Before winter arrives, ensure your horse’s blankets are clean, in one piece, and still fit appropriates. | Photo: iStock

Blanket shopping is exciting and fun, but it can also be a daunting task. With so many different types and styles of blankets, it can be tough to know where to begin. Here are some blanketing basics, with smart tips for everything from deciding to blanket to how to ensure your horse’s blanket is the perfect fit.

To blanket or not to blanket?

Every horse is an individual and the decision to blanket should be based on their unique needs. Your horse’s environment, along with other individual factors like the length of his hair coat, amount of body fat, and how well he tolerates the cold should all be taken into account when deciding if, when, and how much to blanket.

If your horse is clipped, has a short coat all winter, and lives in a frigid climate, he’ll probably need blankets to make up for the warmth he isn’t getting from a thick winter coat. On the other hand, if you look outside and think there’s a woolly mammoth in your pasture, his winter coat could be thick enough to keep him warm by itself