Why we are not anti-blanket with horses

Rain blankets and winter blankets for horses are a much-discussed topic in the horse world. There are people staunchly against blankets because they believe that every horse should be able to be in the Netherlands without a blanket. That every horse naturally grows enough coat and that the winters in the Netherlands are not so extremely cold that a blanket is not necessary. To some extent, that is true, but it is a bit more nuanced. Here is our view on blankets!

Point 1: every horse is different!

Some horses thrive in the winter, are completely in their element and enjoy the cold and the season. Some horses stand under the shelter at the first drop of rain, with their heads down feeling miserable. And that is not because they are spoiled by the owner, but because the horse prefers a certain type of weather. They are sometimes just like people 😉. Why wouldn't you provide a blanket for the horse that is unhappy in the rain, so that its mood improves and it can enjoy being outside?

Point 2: not every horse grows a thick winter coat

These days, more and more horses from warm countries come to live in the Netherlands. Sometimes horses are not used to the temperature dropping below 15 degrees in a year. Growing a winter coat is almost unheard of for them, making them unable to withstand the Dutch cold and wetness. There are also horses born in the Netherlands who naturally grow a thin winter coat. For example, the horse of our colleague Marjolijn, a crossbreed between a Friesian and a Tinker, is almost as smooth in the winter as in the summer. The mare has a lot of hair, but it is all very short. So, while one horse looks like an exploded teddy bear, the other horse has very short hair.

Point 3: not every horse is healthy enough

An important reason to choose a blanket is the decreased health of your horse. Older horses often have a harder time keeping warm or lose weight quickly in the winter. A horse may have been ill, have reduced immunity, have had muscle imbalances in the past, etc. All reasons to still choose a blanket.

Point 4: cold is usually not the problem

And perhaps this is the most important reason to choose a blanket for your horse. Cold is often not the problem for horses, as long as it is dry cold. It's a matter of providing enough roughage and then horses quickly become comfortable. But in the Netherlands, there is rarely dry frost. It is always windy and/or rainy, sometimes with a bit of snow. And that rain and wind quickly make it unpleasant for horses. A rainy and windy afternoon/day a horse can still handle, but if this lasts for days, it is a huge strain on the horse's condition.

Point 5: sometimes shaving is the best option

If a horse is shaved, then it cannot do without a blanket. Unless you have only shaved a small part and the back is completely untouched, then it is still doable as long as the temperatures/rain are not too extreme. But basically, you have taken off your horse's coat so you will have to replace it with a blanket. Shaving is sometimes the best option for some horses. If they sweat enormously during work and have difficulty drying off, shaving is sometimes the best option.

Point 6: overweight does not guarantee being comfortably warm

We often hear that horses can lose weight and have enough fat to keep themselves warm. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true and the point of "sufficient roughage" also comes into play. Overweight horses are often put on a diet, so their internal heating is not constantly on. These horses can really get cold. Also, overweight does not indicate how comfortable the horse is. The cold can affect the muscles, causing the horse to stiffen and then the layer of fat makes no difference.

Point 7: it is a choice made by the owner

We as owners of our horse are the only ones who can decide and determine whether our horse wears a blanket or not. Not a website, not a forum, not the stable owner, not the stable mates, not the veterinarian, no one. As horse owners, we see our horse every day, we see how it behaves after a rainstorm or a cold night, we feel how it moves, and we see if the horse is happy with the cold.

As horse owners, we are therefore the only ones who can decide whether our horse does/does not wear a blanket and how thick the blanket will be.