Vet Tips: When to Blanket Your Horse Without Causing Heat Stress in 2025 🐴🧥🌡️

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Blanketing your horse during cold weather is a common practice—but doing it wrong can cause more harm than good. Horses are incredibly capable of regulating their own body temperature, and when we interfere with that natural system—especially in fluctuating climates—it can lead to overheating and even heat stress. 🌞🐎

In this 2025 seasonal care guide, Dr Duncan Houston breaks down when to blanket your horse, when not to, and how to prevent overheating when temperatures rise during the day. 🧥🧠

1. The Problem with Over-Blanketing ⚠️

In a study from Sweden and Norway, over half of surveyed horse owners misunderstood how equine thermoregulation works. The main risk? Blanketing during mild temperatures causes heat stress when the horse can’t cool down properly. 🌡️🔥

Key concerns include:

• 💧 Sweating under the blanket
• 🌬️ Disrupted evaporative cooling and skin airflow
• 🚫 Reduced ability to increase blood flow for heat loss

This is particularly common in areas like Texas where temperatures can fluctuate by 20°F or more within a single day. 🌄🌆

2. How Horses Naturally Regulate Temperature 🧬

Horses have evolved to live in open environments with minimal shelter. They regulate temperature by:

• 💨 Raising and lowering their hair coat
• 🧊 Sweating to cool via evaporation
• 📉 Adjusting blood flow to skin surface

When a blanket covers the horse, it prevents the hair from fluffing and traps heat and moisture—removing their ability to self-regulate. 🚫🌬️

3. When Should You Blanket? 🧥

Blanketing isn’t always bad. It's necessary in specific cases:

• 🧓 Older horses with a poor coat
• 🩺 Sick or thin horses with low fat reserves
• 🐴 Body-clipped horses during cold weather
• 🌧️ Extended wet, windy conditions

❄️ Recommended Blanket Use Guidelines:

Be sure to remove the blanket once the temperature rises above 40°F during the day. 🌤️

4. Heat Stress: What to Watch For 🧯

Leaving a blanket on too long can result in overheating. Symptoms of heat stress include:

• 🌡️ Elevated rectal temperature (over 102°F / 39°C)
• 💦 Profuse sweating under the blanket
• 🐌 Lethargy or reluctance to move
• 😰 Panting or flared nostrils

If suspected, remove the blanket immediately, hose the horse with cool water, and provide shade and airflow. Call a vet if symptoms persist. 🩺

5. Why Texas Winters Are Especially Tricky 🌦️

In regions like Texas, mornings can start below freezing and reach 60°F+ by afternoon. This dramatic swing creates a blanketing dilemma:

• 🌄 Horse is blanketed in the morning at 40°F
• 🌞 Afternoon hits 65°F—horse overheats under the blanket

If you're not home to remove blankets as temps rise, it may be safer to leave the horse unblanketed unless they are old, thin, or clipped. 🧠

6. Tips for Safe Blanketing Practices 🧵

• 📆 Check the forecast daily—plan for high and low temps
• 🧼 Use breathable, moisture-wicking blankets
• 🔁 Change or remove blankets midday when possible
• 🧽 Keep backup blankets dry and clean
• 🛠️ Repair broken straps or damaged fittings to prevent accidents

Remember, blanketing is a tool—not a requirement for every horse. 🧠🐎

7. Summary Table: To Blanket or Not to Blanket 📋

8. Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston 💬

Blankets can protect—but they can also harm. Understanding when to use them and when to let your horse’s body do the work is key to avoiding heat stress. In mild climates, skip the blanket unless absolutely necessary, and always remove it once temperatures climb. 🌡️🐴

For help choosing the right blanket or evaluating your horse’s winter care plan, visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app 📲 for expert seasonal care support from veterinarians you trust.

— Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc