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