horse for. Will you be showing throughout the winter, or just riding around the farm when weather permits? If you are showing, you are probably body clipping throughout the winter. Throwing on a blanket will help tame the wooly mammoth coat and keep the coat in a more show ready condition. However, if you are riding around the farm and think the teddy bear look is cute, you could get away without a blanket.
You will also want to take into account the horse's living situation. Will he be outside 24/7 during the winter? If so, is their a run in shed to get out of the wind and rain, or is it just a flat field with no shelter? Will he be stalled when the weather gets bad? Or perhaps he will live in the barn throughout the winter with turnout in an indoor? If the horse will be out in the elements throughout the majority of the winter, a blanket may be the way to go.
Another important factor to consider is the personality of the horse. Is he a hardy guy who could brave the winter without a blanket, or is he a prima donna who wants to go inside if the weather isn't absolutely perfect? The prima donna horse would appreciate the blanket, but the tough guy might not appreciate it as much.
Some other factors to consider are:
Age: is he young, old, in his prime? Older and younger horses can have a harder time regulating their body temperature and may benefit from a blanket.
Health: does your horse have any health issues that could make keeping a proper body temperature more difficult? If so a blanket would be beneficial.
Weight: is your at an optimal weight, fat, or maybe needs a few more pounds? A horse spends more energy maintaining its body temperature during the winter, so if you have a horse that is underweight or a hard keeper, a blanket would help to keep him warm and make packing on the pounds easier.
Is your head spinning yet? Like I mentioned, nothing in the horse world has a simple yes or no answer. The best thing to do is to mentally ask yourself these questions and use the answers to do what is best for your horse. It is not unheard of to blanket some of your herd and not others based on each individual horse's needs.
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