Is it Really Necessary to Use Horse Blankets?

Horses are considered to be a strong robust animal that belongs in a natural environment, so when it comes to horse products like horse rugs, the question is often raised as to whether they are really needed. When talking about a horse product like a horse rug this is a product that may be required for the domesticated horse and not for those who are in still running free in the wild.

There are a few considerations that have to be made. One is to determine if it is necessary to use a horse rug, and the other is what type of horse rug should be used.

There are variations in the traditional horse blanket such as:

• Fly Blankets
• Rain sheets
• Coolers
• Quarter Sheets
• Stable Blankets
• Blanket Liners
• Dress Sheets
• Turn Outs
  Plus, this is not an all-inclusive list

There has to be a purpose of using this type of horse product and the horse blanket can be used for several reasons.

Keeping the Horse Dry
Many horse owners like to turn their horses out to pasture, no matter what the weather is. For those horses that are on the show circuit, keeping them dry is important. Putting a horse rug on the horse when they are first turned out will keep them protected from the elements if they happen to turn throughout the day.

After Clipping
Getting ready for the horse show season means the horse will need to be groomed. The horse shows are most active in the spring and summer. During the winter, the horses develop a winter coat and then begin to shed these in the spring. In order to get the horse ready quickly for the show circuit, they are often clipped. This could create a dramatic change in their body heat, so the blanket helps to keep them warm after they have been clipped. It can be used until the horse has been able to adjust to the clipping.

Keeping the Horse Clean
It takes a fair amount of work and time to groom a horse for a horse event. After they have been bathed, some of them, once let go, will roll in the grass or mud. A horse rug will help to prevent them from getting dirty, which is really important as they are usually bathed and groomed a few hours before the horse event.

These are just some examples of the most common reasons for using a horse rug. Some of the other reasons are to prevent the horse’s hair from bleaching, or for horses that are recovering from sickness.

For those that enter into horse events, the appearance of the horse plays an important role, and the horse blanket helps with this.