Winter blanketing practices: An online survey of North American horse owners.
Authors: DeBoer Michelle L, Jaqueth Aubrey L, Tuszka Ashley, Martinson Krishona L
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Winter Blanketing Practices in North American Horse Management Just over half of North American horse owners (54% of 1,450 survey respondents) blanket their horses during winter, with exposure to precipitation cited as the dominant reason for doing so (78%), whilst those who avoid blanketing predominantly rely on shelter access as adequate protection. This online survey, conducted across North America between December 2020 and January 2021, reveals considerable variation in management philosophy despite comparable regional climates—geographical location had no statistically significant effect on blanketing frequency—and suggests that individual risk perception and facility infrastructure drive decision-making more than objective environmental factors. The finding that half of non-blanketing owners cite shelter availability is particularly noteworthy, as it indicates a clear dichotomy in how practitioners assess thermoregulatory needs and weather-related risks. For farriers, vets, physiotherapists and other equine professionals, these results underpin the importance of individualised assessment during winter consultations: blanketing decisions appear rooted in owner perception and resources rather than evidence-based guidelines, highlighting an opportunity to provide science-informed recommendations tailored to each horse's condition, age, coat development and actual shelter quality rather than defaulting to blanket use or abstention.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Nearly half of horse owners do not blanket their horses, suggesting adequate shelter access may be more important than blankets for winter management in many situations
- •Client education should emphasize that blanketing decisions should be informed by exposure to precipitation and shelter availability rather than assumptions about necessity
- •Winter management practices are highly variable across the North American horse owning population, indicating need for individualized rather than standardized recommendations
Key Findings
- •54% of North American horse owners reported blanketing the majority of their horses during winter
- •Exposure to precipitation was the most frequently cited reason for blanketing (78% of blanketers)
- •Access to shelter was the primary reason for not blanketing (50% of non-blanketers)
- •Geographic region in North America did not significantly impact blanket usage frequency (P = 0.17)