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buffy July 13, 2011 at 6:29 pm

Depends upon your purpose for putting the blanket on the horse – main purposes are warmth and affecting the growth of a winter coat.If for warmth, it depends upon the horse – right now, here in Michigan it’s 30-40 degrees and night and 60 during the day. We wouldn’t put a blanket on a horse and leave it there 24/7 – if the horse is out at night or in a place where it can get cold at night so needs to be blanketed, blanket him during the coldest part of the night – from dusk until mid-morning. If you cannot be there to blanket/unblanket him due to having to work or him being at a boarding facility where they won’t manage blankets, get him a fairly lightweight sheet or cotton liner for fall & spring and a heavier blanket for the cold winter. Weatherbeeta has rug sacs that are a set of 3 blankets used together to insure comfort of horse during all weather. They really are a good value.If for keeping the winter coat from growing, they need a good blanket on earlier in the fall and later in the spring to keep the winter hair from starting. As the winter grows colder, heavier blankets or more layers are needed.the key is, just as to us, don’t over-dress. A horse that is in a blanket that sweats all day is just as likely to get sick or a cold as you are if you sit in a snowsuit all day inside, then go outside without adding layers or changing out of the wet, sweaty clothes.I have 6 horses in mid-Michigan. I do not blanket any of mine unless they appear to be cold (shivering) which they rarely are. If one is shivering, I get them out of the wind and into a closed barn maybe with a blanket. Part of the reason is that they are turned out in an old orchard so I don’t want them getting hooked or hurt out there – but I remember only two times when my horses were cold enough they needed blankets – that was only one horse both times over night while in the barn.If you are not riding all winter or showing – if there’s some reason the horse should not have a winter coat or if he’s moved from south to north, he should not need a winter blanket. Once you start blanketing, you have a mess on your hands – so avoid it if you can. Mother nature takes care of them – they don’t need blankets unless they can’t get out of the weather (ie no shelter), they don’t grow a winter coat or you don’t want them to grow a winter coat. Don’t assume that because it’s cold, they are. Their winter fur is made up of hollow hairs. these hairs trap the body heat and reflect it back to the body, which is what keeps them warm. I would suggest that if the horse gets a real fuzzy or thick winter coat, perhaps all he may need is a light but waterproof blanket to keep him from getting wet.

thecrow July 14, 2011 at 6:24 am

Saxon Medium Weight600 Denier, Standard Neck Blanket for $54.95 at Jeffershttp://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&mscssid=L7JXL6NU827F9N1CPPF0BBLE31DM42KEI think this is as nice and inexpensive as you can get, and it’s a WeatherBeeta.

Ponygirl July 14, 2011 at 6:40 pm

Have you looked at Schneider’s Tack? http://sstack.com They make great blankets, have high denier, and can have no or low fiberfill. The turnout blankets are waterproof and last very well. I have 2 that are coming into their 6th season, and one of my boys is very, very tough on clothing. If you have stock horse type horses, get the regular neck, if you have warmblood or TB type, get the european neck that have the adjustable neck tabs.They are a little more expensive (unless you are comparing to rambo) but when they last for so long, they become very economical!I did have to replace the leg straps this year, but that is the extent of the repair I have had to do.add–sorry for your financial situation. Over the years I have found that trying to get by in horses with the cheap way is just not possible. Better to buy no blankets at all than to have a cheap blanket that gets ripped to shreds and gets tangled in legs or isn’t waterproof. Can you build them a shelter using tarps? Can you secure them so they don’t sag or flap in the wind too much? Mount a tarp on a wood or metal frame and make a wall and/or roof?add–http://www.sstack.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=9825&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=3&iSubCat=341&iProductID=9825 This blanket is $64.95, well within your under $80 request. At the temperatures you stated, you only need midweight, and you don’t need a neck cover at those temps. This is what I would get. This is what I have at 1000 denier midweight. Plenty warm for 10 degrees at night with wind chill below zero on my horses that have a winter coat.

Gos Girl July 15, 2011 at 6:40 am

Biting is a VERY bad habit, but it’s partially understandable since he’s a stallion. I recommend getting him gelded, as you said you would do, and make sure to stop the biting habit if it’s still going on. Even lipping shouldn’t be allowed. But anyway if he’s healthy and happy that’s the main part Also make sure, if you already arent, that his main diet isn’t alfalfa. That makes most horses much more spunky than usual, and that goes especially for smaller ones. Anyway, I didnt mean to sound critical, just wanted to make some suggestions so you can give him the best life and home possible.

Ponygirl July 15, 2011 at 6:33 pm

Have you been to http://sstack.com yet? These folks have the best blankets and turnouts. Be sure to get things that are at least 1000 denier so you will get more than 1 season from the blanketsI get the european neck blankets; they fit the non quarter horse type very well, and the regular neck does the stock types guys really well.I have a couple of guys who are very hard on blankets. They can tear a stable blanket in 3 days to 6 inch pieces! They have worn their Schneider’s blankets for 5 years, and this will be the 6th; no rips, not tears, and they are still water repellent except around the bottom edges.edit–denier refers to the thickness and toughness of the fabric, not the amount of poly fill. I have sheets that are just 1200 denier with a liner, no fiber fill at all, and I have a 1000 denier medium weight winter blanket that has 400 grams of fill for the cold months.I live in Kansas which has similar weather to Tennessee, some snow, but mostly freezing rain and ice, but we have more wind chill! Check out the website, or better yet, call the toll free number and talk to the folks; they are very helpful on the phone and will help you get the weight you need with the toughness to get you more than one season from a blanket or sheet.add– I have never had any luck with a 600 denier blanket lasting more than a season, if that. The higher the denier, the more rugged they are. My boys will tear up a Weatherbetta in about 3 weeks. Too bad too, ’cause I used to sell them and got a good cut on the price. (my price was $35) Even at that low price, they just weren’t worth the money if they didn’t hold up. They aren’t nearly as waterproof as the sstack ones either.

Dunfilly July 16, 2011 at 5:59 am

Well, I have to admit you’re brave – posting this question on Y!A is a move that will provoke plenty of bashing!Congrats on your decision to get a youngster! Sounds like you’re really doing your homework, and I applaud you for this decision. I wish more people on this site would be alittle more encouraging to invite more people into our little world of horses! Youngsters do require a bit more nutrition than older horses, as they are using a ton of energy towards growing. I’d say feed a good alfalfa mix and supplement with minerals and grain (you can pick up good yearling feed from your local feed store that’s specifically for young horses). As for winter, is he going to be the only horse? If so, I would definitely recommend having a blanket on hand for the really cold, wet nights. If he’s not the only horse, I’d say keep a blanket in your barn just in case, but he should be okay. As for training, you’re going to be covering the same ground techniques as you would with any other older horse. Work on halter manners, scary things (tarps, bridges, ect – the more you expose him too early, the better he’ll take it later on in life), moving off pressure, work on the feet, worming, you can bit him to get used to a new thing. But definitely work on the moving off pressure, whoa, and moving forward with a click of the tongue/kiss. This is the groundwork for a good started horse and makes it easier when you get on the first time. As for lunging, I’m having a hard time explaining it in words – check out youtube or see if any of your friends can actually show you (sorry, I’m a visual trainer .For gelding, you’ll have to wait until his testicles drop. Have your vet check for you – that will be your best source of information on that subject Good luck and just have fun with your baby! Don’t let him push his limits (no nipping, playing hide and seek, or any other potentially dangerous game – believe me, it’s cute when they are little, but when they grow up it’s not cute anymore). Just enjoy your time – you’re going to make mistakes, everyone does, but just keep asking for advice and taking what you can use.

Hannah B July 16, 2011 at 5:57 pm

If your going to be showing your horse in halter or any other ground/strip class then i would recomend clipping him/her. Keep in mind though that if your horse isnt shedding then they probally still need there coat for warmth. You need to make sure that you use an appropiate amount of blankets for your climate. If its still really cold you should really think about buying a hooded blanket to keep the horses neck and face warm. Good Luck at the shows!