Ep. 61: Winter Horse Blanketing: Should You Do It? What the Science Says

Blanket season is here and so are the annual blanketing opinion wars! 
From “my horse never wears one” to “my pony has a full winter wardrobe,” every horse owner has an opinion. But what does the science actually say about blanketing horses?

In this episode of The Scoop & Scale Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Michelle DeBoer from Equine, PhD to uncover the facts behind horse blanketing, coat growth, and thermoregulation.

Dr. DeBoer’s research reveals surprising truths about how horses handle cold, when blanketing truly helps, and why no one-size-fits-all rule exists.

 You’ll learn:

• What really triggers a horse’s winter coat to grow
• How breed, body condition, and climate affect coat thickness
• Whether blanketing can actually prevent coat growth
• Why wind and rain matter more than temperature alone
• How blanketing impacts hay intake and weight management
• When blankets help… and when they might hurt

Tune in to get practical guidance to help you make smarter blanketing decisions this winter.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159116302192 

Reference: “Horses can learn to use symbols to communicate their preferences,” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, November 2016

 

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