Vet Advice: Blanketing Horses in Winter Without Overdoing It 2025 🐴🧥❄️

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

As temperatures drop, many horse owners instinctively reach for a blanket—but is it always the right move? While blanketing can reduce energy loss and help certain horses stay warm, it's not always necessary and may even interfere with natural behaviors, feeding habits, and weight regulation. 🧠🐎

In this winter 2025 vet guide, Dr Duncan Houston reviews a recent study on hay intake and body condition in blanketed horses and offers practical advice on when—and when not—to blanket. 🧥📊

1. What Happens When You Blanket a Horse? 🧠

Blankets reduce the amount of energy a horse needs to stay warm, especially in freezing or wet weather. But they also:

• 🍽️ Decrease voluntary hay consumption
• 🧼 Can contribute to skin conditions if not managed properly
• 🧊 Prevent the horse from acclimating to cold temperatures

Blanketing isn't wrong—but it’s only beneficial in the right conditions. 🧥✅

2. Study Review: Blanketing and Hay Intake 🔬

A study from Wisconsin compared two groups of horses over winter:

• 🐴 8 blanketed horses
• 🐎 8 unblanketed horses

Both groups were housed outdoors with identical access to free-choice hay. Results:

• 📉 Blanketed horses consumed 8% less hay (~2 lbs/day less)
• ⚖️ Body condition stayed consistent in both groups

Conclusion: Blanketed horses reduce hay intake naturally because they’re not using as much energy to stay warm. ❄️🔥

3. What This Means for Winter Feeding 🍽️

If your horse is blanketed, don’t be alarmed if they eat a little less—this is a normal adjustment to reduced caloric demand. But keep an eye on:

• 📏 Weight gain (especially in easy keepers)
• 🔍 Hidden body condition under the blanket
• 🧪 Winter health issues masked by low visibility

Weigh horses regularly or use a weight tape every 2–4 weeks, especially if blanketed. 📉

4. Pros and Cons of Winter Blanketing ⚖️

✅ Pros:

• 🧓 Keeps seniors and thin horses warm
• 🌧️ Offers protection during wet, windy, freezing conditions
• 🏇 Ideal for clipped or high-performance horses

❌ Cons:

• 🧥 Reduces natural heat regulation
• 🔥 Can cause overheating if temps rise
• 💧 May lead to sweating or skin infections if damp
• 🔍 Makes visual BCS assessment more difficult

5. When to Blanket (and When Not To) 🌡️

Blanket when:

• 🌨️ Temps drop below freezing (32°F / 0°C)
• 🌧️ Rain and wind + cold temperatures
• 🧓 Horse is old, clipped, or underweight

Don’t blanket when:

• 🌤️ Temps are above 40°F consistently
• 🏞️ Horses are healthy, acclimated, and not clipped
• 🚫 You can’t remove it later as temperatures rise

In climates like Texas, it’s better to avoid over-blanketing. Winters are short, and horses adjust naturally to mild cold. ❄️

6. Winter Monitoring Tips 🕵️‍♂️

• 📆 Remove and check under the blanket every day
• 📸 Take side-view photos biweekly for visual tracking
• 📏 Use weight tape and assign a BCS every month
• 🧼 Wash blankets regularly to avoid skin issues

7. Summary Table: Blanketing Decision Guide 🧥📋

8. Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston 💬

Blankets can be useful, but they're not always necessary—and can sometimes cause more issues than they solve. Pay attention to weather patterns, monitor body condition under the blanket, and don’t underestimate your horse’s natural ability to handle mild winter conditions. 🧠🐴

For help managing winter nutrition, blanketing, or monitoring your horse’s weight, visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app 📲 to connect with expert equine veterinarians 24/7.

— Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc