Q: Should horses always be blanketed when they are transported in winter?
A: If you've ever stood in an enclosed trailer with several horses, you know that plenty of body heat is generated and retained in that small space. When considering how to dress your horse for the road, be most concerned about his respiratory health, and opt for good ventilation and just enough clothing to fend off chills. The weather conditions, trailer/van type and number of passengers all contribute to the interior temperature.
"We keep the windows open on the van and blanket less," says Bates. "With all those bodies, they get hot on the trucks."
When horses are already reliant on blanketing during their daily lives, they will need some coverage, but a stable sheet or lightweight blanket may suffice in enclosed vehicles. Unclipped, never-blanketed horses may not need additional covers when transported in a draft-free, mostly enclosed conveyance, but in stock trailers or other airy vehicles, they'll need a blanket when temperatures dip to freezing or below.
This article originally appeared in the December 2001 issue of EQUUS magazine.
[...] subject of horse blankets always raises a lot of other questions for horse owners. In this article by Joanne Meszoly for EQUUS magazine, you’ll find answers to many horse-blanketing questions, [...]