Horse Blankets That Keep Winter Coats From Growing

Horse blankets exist primarily to protect horses from unusually cold temperatures and harsh winter weather. Horse blankets come in a variety of thicknesses and materials so horse owners can select the right blanket for their climate and season. Owners of show horses often use blanketing as a part of a grooming and care program to help prevent horses from growing a natural winter coat.

  1. Winter Coats

    • Winter coats naturally protect horses against the cold. Horses actually begin shedding their summer coat and growing in a new winter coat during the fall months. Some horse owners, typically those who show their horses competitively, do not want their horses to grow a winter coat due to the scruffy, fuzzy appearance it gives horses. These horse owners use blanketing combined with specialized grooming to prevent their horses from growing a winter coat. There are no horse blankets that will exclusively stop a horse from growing a winter coat.

    Horse Blankets

    • Horse blankets and sheets come in a wide variety of thicknesses and materials. Some horse owners opt to blanket even in warm temperatures to keep coats in optimal condition. Blanketing reduces the risk of coats being damaged by sun or external objects. Light blankets and sheets can be layered in with heavier blankets and sheets to get optimal coverage.

    Preventing Winter Coats

    • To prevent a winter coat from growing, the horse should be blanketed with an appropriate blanket during both day and night. Many owners use a lighter blanket during the day and a heavier blanket at night. Blankets are rated for specific weather, temperatures and thickness. Select the correct blanket for your horse and weather conditions. Your horse should not be sweating under a too-thick blanket.

    Other Factors

    • In addition to blanketing, horse owners who want to keep their horse from growing a winter coat will thoroughly groom their horse regularly. In addition, the horses are kept under special lighting that imitates daylight and adds additional warmth during winter weather.