| As winter approaches, the drop in temperatures, | | | | animal to get cold. A stable blanket is often useful in |
| especially at night, becomes more noticeable. You start | | | | this case. A stable blanket is a heavy blanket that can |
| turning the heating on. At home the central heating | | | | provide warmth to the horse and is usually made from |
| gets turned on early in the morning and then stays on | | | | a coarse fabric that is a good insulator of heat. The |
| throughout the day. Does this make you wonder how | | | | blanket covers the back of the horse and reaches the |
| your horse or foal are getting on? Many stables have | | | | crest of the horse and stops below the hock and |
| heating sources in the stable to keep horses warm but | | | | knees. The horse's body temperature is retained and |
| this is quite an expensive process because much of | | | | keeps the horse warm. |
| the heat is lost to the surrounds very quickly. | | | | Another useful horse blanket is the neck cover. The |
| Horses, like most mammals, can react to their | | | | neck is the most exposed part of the animal. It has a |
| environments. They are blessed with a coat that can | | | | light covering of hair and is lean of any fat so is likely |
| respond to the external temperature by either moulting, | | | | to get cold. A neck cover protects the area up to the |
| in summer, or thickening, in winter. The sign of a healthy | | | | ears and to the point of the shoulder. It is usually used |
| horse is this ability to thicken its coat as winter | | | | in conjunction with another blanket. |
| approaches. In fact, before you consider a horse | | | | Other specialist blankets are exercise rugs and anti |
| blanket, you should ensure that your horse is in good | | | | sweat blankets. These blankets are used on cold days |
| health, is properly nourished and is given the opportunity | | | | when the horse is running. It allows the horse to retain |
| to exercise. If your horse is in this condition, in winter, | | | | heat and allow the muscles to warm up without strains |
| the chances are that it will grow a thick coat and will | | | | or pulling. The blankets are made of a light fabric that |
| be comfortable during the winter. | | | | allows the air to circulate throughout the blanket but |
| With that said, it also makes sense to buy a horse | | | | retain heat at the same time. |
| blanket for a number of reasons. Probably the most | | | | Horse blankets can keep your horse warm and |
| common need for a blanket is at night. The | | | | healthy during the winter months but there are a wide |
| temperature drops to its lowest point and a horse is | | | | variety of blankets available. Be sure to select the |
| most probably inactive in a stable. This can cause the | | | | correct blanket for your horse by assessing its needs. |