I have two new horses this winter on 24/7 turnout. One is an athletic build and has the start of a nice fluffy coat. The other is more classic stock horse and if anything is a little on the heavy side, but has put on very little noticeable coat. I live in the upper midwest and it gets very cold here. As the winter goes on, how do I evaluate these horses for their potential to need a blanket or to spend more time in the barn? – via horsechannel.com
As a survivor of last year’s Polar Vortex, I have to agree with you that it can get very cold in the Midwest! So it’s very important that we closely monitor the weather and our horse’s response to the weather.
This question prompted me to sit down and spend some time rereading the Sixth Revised Edition of NRC’s Nutrient Requirements of Horses, published in 2007. Here are some facts that you can use to help base your decision:
- There are five weather-related variables that affect horses: temperature, wind, sun, rain, and humidity with temperature playing the largest role.
- Young, thin, or aged mature horses are less cold-tolerant than mature horses.
- When cold weather occurs, diet changes for susceptible horses must be made much sooner than for mature horses in good body condition.
- Cold weather creates an increased demand mainly for energy. . . Feeding good-quality hay free-choice may be the simplest way to supply additional digestible energy for most idle, adult horses during cold weather.
- It was concluded that digestible energy intakes of adult horses at maintenance should be raised 2.5 percent for each degree Celsius below the Lower Critical Temperature.
What is the Lower Critical Temperature? The NRC first defines the “thermoneutral zone,” which is the temperature range when metabolic heat production does not need to be increased to maintain thermostability or body core temperature. That is, it’s the range of temperatures in which the horse does not need to expend any energy either keeping warm or cool. Therefore the Lower Critical Temperature is the lowest or coldest temperature at which the horse doesn’t have to burn calories to keep himself warm.
Turns out the Lower (and Upper) Critical Temperature isn’t a fixed number, as it can vary with age, body condition, breed, season, adaptation and climate. In general though, for adult horses in northern climates it can get as low as 5° F before their body must generate heat to keep warm. In more temperate climates—such as the southern states—the Lower Critical Temperature is a bit higher, like 40° F.
There was some interesting research back in 1991 by MacCormack and Bruce that said shelter reduces heat loss during cold exposure by 9%, blankets reduce it by 18%, while shelter AND blankets combined reduce heat loss by 26%.
The take-home here is that where you live (and how long your horse has lived there), as well as other individual factors such length of hair coat, amount of body fat, and just how well a particular horse tolerates the cold should all factor in to your decision if and when and how much to blanket. If you listen to your horse, he will tell you!
Lydia F. Gray, DVM, MA SmartPak Staff Veterinarian and Medical Director Dr. Lydia Gray has earned a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), and a Master of Arts focusing on interpersonal and organizational communication. After “retiring” from private practice, she put her experience and education to work as the American Association of Equine Practitioner’s first-ever Director of Owner Education. Dr. Gray continues to provide health and nutrition information to horse owners through her position at SmartPak, through publication in more than a dozen general and trade publications, and through presentations around the country. She is the very proud owner of a Trakehner named Newman that she actively competes with in dressage and combined driving. In addition to memberships in the USDF and USEF, Dr. Gray is also a member of the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association (IDCTA). She is a USDF “L” Program Graduate and is currently working on her Bronze Medal. Find Dr. Gray on Google+
I have a 21 yr old gelding that was diagnosed w cushiness 3 years ago bc he had foundered. I put him on prescend as recommended; I saw no difference in him and he could literally pick this little pill out of his feed to avoid taking it! So I have been putting it in the back of his mouth myself to make sure he got it. After a year of laminitis bouts, I had prolotherapy injections given ion the corona bands of his front feet… After the first round, he was almost immediately better! He had 5 rounds of it, 2 weeks apart and has been sound ever since. He is healthy, a super ride, and acts like horses half his age. I have had prolo on my own knees & back & know how helpful it is, but to see an animal respond when they have no ” power of positive thinking or placebo affect” is a true response.
I took him off prescend 2 months ago when the pricey rx ran out & my only observation is that he is now shedding out as though the weather was warm. He has always grown a heavy winter coat but this season, he put it on in September, when temps were still 90-100 degrees! I wondered if the lack of prescend has anything to do with this early shedding ( heavy shedding!!) I haven’t found any research results on side effects of taking a horse off the rx.
Please respond & offer any other suggestions for treating cushiness ( vitamins/supplements) or do you think he needs to be back on it? My own vet doesn’t really believe in the prolo; although the proof is his soundness.
Thank you, Shelly from se texas
I have an old mate 26 with Cushing we have her on chasteberry. She’s done really well. It herbal she takes 1 tblsp 2x a day for 3weeks then off for 1 week. She shed out like she should have then she grew a great coat for winter we’ve had her on it for a couple years now and it’s pocket book friendly.
I have an old mare 26 with Cushing we have her on chasteberry. She’s done really well. It herbal she takes 1 tblsp 2x a day for 3weeks then off for 1 week. She shed out like she should have then she grew a great coat for winter we’ve had her on it for a couple years now and it’s pocket book friendly.
Cushings
Good info. I’d like to add that any blanketing for outdoors should be waterproof and breathable as a wet, soaked through blanket is worse than no blanket. I also have a vet handbook from 2000 or so that says a horse can catch a wind chill in 60 degree weather if they get wet and no shelter from the wind. So, the ability of the haircoat to loft and retain heat is affected should it get wet and matted down.