blanket woes

knitty · Yearling

blanket woes

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Hi Knitty,
How long is your horse's coat now? I have had three horses that simply could not wear blankets in winter and I am in Ontario.
One horse was allergic, the other two feasted on their blankets!
Some of them just hate having them on.
When did you last clip your horse? You can get one of those plastic blanket bib things that hang under the horse's chin while you wait for the coat to grow in, then let him go without a blanket.

justice · Grand Prix

Hi, KF, and Welcome! : )

If you are somewhere in the northern hemisphere, he won't grow his coat in for another two months or so. Right now, they are starting to think about shedding OUT the winter coat. I agree with Barbara on the bib.

shaiarabs · Well Schooled

with no grass left, is he getting hay to keep him occupied all day?

knitty · Yearling

THanks for your replies!
Yes he has ample hay to munch on and friends to play with. Taking blankets away is my last resort as at this time of year it just seems wrong to leave him with little coat and no blanket. HE hasn't been clipped at all, just hasn't grown much (in fact next year I plan to let him grow a coat and just give him a bib clip). He doesn't play with them while in his stall, just on turnout. This started only a month or so ago since snow has come to stay (I'm in Ontario). So with blankets/rain sheets all fall = no eating. I hesitate to put a plastic bib on him as that would mean I need to leave that attached to his halter while left to his own devices. He likes to find trouble (or be adventurous, depending on how you look at it!) and something attached to his face would be a whole new challenge for him. He would most likely stop eating blanket until he figured out how to destroy the bib...I think for now I will try a little longer with the blankets. I will just have to become talented at sewing back on chest straps...
ps. I like how I have the status of 'FOAL'

dbliron · Advanced

Hi, Knitty:

I think the bib's your best choice. Buy a cheap leather halter to which to attach the bib, so that if he hangs himself up on something the whole thing will break. The other possibility is a cradle, which will not stop him from eating hay on the ground or in a low feeder, or drinking, but it will prevent him from hassling his blankets. My concern would be rubbing over time - you might need to be inventive with sheepskin padding!

This is more than an inconvenience for you: I know of two horrible accidents involving this kind of behaviour - in one the horse caught his jaw in the chest straps and broke his neck, and in the other the mare caught her jaw in the chest straps and tore out half of her tongue. She did recover, but it was very difficult and slow and painful.

Here's a link to a site selling cradles, if you're interested: http://www.onestopequineshop.com/Wood-Neck-Cradle_p_240.html

-- Edited by dbliron on Friday 31st of December 2010 10:24:43 AM

knitty · Yearling

Those awful stories are yet another reason for the no blanket option! That is the route I will be taking next year for sure. I've been told by a few people not to worry if I end up having to pull it off early, that horses are very adaptable etc. He's got two tree lines for wind barrier and is out for 6 hours per day, young and in great condition (see: chubby). I'm giving the blankets a last whirl having repaired one yesterday. We'll see what condition its in when I go out to the barn today!